Sarasota Opera's Italian double-bill has mixed success.(FLORIDA WEST)

Byline: GAYLE WILLIAMS CORRESPONDENT

SARASOTA -- Love, betrayal, revenge and murder.

These are the themes of Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana" and Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci," two icons of opera verismo.

As is the tradition, the Sarasota Opera paired the two short operas for one evening's program on Saturday, resulting in an evening of wrenching emotions and raw violence on stage.

Despite a strong cast and stunning set designs by David Gordon, the two productions were a mixed success. "Cavalleria Rusticana" has some truly lovely music, much of it in the orchestral prelude and intermezzo, but the empty stage and early crowd scenes in front of …