On Tuesday Dec. 6 the Paris National Opera will broadcast Mascagni’s “Cavalleria Rusticana” and Hindemith’s “Sancta Susanna.”

The broadcast will mark the role debut of Elina Garanca in the role of Santuzza in “Cavalleria Rusticana.”  Garanca recently noted that Santuzza was a dream role and was the basis of her newest album “Revive.” It also marks Garanca’s entry into dramatic Mezzo Soprano repertoire which she has slowly been transitioning into. She began the season in Donizetti’s “La Favorite,” a role debut at the Bayerische Staatsoper and is slated retire the role of Octavian this spring in Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier” at the Metropolitan Opera. Garanca will be joined by rising star Yonghoon Lee, who made a splash last year in the title role of Verdi’s “Il Trovatore” at the Metropolitan Opera and legendary mezzo soprano Elena Zaremba.

Interestingly, Mascagni’s masterpiece will not be showcased alongside Leoncavallo’s “Pagaliacci” as has been the tradition for over a century. Director Mario Martone will experiment with “Sancta Susanna” by Paul Hindemith, a work he believes matches perfectly with Mascagni’s beloved classic. The opera, which is rarely staged, will star famed Mezzo Soprano Anna Caterina Antonacci, who has triumphed all around the world in repertoire by Rossini and Monteverdi. She is also one of the most renown interpreters of Bizet’s “Carmen” and Poulenc’s “La Voix Humane.” Antonacci will also be making a role debut as Susanna and will be accompanied by Renee Morloc.

Mario Martone will direct the new productions and Carlo Rizzi will conduct the Orchestra and Chorus of the Paris National Opera. France Musique will broadcast the opera at 7:30 pm Paris time.

Pietro Mascagni-Cavalleria Rusticana 

Artists

Conductor-Carlo Rizzi

Director-Mario Martone

Santuzza-Elīna Garanča

Turiddu-Yonghoon Lee

Lucia-Elena Zaremba

Alfio-Vitaliy Bilyy

Lola-Antoinette Dennefeld

Paul Hindemith-Sancta Susanna

Conductor-Carlo Rizzi

Director-Mario Martone

Susanna-Anna Caterina Antonacci

Klementia-Renée Morloc

Alte Nonne-Sylvie Brunet-Grupposo

Orchestra
Opéra national de Paris