Cavalleria rusticana / I Pagliacci at Nationaltheater Mannheim

A double night of adultery with two bloody ends: Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana narrates the story of the young Sicilian Turiddu. After his return from military service, he finds his former lover, Lola, married to the carter, Alfio. Turiddu seeks consolation in the arms of Santuzza, but when the former love between Lola and Turiddu resurfaces, Santuzza tells Alfio about his wife's infidelity. After the Easter service Alfio challenges Turiddu to a duel. In the duel Turiddu loses his life.
In Leoncavallo’s, I Pagliacci Canio, the head of a traveling actors group, hears of the story of his wife Nedda’s affair. During the group’s performance, Canio cannot stand his jealousy anymore. He stabs his wife and her lover on stage.