This disc also contains Cavalleria Rusticana and Leoncavallo's Pagliacci. Both are staged by Damiano Michieletto at the Royal Opera House. Conducted by Antonio Pappano.

The Zefferilli film versions of the two operas about passion, jealousy, betrayal, and revenge.

In Cavalleria rusticana, Santuzza, pregnant by Turiddu, is distraught when she finds he has deserted her in favor of the attractive young Lola. A melodrama in one act. In Pagliacci, A traveling troupe of entertainers, Canio, his wife Nedda, Peppe and Tonio, arrive in the village for an evening performance. Nedda and her lover, Silvio a young lad from the village, plan to leave together that night. Tonio overhears the plot and tells Canio. A drama...