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Full Synopsis

As the overture plays, the young Sicilian villager Turiddu serenades his lover, Lola.

It is Easter Day in a village in Sicily. Church bells ring out in the village square, while a chorus of women sings of the loveliness of the spring and its fragrance of orange blossoms. The village men reply by praising the women's beauty.

As the villagers begin to crowd into the square for Easter Mass, a dejected young woman named Santuzza comes in search of Mamma Lucia, hoping for news of Lucia's son, Turiddu. Lucia is suspicious but informs Santuzza that Turiddu has gone to town to get some wine. Santuzza knows that Turiddu never left for town, because he was seen in the village the night before.

Alfio, the husband of Lola (Turiddu's secret lover), interrupts the women's conversation with a song praising the travelling life of a carter, and the faithfulness of his wife. Alfio asks Mamma Lucia for some wine. She replies that her supply has run out, but that Turiddu has gone to town for more. Alfio says that he saw Turiddu near his house that morning. Santuzza motions to Lucia not to ask any questions, and Alfio goes off to church. The crowd celebrates the day with an Easter hymn.

Mamma Lucia asks Santuzza what is going on, and Santuzza pours her heart out. Before Turiddu joined the army, he had fallen in love with Lola. When Turiddu returned from military service to discover that Lola had married Alfio, he seduced the virginal Santuzza. Their affair meant much more to Santuzza than it did to the philandering Turiddu, and Santuzza fell passionately in love with him. But now Turiddu has dishonoured Santuzza and cast her heartlessly aside. Santuzza implores Lucia to pray for her, as this betrayal has cost her her right to go in the church. Lucia joins the congregation.

Turiddu appears and Santuzza confronts him. At first Turiddu cockily denies having an affair with Lola, but then realises that news of the affair could endanger his life. Lola enters with a swagger and a song, and also goes into the church despite Santuzza's reminder that only those free from sin are permitted to enter. Santuzza pleads with Turiddu to take her back, but he rejects her violently. He leaves to enter the church and Santuzza spits a curse at him.

At this moment, Lola's husband Alfio passes by, and Santuzza, wild with rage, tells him of Turiddu’s affair with his wife. Alfio vows revenge. The Mass has finished and as the villagers spill into the square, Turiddu sings a drinking song, inviting the villagers to a drink. Rejecting Turiddu’s offer, Alfio challenges him to a duel. The challenge accepted (involving the biting of an ear), Alfio leaves to wait for Turiddu nearby.

Turiddu, a little drunk, but remorseful, asks his mother for her blessing. Although he vehemently rejected Santuzza only moments before, Turiddu asks Mamma Lucia to take care of her, then kisses his mother goodbye and leaves. Mamma Lucia begins to weep, and Santuzza rushes in and embraces her.

A woman screams that Turiddu has been killed. Santuzza and Lucia collapse with grief.