Teatro Grattacielo Presents the U.S. Première of Pietro Mascagni's 1921 Opera of the French Revolution

IL PICCOLO MARAT

Teatro Grattacielo will celebrate its 15th Anniversary with the North American Première of Pietro Mascagni’s dramatic opera, Il Piccolo Marat at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on Monday, April 13, 2009, conducted by Teatro Grattacielo’s Music Director David Wroe.

The performance will also feature the participation of over 100 choristers, combining members of the Cantori New York Chorus and the Long Island University Chorus, Mark Shapiro, Director, with the Teatro Grattacielo Orchestra.

Tickets are all on the Orchestra Level: $75 - $50 - $25 - $15
available at the Box Office or through CenterCharge at 212-721-6500

Tickets may also be purchased from Lincoln Center here, online.

Scene from Act One of the 1921 premiere of the opera

The large cast includes tenor Arnold Rawls, Turkish bass Burak Bilgili, soprano Paula Delligatti and baritone Andrew Oakden. See more about the cast here. The story concerns a young man who rescues his sweetheart and his mother from the clutches of a petty revolutionary who is determined to take revenge on aristocrats. The opera features massive choral forces, dramatic scenes of great beauty, and tender moments of love that are the rival of any Verismo opera. This is a work that deserves to be heard, and will be the only chance to hear it in the New York area, performed by a full symphonic orchestra and world-class singers, conducted by a maestro in full command of these revolutionary resources.

Pietro Mascagni around the time of "Il Piccolo Marat"

Considered by many critics to be Mascagni’s greatest achievement, Il Piccolo Marat was a huge success at its Rome premiere in 1921, receiving over 50 curtain calls. The opera went on to be produced throughout Italy, and in Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Alexandria, Barcelona, Paris and at La Scala. You can hear historic recordings here, from 1920's performances of Il Piccolo Marat.

Written during - and about - a period of great anxiety, destruction, and change, not unlike our own recent times, Il Piccolo Marat’s message is the triumph of hope over despair, of love over hatred, and of good over evil. It confirms the possibility of transformation in spite of the whirlwinds that might surround us.

Learn more about the opera at the Teatro Grattacielo website.

Teatro Grattacielo is extremely pleased and honored to present this great masterpiece to New York in its long-overdue North American Première.

Teatro Grattacielo: "Maybe you haven't heard your favorite opera yet!"

2 Riverside Drive, 2C | New York, NY 10023 | 212-595-7127 | email: verismo@grattacielo.org

Today December 7 is Mascagni's Birthday

Pietro Mascagni was born in Livorno, Italy on this day (December 7) in 1863. This is as good an occasion as any to play some of his music! As for me, I am playing the grand duet from Il piccolo Marat with Mafalda de Voltri and Hipolito Lázaro.

Photo of Mascagni Rehearsing Aida

This fascinating photo recently turned up at an eBay auction. It was advertised as a photo of Mascagni rehearsing Cavalleria rusticana, but obviously the sets are those of Aida, and if you look carefully you can see the conductor score for Aida right behind Mascagni!

On the podium, you can read "Fot. Willinger Wien". This inscription is designed to look like something engraved on the podium, but it was likely added by the photographer. This would point to a performance of Aida in Vienna. As for the date, I would guess that this took place during the 1930s given Mascagni's looks. It should be possible to find a more precise date by looking up when Mascagni conducted Aida in Vienna.

Thanks to the seller, James Camner, who was kind enough to provide me with a good scan of this photo.

Update: Roger points out that this looks like an outdoor performance, and that Mascagni conducted Aida in Vienna in August 1924, among other dates. So that photo could very well be from August 1924.

Update: John found this mini-biography about a photographer called Laszlo Willinger who had a studio in Vienna in the 1930s.

Pianist Marco Sollini Playing Today in Cherry Hill, North Carolina

Pianist Marco Sollini is playing today at the Cherry Hill Plantation in North Carolina. Sollini "oversaw the publication by Boccaccini and Spada of the piano music of Puccini, Mascagni, Giordano, Leoncavallo, and Bellini as well as chamber music by Rossini and Mascagni" (as reported in the article linked below).

