China National Opera House presented a concert version of Pietro Mascagni’s one-act opera “Cavalleria Rusticana” on March the 13th at the National Centre for the Performing Arts. It was a good show cheering up a cool early spring night thank to an opera that is both compact and intense and representative of Italian opera at its best.

A phenomenally successful drama of betrayal and retribution, Cavalleria Rusticana made the 26-year-old Mascagni an overnight sensation, first performed in 1890 at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Italy. What contributed to its success is that it was one of the first, if not the best, of what is called the verismo style — a realistic slice-of-life of the conflicts of the average man rather than those of royalty or fantasy. The opera’s title means ‘rustic chivalry’ but the grim story is about illicit love and revenge. It has released passion ever since its first production in 1890.

The opera opens on Easter morning in a small village in Sicily. Turridu, a young soldier, whose mother, Mama Lucia, keeps a wine shop in the village square, returns from serving in the army. He discovers that Lola, who had been his betrothed before he left, is now married to Alfio. To console himself, he seduces Santuzza, who becomes pregnant. But Lola beckons and Turridu abandons Santuzza. Alfio learns the truth from Santuzza.

After the Easter services as the villagers are gathered outside of Lucia’s wine shop, Alfio accosts Turridu. Then, according to traditional Sicilian custom, Turridu bites Alfio’s ear: a duel to the death. Too late, Turridu realizes he has done wrong to the women in his life. He entreats his mother to take care of Santuzza and goes to meet his death.