Cavalleria Rusticana/Pagliacci

For more than a century these comparatively brief works by Pietro Mascagni and Ruggerro Leoncavallo, respectively, have served as a common double-bill in opera house performances and on recordings. Both Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci are examples of the early verismo (or realistic) style that characterized Italian opera beginning in the 1890s, and both are tales of jealousy that lead to violence and tragedy among ordinary folk. Often, as in this 2007 production from the Teatro Real in Madrid, the prologue to Pagliacci, a sort of manifesto of verismo, is performed initially, leading into Cavalleria, which is then followed by the remainder of Leoncavallo's work. And while both composers were what might charitably be called one-hit wonders—each wrote other operas, but none were popular—there's no denying the impact of these nearly indestructible warhorses. Happily, the performances here are solid: Giancarlo del Monaco's mounting is sometimes unorthodox but effective, Jes(s L(pez Cobos' conducting is sensitive as well as alert, and while the vocalism isn't always marked by finesse, the singing is consistently engaged. From the technical perspective, the fadeout at the close of Cavalleria is too abrupt, and one might quibble with the need for a two-disc set, as the operas are completely contained on the first, while the second is devoted to relatively brief interviews with the director, conductor, and singers. But these are minor drawbacks—the sound is excellent (with DTS and Dolby Digital stereo options) as is the camerawork—and this is easily recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)