Relevant Mascagni.org resources:

• L'opera completa per pianoforte
• Puccini - Giordano - Mascagni: piano music

References:

• Sollini to perform at Cherry Hill concert
• Marco Sollini web site
  

Cavalleria Rusticana in Venice in December 2009 (corrected)

The illustrious Venice opera house, Teatro La Fenice, has announced performances of Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana on the following dates:

• Thursday, December 11, 2009 at 7 PM
  
• Saturday, December 13, 2009 at 3:30 PM
  
• Tuesday, December 16, 2009 at 7 PM
• Thursday December 18, 2009 at 7 PM
• Saturday, December 20, 2009 at 3:30 PM

What's interesting is that unlike the usual pairing with Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, Cavalleria rusticana will be performed alongside Leoš Janáček's Šárka.

The cast will be as follows:

• Conductor: Eliahu Inbal
• Santuzza: Anna Smirnova
• Turiddu: Walter Fraccaro
• Orchestra and chorus: Teatro La Fenice
• Chorus master: Claudio Marino Moretti
• Mise en scène: Ermanno Olmi
• Sets: Arnaldo Pomodoro
• Costumes: Maurizio Millenotti

References:

• Šárka di Leoš Janáček e Cavalleria rusticana di Pietro Mascagni
• Teatro La Fenice
• Teatro La Fenice - Stagione 2008-2009, Lirica, Danza, Sinfonica, Progetti speciali, Collaborazioni

Update: This blog initially announced that the performances would take place in December 2008. They will instead take place in December 2009.

Amica in Rome in the Coming Days

Six performances of Mascagni's Amica will take place in the coming days in Rome: Tuesday 7, Wednesday 8, Thursday 9 and Friday 10 at 8:30 PM, Saturday 11 at 6 PM, and Sunday October 12 at 5 PM.

Contrary to what was thought earlier, the work will be given in the original French with Italian supertitles, which is excellent news as Mascagni composed the music directly to the French libretto by Choudens. Only later was the libretto translated to Italian, in a translation which I think is quite coarse.

The last time the opera was performed in Rome was on May 13, 1905, in the Italian version, conducted by Mascagni himself, as he took the habit of conducting his own works early in the career.

Hisorically, Amica is one of the least performed Mascagni operas, especially in French. It is therefore encouraging to see renewed interest in this extremely interesting work (with "echoes of Wagner, Mahler and Ravel" according to Antonino Fogliani), after the performances in French at Martina Franca in 2007. The upcoming performances in the beautiful setting of the Rome opera house promise higher quality and will hopefully do justice to the work.

The cast will be as follows:

• Conductor: Antonino Fogliani
• Amica: Amarilli Nizza / Patrizia Orciani
• Giorgio: Enrique Ferrer / Maurizio Comencini
• Rinaldo: Alberto Mastromarino / Angelo Veccia
• Padron Camoine: Marcello Lippi
• Maddalena: Lucia Mastromarino
• Orchestra and chorus of the Rome opera
• Chorus master: Andrea Giorgi
• Mise en scène: Jean Louis Grinda
• Sets: Rudy Sabounghi
• Teresa Acone: costumes
• Laurent Castaingt: lights

References:

• "Amica" - A Roma l'opera di Mascagni
• "Amica" - Mascagni a Roma

These performances are co-produced with Opéra di Montecarlo and Teatro Carlo Goldoni of Livorno.

Chocolat Guérin-Boutron Card

I just got this pretty nice card, which features a scene from Cavalleria rusticana. It bears the number 28, and was part of a series of trading cards distributed with Guérin-Boutron chocolate boxes. I found a reference online to a series of 78 cards dedicated to music composers, and this one was probably part of that set.

Compare with these other cards, especially this one distributed with Suchard cacao.

L'amico Fritz at the Berlin Opera

I just found out that conductor Alberto Veronesi will conduct L'amico Fritz at the Berlin Opera on September 20 and 22, in concert form. The most interesting part is that the protagonists will be sung by Roberto Alagna and Angela Gheorghiu, who already performed L'amico Fritz at least once in Monte Carlo in 1999 already.

Review of Zanetto CD at Audiophile Audition

Steven Ritter has written a new review of the recently published Zanetto recording (with Jennifer Larmore, conducted by Peter Tiboris) at Audiophile Audition. Overall the reviewer loves the opera and he writes of Larmore:

"I have a great deal of trouble imaging the title role sung better than Larmore does here."

