Cavalleria Rusticana, an opera in one act by Pietro Mascagni (1863 -- 1945); libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci; premier on May 17, 1890, at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome.
Cast:
Daniel Oren - Direction musicale Violeta Urmana - Santuzza Marcello Giordani - Turiddu Stefania Toczyska - Lucia Franck Ferrari - Alfio Nicole Piccolomini - Lola
ALFIO Il cavallo scalpita, I sonagli squillano, Schiocca la frusta. E va! Soffi il vento gelido, Cada l'acqua o nevichi, A me che cosa fa?
CORO O che bel mestiere Fare il carrettiere Andar di qua e di là!
ALFIO M'aspetta a casa Lola Che m'ama e mi consola, Ch'è tutta fedeltà. Il cavallo scalpiti, I sonagli squillino, E Pasqua, ed io son qua!
English Libretto or Translation:
Scene with Alfio and Chorus Alfio, Chorus and the above
ALFIO The horses' hooves thunder, The harness bells jingle, The whip cracks. Get along! Let the wind blow cold, Rain or snow fall, What care I?
CHORUS O a carter's life Is a fine life, Going from place to place!
ALFIO The whip cracks! At home, awaiting me, Is Lola, who loves me and comforts me And is ever true. The horses' hooves thunder, The harness bells jingle, It's Easter, and here I am!
CHORUS O a carter's life, etc.
ALFIO Get along! The whip cracks! Here I am! O a carter's life, etc. It's Easter, and here I am!