Louis Cassar has recently returned from a successful performance of Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana in which he played the role of Alfio. The opera was produced by FlorenceOpera, under the artistic direction of Patrizia Morandini and was held in Corniola, Florence.

The story of Cavalleria Rusticana takes place on Easter Sunday in a typical Sicilian village at a time when Mafia was still a matter of defending one’s honour. Santuzza, a local village girl, tries to convince Turiddu, the man who has taken her honour, to take her to the altar so that she would not be dishonoured. However, Turiddu has gone back to his former love, Lola, who is now married to the village’s beloved peasant Alfio, and does not heed her. In a fit of jealousy and desperation Santuzza goes to Alfio with the truth and as proof gives him the handkerchief that Lola had given to Alfio when he left her house in the morning. Alfio, enraged at this betrayal, challenges Turiddu to a duel in which the latter dies.

Following this successful role, Mr Cassar has been offered the role of Barone Scarpia in Puccini’s Tosca, which will be held at Lago di Garda, Italy, next year. He has also been approached by an agency with the potential of performing in theatres in South America in the near future. Discussions are underway. Again with FlorenceOpera he will interpret the role of Marcello in La Bohème in Lucca next January.

Mr Cassar has performed locally in a number of productions both within the classical and non-classical music fields. He formed part of the team that premiered the locally written Porn the Musical at the Fringe Festival in Scotland in 2009 where he also won Best Voice award. The 27-year-old is under the coaching of soprano Patrizia Morandini of Florence.