History Theatre / CavalleriaRusticana

* ArtisticLicenseReligion: For a verismo (or so-called "realistic") opera, ''Cavalleria Rusticana'' has some pretty skewed ideas of how excommunication works. Apparently, Santuzza's membership in the Catholic Church hinges entirely on [[MadonnaWhoreComplex whether she is a virgin or not]]. So, when Santuzza is deserted by her lover, the Church wastes no time in excommunicating her even though she has not committed any serious heresy, without even giving her a chance to tell her side of the story. Also, despite the fact that the Book of Deuteronomy prescribes a ShotgunWedding [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment as punishment for pre-marital sex]], none of the Sicilian villagers ever seriously considered pressuring Turiddu into marrying Santuzza.

The story is revolves around a Sicilian village on Easter Sunday. Turiddu, a young ex-soldier, is still in love with Lola, the wife of a local carter named Alfio, so he dumps his girlfriend Santuzza and has an affair with Lola. Enraged at this turn of events, Santuzza tells Alfio about Turiddu's perfidy and Lola's infidelity. Alfio in turn swears revenge.

A cornerstone of Italian verismo ("reality") opera, ''Cavalleria Rusticana'' ("Rustic Chivalry") is composer Pietro Mascagni's first opera, and his [[OneHitWonder only one]] still regularly performed nowadays. Traditionally, it is staged with Leoncavallo's ''Theatre/{{Pagliacci}}'' back-to-back.

The story is revolves around a Sicilian village on Easter Sunday. Turiddu, a young ex-soldier, is in love with Lola, the wife of a local carter named Alfio, so he dumps his girlfriend Santuzza. Enraged at this turn of events, Santuzza tells Alfio about Turiddu's perfidy and Lola's infidelity. Alfio in turn swears revenge.

* ClingyJealousGirl: Santuzza

* KarmaHoudiniWarranty: For most of the opera, Turiddu wasn't punished for deserting Santuzza and smooching with a married woman because the villagers allowed him to. However, when Alfio finds out, [[spoiler:he [[KarmicDeath kills Turiddu in a knife fight]]]].

* WouldHitAGirl: Turiddu ends the dramatic "Tu qui, Santuzza" duet by savagely hurling Santuzza to the ground. Santuzza loses no time in cursing him.

* ArtisticLicenseReligion: For a verismo (or so-called "realistic") opera, ''Cavalleria Rusticana'' has some pretty skewed ideas of how excommunication works. Apparently, Santuzza's membership in the Catholic Church hinges entirely on [[MadonnaWhoreComplex whether she is a virgin or not]]. So, when Santuzza is deserted by her lover, the Church wastes no time in excommunicating her even though she has not committed any serious heresy, without even giving her a chance to tell her side of the story. Also, despite the fact that the Book of Leviticus prescribes a ShotgunWedding [[CoolAndUnusualPunishment as punishment for pre-marital sex]], none of the Sicilian villagers ever seriously considered pressuring Turiddu into marrying Santuzza.

* GoryDiscretionShot: Notably for an opera, [[spoiler:Turiddu]]'s death occurs offstage, with a ScreamingWoman informing the villagers (and us) that they were killed.

[[TheOneWith The opera with]] the Intermezzo.

* {{Cuckold}}: Up until Santuzza informs him, Alfio doesn't have a clue that Lola is cheating on him with Turiddu.

* GoryDiscretionShot: Notably for an opera, [[spoiler:Turiddu]]'s death occurs offstage, with a ScreamingWoman informing the villagers (and us) that [[spoiler:Turiddu]] was killed.

* {{Crossover}}: The most recent San Francisco Opera production not only gives this opera a SettingUpdate to Buenos Aires in the 1920's, but also incorporates characters from ''Theatre/{{Pagliacci}}'', with Silvio being Mamma Lucia's waiter, and Canio and Nedda frequenting Mamma Lucia's tavern.

* SlutShaming: Apparently, Santuzza has been excommunicated for her affair with Turiddu. [[DoubleStandard Of course, nothing at all was done to Turiddu]].

