Turiddù e compagnia bella: il tenore mascagnano rivisitato

Speranza

Le Maschere - CD Review

By Yonel Buldrini
2004
Yonel Buldrini reviews with enthusiasm the recent release of a 2-CD set of Le Maschere published on label Kicco, from a performance recorded live in Livorno in 2001.

Added October 11, 2004 - 1081 words

The Unjustly Neglected Works of Pietro Mascagni
By William Schoell
July 1997

William Schoell offers in this article a survey of Mascagni's operatic output, from "Cavalleria Rusticana" to Nerone, highlighting Mascagni's taste for experimentation.

Added August 8, 2004 - 1639 words

Pietro Mascagni between Vistilia and Nerone

By Roberto Bianchini
Rassegna Musicale Curci, anno LI n. 1 - gennaio 1998, January 1998


Roberto Bianchini's article discusses the relationship between Vistilia and Nerone, the two operas of Roman background on which Mascagni worked over decades.

The former never saw the light of day (although the libretto was published in 1900), and the latter premiered in 1935.

Upon listening to Nerone and learning that Mascagni "reused" music written decades earlier, many have been wondering what music was actually reused and what music was composed specifically for Nerone.

This article offers some good answers. The article is available in English translation as well as in original Italian.

Added July 18, 2004 - 2259 words

Zandonai: Mascagni's "Student"

By Konrad Dryden
February 2004

Konrad Dryden tackles the relationship between Mascagni and Riccardo Zandonai, the composer of the superb Francesca da Rimini.

Added February 2004 - 1312 words

Mascagni in San Francisco

By Erik Bruchez
September 2003

After introducing the difficult beginning of Mascagni's first and only North American tour in 1902-1903, Erik Bruchez retraces the successes that marked Mascagni's stay in San Francisco in early 1903.

Added September 2003 - 1445 words

Alan Mallach's Pietro Mascagni and His Operas

By Roger Flury
June 2003

Roger Flury reviews Alan Mallach's new biography, Pietro Mascagni and His Operas.

Added June 2003 - 1196 words

Poetry and Music: Pietro Mascagni's Parisina

By Alessandro Rizzacasa
Tetraktýs, September 2000

The author begins with a review of the CD from the performance of Parisina that took place in Montpellier in July 1999.

He follows with considerations about the opera, discussing in particular the criticisms that have historically been directed at the work.

He concludes with comments about the unfortunate attitude some critics have today when writing about opera.

The article is available in English translation as well as in original Italian.

Added August 2001 - 5804 words

On the Genesis of Cavalleria Rusticana

By Maria Nockin
May 2000

Maria Nockin recounts the major events of Mascagni's life up to the composition and premiere of Cavalleria Rusticana.

Added May 2000 - 1341 words


Other Texts (5 documents)
Regina della Scala

1937
Added May 13, 2003 - 1540 words

Rapsodia Satanica

By Fausto Maria Martini
1915

This poem was published in 1915, year of the premiere of the film Rapsodia Satanica for which Mascagni composed music.

There are clues that suggest that a page of text may be missing in the original booklet.

On the other hand, a version of the poem republished in a later anthology does not contain additional text, but adds a colon where the page was suspected to be missing.

A reference to a footnote marks the point where text may be missing.

Added May 13, 2003 - 2277 words

Viola Allen in Hall Caine's New Play - The Eternal City

1902
Added May 13, 2003 - 3554 words

Le Passant

By François Coppée
1889
4436 words

Cavalleria Rusticana

By Giovanni Verga
1880

This short story by Giovanni Verga is the source for Mascagni's famous opera.

It was first published in

"Fanfulla della domenica" of March 14, 1880, and then in the collection

"Vita dei Campi" in August 1880 (ed. Treves, Milan).

1947 words


Historical Articles (17 documents)
Pietro Mascagni - A Tragic Figure?

By Dr. Waldemar Schweisheimer
The Etude Magazine, April 1946
Added May 12, 2001 - 1767 words

Pietro Mascagni Dies in Rome At Age of 81

Musical America, August 1945

This obituary was published in August 1945, very shortly after Mascagni died.

The article contains lots of errors and imprecisions and is presented here as a document.

Do not rely too much on the information presented in this article.

Added September 3, 2002 - 590 words

Cavalleria's Crown

Time Magazine, August 13, 1945

This obituary was published in Time Magazine a little over a week after Mascagni's passing.

It is hard to imagine a more misinformed piece, which borders on hatred for the composer and his pre- and post-Cavalleria achievements.

The article was written at a difficult time, and the focus of the author on Fascism may be understandable, but it is extremely reductive.

Mascagni's relationship with the Fascist regime is today better understood, thanks in particular to Alan Mallach's biography, which makes it clear that Mascagni was no Fascist activist, and that his support for the regime was mostly ornamental.

This article is published here to illustrate the extremes that Mascagni's critics have too often reached.

The footnotes are Mascagni.org's.

Added November 8, 2003 - 306 words

Pietro Mascagni è morto

Il Tirreno, August 3, 1945
Added August 10, 2003 - 2239 words

Roistering Nights

Time Magazine, September 6, 1926

This article was published in the Time Magazine of September 6, 1926.

