Erik Bruchez
Thu, 14 Aug 2003 11:49:26 -0700
1. I put a new article online: "Pietro Mascagni e morto". This article published in Il Tirreno (a newspaper of Livorno, Mascagni's hometown) on August 3, 1945, the day following his death.
The first part of the article explains the circumstances of his death, describes his apartment at the Hotel Plaza where he spent his last years, and relates his visit to the pope one month before.
The second part of the article in page 2 starts by downplaying his adhesion to fascism, concluding: "But we know, and everybody knows, that Mascagni hated fascism and despised his leaders."
Back to music, the article mentions Mascagni's versatility from Cavalleria to Le Maschere, and then produce the following witty remark by Mascagni after the fiasco of that opera: "I knew I had a few adversaries and some enemies; but I really would have never imagined that they could proliferate that quickly; and in view of this phenomenon of incredible fecundity - which reminds of that of some insects - I am thinking with deep sorrow of the pain that I would have involuntarily caused to all those good people had those poor Maschere been a success in all the Italian theaters, as I was hoping."
The article continues: "After Le Maschere, a... respectable person would have thought a little bit and would have served, as antidote, something that would have satistfied the desire of the public. An opera like there are many, flat, traditonal. Even conventional. A reverence to the audience, instead of the art. Instead, no: Amica, Isabeau, Parisina. In Lodoletta, everything inspires sadness; but in Marat the fire that seemed extinguished is revived."
The reader is finally transported to a performance of Nerone at the Goldoni of Livorno. While the work had weaknesses, it still contained many gems typical of the good old Mascagni. His music will live forever.
2. I first thought that the picture accompanying the article had been taken several years before the article:
However, looking closely at Mascagni's features, it seems to resemble the most this one, with the exception of the white hair:
That picture was taken when Mascagni visited the pope for the last time, a month only before his death according to the article. There doesn't seem to be many pictures of Mascagni in 1943 and 1944, but in 1942 he looked quite different from those two pictures. I can only guess that the Tirreno picture was quite recent, most likely taken in the two years that preceded the publication of the article.
It is not easy to date some of Mascagni's photographs, but there are days where things get clearer! In particular, I just realized that the following two pictures were most likely taken at the time of the 1902-1903 tour:
http://www.mascagni.org/framed-images/504537 http://www.mascagni.org/framed-images/504053
This one was definitely taken in San Francisco, in February or March 1903:
Many pictures taken in San Francisco were published in the SF Examiner. It would be great to be able to find originals if they have survived, or at least original copies of the newspapers (as opposed to the poor quality microfilm copies). In addition to the Bushnell reference, the mentions of "Fowzer" and "Sweeney" are found in the examiner. Any clues are welcome!
http://www.mascagni.org/framed-images/504011 http://www.mascagni.org/framed-images/102
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