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.

More Details on Upcoming Amica in rome

The Rome Opera now has all the information about the August 2008 performances of Amica. The cast is as follows:

Amica: Amarilli Nizza / Patrizia Orciani
Rinaldo: Piero Giugliacci / Claudio Di Segni
Giorgio: Alberto Mastromarino / Angelo Veccia
Orchestra and chorus of Rome Teatro dell'Opera

Conductor: Antonino Fogliani
Chorus master: Andrea Giorgi
Staging: Jean Louis Grinda
Sets: Rudy Sabounghi
Costumes: Teresa Acone

Performances:

Tuesday, 7 October 2008 at 20.30
Wednesday, 8 October at 20.30
Thursday, 9 October at 20.30
Friday, 10 October at 20.30
Saturday, 11 October at 18.00
Sunday, 12 October at 17.00

This will be a new production and the opera will be performed in Italian, instead of the original and better French.

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)