The author is unknown. The article contains its share of typos and inexactitudes - don't rely on it for facts about how Mascagni got to write Cavalleria Rusticana!

Added September 9, 2001 - 1200 words

Come è nata Parisina

By Pietro Mascagni
La Lettura, January 1914

This article was written by Mascagni in late 1913 and published in La Lettura in January 1914.

Added April 1, 2003 - 4980 words

Mascagni's New Opera, Parisina

By Emil Thieben
Musik Zeitung, 1913

In this article from 1913, Emil Thieben describes the high anticipation generated in Italy by Mascagni's latest opera, Parisina.

After a detailed synopsis of the plot, he gives his impression of the premiere of the opera, mainly from a musical standpoint.

The article is available in English translation as well as in original German.

Added August 15, 2004 - 2266 words

Opera Makers of To-day

By Giacomo Minkowsky
Munsey's Magazine, 1903
Added June 22, 2003

Le avventure di Mascagni in America. Il giro trionfale della Duse negli Stati Uniti.

By Carlo Paladini
L'Illustrazione Italiana, March 1, 1903

This article was published in L'Illustrazione Italiana of March 1, 1903.

The author, Carlo Paladini, tells of how he met by chance at a Florence restaurant Mr. Joseph Smith, a manager involved with Mascagni's arrest during his US tour, and also manager of Eleonora Duse. Follows a fairly unstructured conversation where the author tries to obtain useful information from a fairly secretive and defensive Mr. Smith. The article features a photograph of Mascagni, his wife, and Mr. Smith aboard the Philadelphia on the way to the United States.

Added November 12, 2005 - 2347 words

Le sfortune di Mascagni in America

La Domenica del Corriere, December 21, 1902
Added April 1, 2003 - 216 words

Corriere della settimana

Corriere Illustrato della Domenica, November 23, 1902
Added April 1, 2003 - 328 words

Mascagni in America

By Henry T. Finck
The Independent, October 30, 1902

Henry T. Finck wrote this article at the beginning of Mascagni's 1902-1903 American tour.

Most of his facts are correct, and his desire to see Guglielmo Ratcliff performed is quite justified.

However his appreciation of Zanetto and Iris is misguided and typical of a misunderstanding of Mascagni's operatic output, which consists in expecting his other operas to sound like Cavalleria Rusticana.

This attitude unfortunately persists today.

Added July 20, 2003 - 2043 words

The Legacy of the Century

By Pietro Mascagni
Century Library of Music 16 Cosmopolitan, 1901

This article was originally published as Il testamento del secolo: Evoluzione della Musica., Cronaca Musicale, Milan, 15 March, 1900, as an address given at the Teatro Goldoni in Venice.

The English edition presented here was published in The Century Library of Music 16: 517-540. New York, 1901, and later in the International Library of Music for Home and Studio, vol. 2. New York: The University Society, 1925. Pages 441-463.

Added April 5, 2003 - 11709 words

Mascagni And His New Opera

By Alma Dalma
Cosmopolitan, 1897

This article was published in 1897 and contains some imprecisions, in particular in the synopsis of "Iris".

It is presented here as a document. Do not rely too much on the information presented in this article.

Added December 13, 2002 - 1601 words

Pietro Mascagni, the Author of the Cavalleria Rusticana

By Ashton R. Willard
New England Magazine, Volume VIII, March 1893 - August, 1893, 1893
Added April 26, 2003 - 6094 words

"Die Rantzau", Oper von Pietro Mascagni

By K. v. Mittelstädt
Deutsche Illustrierte Zeitung, No. 27, 1893

This article was published in an 1893 issue of the Deutsche Illustrierte Zeitung (German Illustrated Newspaper). The beginning of the article is missing, but probably amounts to a few paragraphs at most. The actual title of the article is unknown.

The author starts by explaining the reasons of the success of I Rantzau in Berlin, a success not simply explained by the musical quality of the work.

He then talks about the speed at which Cavalleria spread through Europe, making Mascagni suddenly famous and rich.

He mentions Mascagni's life before Cavalleria and the composition of the opera with the collaboration or his librettists.

He moves on to I Rantzau. He mentions the origin of the libretto and summarizes the plot.

Although according to him the musical treatment does not appear as fitting as in Cavalleria Rusticana, the opera does not lack memorable pieces. Finally, he praises the German premiere of I Rantzau that took place in Berlin on February 25, 1893.

The article is illustrated with a full-page (27.8 x 37.4 cm) engraving showing scenes from I Rantzau (see the original document). The engraving is entitled "Die Rantzau", Oper von Pietro Mascagni. Originalzeichnung von Alb. Wirth. ("The Rantzau", opera of Pietro Mascagni. Original drawing by Alb. Wirth.).

Added June 22, 2003 - 686 words

Mascagni's I Rantzau

Fall 1892
This article was probably published around the fall of 1892 after the Rome performances of I Rantzau. The author's name and exact date of publication are unknown.

Added April 30, 2001 - 2239 words