[mascagni-interest] Vistilia and Nerone, and more

[Erik Bruchez]

Dear list,

It is time for a new round of web site updates:

1. New article: "Pietro Mascagni between Vistilia e Nerone"

   The web site features a new article by Roberto Bianchini, "Pietro
   Mascagni between Vistilia e Nerone", discussing 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 as we know premiered in 1935.

   Upon listening to "Nerone" and learning that Mascagni "reused"
   music written decades earlier, I am sure many have been wondering
   what music was actually reused and what music was composed
   specifically for Nerone. Bianchini's article offers some good
   answers, and I thought it would be interesting for the readers of
   Mascagni.org. The article is available in English translation as
   well as in original Italian:

     http://www.mascagni.org/articles/bianchini-199801-nerone-en
     http://www.mascagni.org/articles/bianchini-199801-nerone-it

2. New CD of "Silvano" on Kicco

   I finally managed to obtain a copy from FNAC (www.fnac.com) of the
   CD of "Silvano" of last year's performances in Collesalvetti,
   released on label Kicco. The complete information about the CD is
   available here:

     http://www.mascagni.org/recordings/507146

   The liner notes are by list member Fulvio Venturi. The performance
   is decent, but not outstanding. Maurizio Comencini has the right
   voice for the role of Silvano. All in all however, I recommend
   instead the performance recorded in 1995 with Joseph Wolverton,
   conducted by Peter Tiboris:

     http://www.mascagni.org/recordings/3181

   Another reason not to recommend the Kicco release is the audio
   mastering. As is unfortunately typical with this label, there are
   numerous audio oddities throughout the recording. Here it looks
   like someone has been playing with a couple of microphones, and at
   times switches between the two sources, as often as every few
   seconds during certain sections. This is especially annoying if you
   are listening with headphones. Furthermore, the audio is at times
   saturated, in particular when the chorus gets loud. The most
   amazing thing is that such oddities have been almost a constant
   with Kicco, starting with their recording of "Amica" several years
   ago.

   As for "Silvano" the opera, it remains by far my least favorite
   opera by Mascagni. But give me a performance of "I Rantzau" or
   "Zanetto" anytime!

3. "M'ama... non m'ama" by barytone Oskar Kamionskiy

   Mascagni.org presents a rare recording in Russian of "M'ama... non
   m'ama", one of Mascagni's best-known songs. All the details we have
   about this interesting recording are at this address:

     http://www.mascagni.org/sounds/russian-mama

   Note that a modern recording by Patricia Wright and David Vine is
   available online, along with six other Mascagni songs:

     http://www.mascagni.org/sounds/songs

4. New pictures

   I added few black and white poscards. Mascagni.org's collection is
   getting pretty large!

     http://www.mascagni.org/pictures/black-white-postcards

   I also found recently in the magazine "The Theater" of October 1902
   yet another picture of Roma (Viola Allen) and the Pope, from the
   play "The Eternal City":

     http://www.mascagni.org/pictures/eternal

   Now we should only wish that someday, the orchestral score of
   Mascagni's incidental music will resurface!

-Erik
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