Mascagni's 1890 masterpiece, Cavalleria Rusticana, caused one of the greatest sensations in opera history and singlehandedly ushered in the Verismo movement. Though it has been stated and restated ad nauseam that Mascagni, like Leoncavallo, was a "one-opera man" who could never repeat his first success, this is highly inaccurate: L'Amico Fritz and Iris have been popular in Europe since their respective premieres; in fact, Mascagni himself claimed that at one point Iris was performed in Italy more often than Cavalleria (cf. Stivender).
Mascagni wrote a total of fifteen operas, plus an operetta, several beautiful orchestral and vocal works, as well as songs and piano music. He enjoyed amazing success during his lifetime, both as a composer and conductor. If he never repeated the public success of Cavalleria, it was probably because Mascagni refused to copy himself. The variety of styles in Mascagni's operas -- the Sicilian passion and warmth of Cavalleria, the Asian flavor of Iris, the idyllic breeze that ventilates L'Amico Fritz, the French hues in Isabeau, the steely, Verismo quality of Il Piccolo Marat -- demonstrate a versatility that none of the other Veristi could boast, Puccini included.
Cavalleria rusticana: Dite mamma Lucia
Pietro Mascagni Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sei tu? Che vuoi!
Turiddu ov'e?
Fin qui vieni
A cercare il figlio mio?
Voglio saper soltanto,
Perdonatemi voi,
Dove trovarlo.
Non lo so, non lo so,
Non voglio brighe!
Mamma Lucia,
Vi supplico piangendo,
Fate come il Signore
A Maddalena,
Ditemi per pietà,
Dov'e Turiddu.
Ditemi per pietà,
Dov'e Turiddu!
È andato per il vino
A Francofonte.
No!
L'han visto in paese
Ad alta notte.
Che dici? Che dici?
Se non è tornato a casa!
Entra!
Non posso entrare in casa vostra,
Sono scomunicata!
Sono scomunicata!
E che en sai del mio figliuolo?
Quale spina ho in - core!
The lyrics of "Dite, Mamma Lucia" from Pietro Mascagni's opera Cavalleria Rusticana are a conversation between Mama Lucia, the mother of Turiddu, and an unknown character who comes to her looking for her son. Mama Lucia is surprised by the stranger's presence, and when she is asked about Turiddu's whereabouts, she starts to get emotional. She just wants to know where her son is, and she begs the stranger to tell her, like Jesus did with Mary Magdalene. She is desperate for news about her son and willing to forgive anyone who might have caused him trouble.
The unknown character eventually reveals that he has heard that Turiddu went to Francofonte to get wine, but Mama Lucia is skeptical because they saw him in the village late at night. She becomes even more upset because she realizes that her son has not returned home, and she cannot cope with the thought of something happening to him. She is in pain and cannot hide how much she cares for her son. The final line, "Quale spina ho in - core!" means "What a thorn I have in my heart!" and sums up her desperation and fear.
Line by Line Meaning
Dite, Mamma Lucia
Mamma Lucia, I beg of you to tell me
Sei tu? Che vuoi!
Is that you? What do you want?
Turiddu ov'e?
Where is Turiddu?
Fin qui vieni
a cercare il figlio mio?
Did you come all the way here to look for my son?
Voglio saper soltanto,
perdonatemi voi,
dove trovarlo.
I just want to know, please forgive me, where to find him.
Non lo so, non lo so,
non voglio brighe!
I don't know, I don't know, I don't want trouble!
Mamma Lucia,
vi supplico piangendo,
fate come il Signore
a Maddalena,
ditemi per pietà,
dove Turiddu.
ditemi per pietà,
dove Turiddu!
Mamma Lucia, I am pleading and crying, like the Lord did for Maddalena, tell me where Turiddu is, please tell me where Turiddu is!
È andato per il vino
a Francofonte.
He has gone to Francofonte for wine.
No!
L'han visto in paese
ad alta notte.
No! They saw him in town late at night.
Che dici? Che dici?
Se non è tornato a casa!
What are you saying? What are you saying? If he hasn't come home!
Entra!
Come in!
Non posso entrare in casa vostra,
sono scomunicata!
sono scomunicata!
I cannot enter your home, I am excommunicated! I am excommunicated!
E che en sai del mio figliuolo?
And what do you know about my son?
Quale spina ho in - core!
What a thorn I have in my heart!
Writer(s): P. Mascagni, G. Langford
Contributed by Cooper T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.