Indeed I think that Larmore is the best part of this recording. It is a shame that Eilana Lappalainen, as Sylvia, was not up to the challenge.

Mascagni Course in Sydney this October

I recently got the following from Murray Dahm in Sydney:

"I thought you would like to know that I will be teaching a course on the operas of Mascagni in Sydney, Australia starting this October. It will run for 7 two hour sessions over seven weeks and examine all the operas, Si, and the orchestral, song and minor works that I have located. The courses I run are for the WEA (Workers Education Association) and generally have 40 students (mostly retirees) per course"

If anybody around Sydney has any interest, please contact me and I will put you in touch with Murray.

A Rare Photo of Mascagni at the Piano

Here is a rare picture of Mascagni at the piano which I recently acquired. The handwritten text on the back of the picture says that it was taken in Rome by "Ettore Patrini, editor & [...]" (last name and function are hard to read). A number on the back could read "17", for 1917. To be broad, I think that the picture was taken between 1900 and 1920, but I have trouble pinpointing an exact year.

On the full-size picture, you can see that Mascagni is smoking a little cigar, as is typical. The quality of the picture doesn't allow seeing what is on the score.

For more photos of Mascagni, see Mascagni at the Piano.

Update: Roger pointed out to me that this is the same piano and location as in this photo. If the information is correct and this was in fact taken during Isabeau's composition, or even at Illica's villa in Castell'Arquato, then it is likely that the two photos were taken not far apart. The composition of Isabeau started in late 1908, and the opera premiered in 1911, which gives us a better range. If it was in Castell'Arquato, then it was likely during June 1910.

New CD of Zanetto on Elysium Recordings

A new CD of Zanetto on Elysium Recordings is now available.

Mascagni: Zanetto
L'amico Fritz — Intermezzo
Cavalleria rusticana — Intermezzo

Peter Tiboris, conductor
Eilana Lappalainen, Soprano (Sylvia)
Jennifer Larmore, Mezzo-Soprano (Zanetto)
Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic

Elysium, conductor Peter Tiboris and the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmonic orchestra had already brought to us a recording of Silvano about ten years ago.

After an initial listening, I find the performance quite good, especially Jennifer Larmore's Zanetto. The sound quality is excellent, certainly superior to that of previous recordings of the piece. This allows you to fully enjoy the light and refined orchestration.

The CD comes with a few bonuses:

• An orchestral version of the prelude (which was written for an a cappella chorus), which we had already heard on the Kicco recording with Denia Mazzola
  
• The intermezzo from L'amico Fritz
• The intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana

The well-packaged CD comes with a full libretto, biographies, and an essay by John W. Barker, "Mascagni Moods".

Performance of Zanetto in Faenza, Italy on February 14, 2008

Italian web sites seem to often announce performances online at the last minute. A single performance of Zanetto will take place tomorrow, Thursday February 14, 2008 at 9 PM (21:00) the Teatro Sarti in Faenza, Italy.

This is part of an event called "San Valentino al Teatro Sarti " ("Valentine's Day at Teatro Sarti"), which seems to include some music and a buffet. The performance will be done without an orchestra and simply a piano accompaniment. The performers are as follows:

Manuel Mensà: soprano
Ottavia Sisti: soprano
Pietro Mariani: conductor, piano accompaniment

Tickets cost EUR 20 and are available online at http://www.manuelsoprano.com/.

Performances of Amica in Rome in October 2008

A new production of Amica will be given 6 performances at the Teatro del'Opera in Rome from October 7 to October 12, 2008. Antonino Fogliani will conduct two alternating casts.

There is currently no indication that the performances will be in the original French, unlike the August 2007 Martina Franca performances, which means that we will most likely get the inferior Italian text.

However, the music itself remains beautiful and powerful, and it is important that an opera as rarely performed as Amica be performed in a major opera house.

(Original news submitted by Remo Mazzetti)

December 7 was Mascagni's birthday

Friday, December 7 was Mascagni's birthday: he would have been 144 years old. To celebrate, I am listening to a live performance of Zanetto, a real favorite of mine. This minature opera is a real gold mine of beautiful melodies, and close to musical perfection. One of my favorite parts: Silvia sending Zanetto "Dunque, di là, dove splende l'aurora !" and the sheer melancholy of the musical comment which follows.

