Opera Santa Barbara (OSB) opens its 32nd season with a new production of Pietro Mascagni’s classic Italian drama “Cavalleria Rusticana,” Nov. 7 and Nov. 9 at the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara.

A classic example of the Italian operatic style of verismo, “Cavalleria Rusticana” explores life and tragedy in a 19th century Sicilian village.

“Audiences loved our production of ‘Pagliacci’ last fall, so following up with its operatic ‘twin’ ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ seemed like the natural next step,” said Kostis Protopapas, Opera Santa Barbara’s artistic and general director.

“In ‘Pagliacci’ we updated the action to Italy in the 1940s,” he said. “With ‘Cavalleria’ we are going back to a traditional production inspired by the Sicilian countryside. ‘Cavalleria’ concentrates everything we love about Italian opera in 90 minutes.”

Headlining the cast are: Max Potter, an alumn of OSB’s Chrisman Studio Program, who debuts the role of Santuzza, a woman who gets revenge on her unfaithful lover; Xavier Prado, star of the company’s 2024 hit “Zorro” returns as her reckless lover Turiddu; veteran dramatic baritone Todd Thomas, last seen on the Lobero stage in “Il tabarro” (2021), is Alfio, the enforcer of Sicilian vendetta.

Protopapas conducts, and Layna Chianakas directs a new production built jointly with Opera Southwest in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Fifty tickets are still available for the Friday, Nov. 7 opening night performance. The Sunday matinee on Nov. 9 is sold out.

The company advises patrons to only purchase tickets through the Lobero Theatre Box Office, and not through third-party vendors.

For more about Opera Santa Barbara, visit operasb.org.