Guglielmo Ratcliff

Opera by Pietro Mascagni (libretto by composer, based on Heinrich Heine's tragedy), first produced at La Scala, Milan, Italy, on 16 February 1895. It is an earlier work than his Cavalleria rusticana, although it was produced later. In the story, Mary and Count Douglas are to marry, but Ratcliff wants to kill Douglas to avenge his father, killed by Mary's father. In the end he kills Mary and himself as well.