In the second instrumental performance for An Aria A Day, Johannes Fritzsch and Susan Collins perform the Intermezzo from Mascagni’s ‘Cavalleria rusticana’.

At this moment in the opera, the square empties of people as Alfio swears revenge for his wife’s betrayal and the orchestra plays the now famous Intermezzo.

‘Cavalleria rusticana’ is considered one of the classic verismo operas and is often performed with ‘Pagliacci’ by Ruggero Leoncavallo affectionately known as the ‘Cav/Pag’ double-bill.