* AssholeVictim: Turiddu

* GoryDiscretionShot: Notably for an opera, Turiddu's death occurs offstage, with a ScreamingWoman informing the villagers (and us) that Turiddu was killed.

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: For much of the opera, Turiddu has been nothing but a hormone-addled pain. But as soon as Alfio challenges him to a knife fight, Turiddu realizes that it means death for him. So he asks his mother to care for Santuzza as her own daughter, as he failed to keep his promise to marry her (Santuzza).
* KarmaHoudiniWarranty: For most of the opera, Turiddu wasn't punished for deserting Santuzza and smooching with a married woman because the villagers allowed him to. However, when Alfio finds out, he [[KarmicDeath kills Turiddu in a knife fight]].
* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Upon seeing that Alfio is going to kill Turiddu, Santuzza feels guilty for telling him. Later, Turiddu himself realizes too late that he should have kept his promise to marry Santuzza, the very girl that up until now he took for granted.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: After asking his mother to look after Santuzza, Turiddu is killed by Alfio.

* WouldHitAGirl: Turiddu ends the dramatic "Tu qui, Santuzza" duet by savagely hurling Santuzza to the ground. Santuzza loses no time in cursing him.
* YourCheatingHeart: An example involving both sexes. Turiddu is cheating on Santuzza, and Lola is cheating on her hitherto clueless husband.

* TheStoolPigeon: Upon seeing Alfio pass by, Santuzza sings like a love-struck canary.

* CounterpointDuet: This opera includes two of them back-to-back:
** "Tu qui, Santuzza?", in which Santuzza tries to get Turiddu to stay with him, but Turiddu is trying to get away from Santuzza to be with Lola. Followed immediately by...
** "Il Signor vi manda, compar Alfio", the final part of which Alfio vows revenge against the guilty couple while Santuzza expresses her guilt for having tattled on Turiddu.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: Upon seeing that Alfio is going to kill Turiddu, Santuzza feels guilty for telling him. Later, Turiddu himself realizes too late that he should have kept his promise to marry Santuzza, the very girl that up until now he took for granted.

* YourCheatingHeart: An example involving both sexes. Turiddu is cheating on Santuzza, and Lola is cheating on her hitherto clueless husband.

The title of the opera, "Rustic Chivalry", refers to the villagers' unwritten CodeOfHonor, which demands that the cuckolded husband take justice into his own hands. Therefore, when Alfio encounters Turiddu, he challenges him to a knife fight. Turiddu, knowing he is in [[OhCrap deep trouble]], bids his mother farewell, asks her to care for Santuzza, and then goes offstage to be killed by Alfio.

* WouldHitAGirl: Turiddu ends the dramatic "Tu qui, Santuzza" duet by savagely hurling Santuzza to the ground. Santuzza loses no time in cursing him.

* SlutShaming: Apparently, Santuzza has been excommunicated for her affair with Turiddu. [[DoubleStandard Of course, Turiddu isn't punished at all]].

* {{Cuckold}}: Up until Santuzza informs him, Alfio doesn't have a clue that Lola is cheating on him with Turiddu.
* GoryDiscretionShot: Notably for an opera, Turiddu's death occurs offstage, with a ScreamingWoman informing the villagers (and us) that Turiddu was killed.
* HorrorDoesntSettleForSimpleTuesday: This opera is set on Easter Sunday to heighten its dramatic impact.
* KarmaHoudiniWarranty: For most of the opera, Turiddu wasn't punished for deserting Santuzza and smooching with a married woman because the villagers allowed him to. However, when Alfio finds out, he [[KarmicDeath kills Turiddu in a knife fight]].
* SlutShaming: Apparently, Santuzza has been excommunicated for her affair with Turiddu. [[DoubleStandard Of course, Turiddu isn't punished at all]].
* TheStoolPigeon: Upon seeing Alfio pass by, Santuzza sings like a love-struck canary.
* WouldHitAGirl: Turiddu ends the dramatic "Tu qui, Santuzza" duet by savagely hurling Santuzza to the ground. Santuzza loses no time in cursing him.