Upcoming release of Zanetto on Elysium records

I just got notice that Elysium Records will release a new CD of Zanetto. Here is the press release:

October 3, 2007

Elysium Records is proud to announce its upcoming release of Mascagni’s Zanetto.

Peter Tiboris leads the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmony, with acclaimed soloists Jennifer Larmore as Zanetto and Eilana Lappalainen as Sylvia.

Last June at Carnegie Hall, Maestro Tiboris conducted the first New York performance of Zanetto since 1902. And this past summer, he presented the opera’s Greek premiere on the island of Syros as part of the Festival of the Aegean.

Zanetto will be released in Spring 2008 and also includes intermezzi from L’amico Fritz and Cavalleria rusticana.

Elysium Records is distributed worldwide by Qualiton Imports, Inc.

Zanetto is a wonderful little opera, which premiered on March 2, 1896, while Mascagni was the head of the Liceo Musicale G. Rossini in Pesaro. With only two female singers and an opening chorus (which is even omitted in the recent DVD with Denia Mazzola), it is quite easy to stage and perform.

The Italian libretto is an almost direct translation from a French text by François Coppée entitled Le passant. The piece is a conversation between Zanetto, a young troubadour in search of love, and Silvia, an experienced courtisane, taking place during a peaceful evening outside renaissance Florence. Zanetto is unaware of Silvia's complex life, but manages to trouble her enough that she considers keeping him around. She finally realizes that she would only make him unhappy and sends him back on his way to Florence. While there is absolutely no action taking place, just psychological development, the opera develops a fascinating musical atmosphere and has been a favorite of mine for a long time. Zanetto deserves to be performed more often.

There are at least five recorded versions of Zanetto which have been (more or less) available over the years, with various levels of sound and artistic quality. A definitive edition of this wonderful little opera has yet to appear, and I do hope that this version will be a welcome addition to the discography.

Upcoming release of Zanetto on Elysium records

I got notice that Elysium Records will soon release a CD of Zanetto. Here is the official press release:

October 3, 2007

Elysium Records is proud to announce its upcoming release of Mascagni’s Zanetto.

Peter Tiboris leads the Bohuslav Martinů Philharmony, with acclaimed soloists Jennifer Larmore as Zanetto and Eilana Lappalainen as Sylvia.

Last June at Carnegie Hall, Maestro Tiboris conducted the first New York performance of Zanetto since 1902. And this past summer, he presented the opera’s Greek premiere on the island of Syros as part of the Festival of the Aegean.

Zanetto will be released in Spring, 2008 and also includes Intermezzi from L’Amico Fritz and Cavalleria rusticana.

Elysium Records is distributed worldwide by Qualiton Imports, Inc.

Opening of the Teatro Goldoni season

The Teatro Goldoni of Livorno (Mascagni's hometown) is opening its 2007/2008 season on Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 8:30 PM with an event in the series "Around Mascagni - Towards the Mascagni Festival", an evening entitled "Mascagni's operas and the female character".

The evening will propose great scenes from operas by Pietro Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana, I Rantzau, Guglielmo Ratcliff, Silvano, Iris, Le Maschere, Isabeau, Sì, Lodoletta, and Nerone.

The conductor will be Matteo Beltrami. Mise en scène, sets and costumes are by Alessio Pizzech. The performance is a new production of the Teatro Goldoni Foundation of Livorno.

Tickets: call 0586 204290
Information: call 0586 204211 - fax 0586 899920
Web site: http://www.goldoniteatro.it/

Reference: Saimicadove.it

A new blog for Mascagni.org

Lately I have realized that I had many updates queued for Mascagni.org but little time to update the site. One reason for this is that Mascagni.org doesn't yet have a built-in blog engine, even though I have been wanting to install one for a very long time.

Spare time being what it is (scarce), I have decided to cut it short and to simply use Blogger as a blog engine. Mascagni.org will simply syndicate the blog entries created with Blogger.

This solution I hope will have the benefit of increasing the number of news that make it to Mascagni.org, and add the ability to leave comments (this is 2007 after all). The main drawback is that this blog is hosted under http://pietromascagni.blogspot.com/ (the prefix "mascagni" was already taken) and not http://mascagni.org/, but I hope that this will be a minor inconvenience.