A LONG time ago I wrote about the one-act opera Cavalleria Rusticana and the marvellous Intermezzo, and you can read the article here.
The setting of the work is a 19th century Sicilian village; the action takes place on the morning of Easter Sunday. Santuzza has been seduced and abandoned by Turridu. After he dies in a duel she is snubbed by villagers because of that relationship, and feels she is unworthy to enter the church for the Easter service. The Easter hymn is heard from inside the church in Latin, then the villagers sing it in their native Italian with Santuzza.
These are the lyrics In Italian:
Inneggiamo, il Signor non è morto.
Ei fulgente ha dischiuso l’avel,
inneggiamo al Signore risorto
oggi asceso alla gloria del Ciel!
And in English:
Rejoice, the Lord is not dead
And we mourn no longer
Instead we exalt the risen Lord
For today He has risen in all His glory!
Here is the scene leading to the Easter Hymn from a Royal Opera House production.
I must admit I much prefer this version by the choir of King’s College Cambridge with the marvellous Australian soprano Kiandra Howarth.
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