Stanislao Gastaldon the music publisher Sonzogno announced a competition for one-act operas, Gastaldon decided to enter with "Mala Pasqua!", a setting of Giovanni Verga's popular short story (and later play), "Cavalleria rusticana". Another young composer, Pietro Mascagni, entered the same contest with his opera "Cavalleria rusticana", also based on Verga's story. Gastaldon withdrew his work early in the competition when he received an offer from Sonzogno's rival, Ricordi, to publish it and arrange a premiere at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome. He expanded the opera to three acts, and "Mala Pasqua!" premiered on April 9, 1890 to modest success. Mascagni's opera eventually
Audrey Babcock Audrey Babcock Audrey Babcock is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer who has performed in many opera houses throughout the world. She performed the Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana at the Washington Concert Opera. Babcock sang the role of Maddalena in Verdi's "Rigoletto" for Boston Lyric Opera in March 2014. She sang in the first professional staging of Daniel Crozier's opera "With Blood, With Ink" in April 2014 at the Fort Worth Opera. Babcock has frequently performed the title role in Bizet's opera "Carmen", notably in 2008 at the San Antonio Opera, 2009 at the Utah Festival Opera, and in 2012 at