[mascagni-interest] Article about AVA's L'amico Fritz

[Erik Bruchez]

Dear list,

I just found this review of the recent AVA concert performances of
L'amico Fritz:

  http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/entertainment/10717165.htm

The review praises without condition the performance and is not too
negative about the opera itself.

The reviewer is right that there isn't much action going in Fritz, but
saying that "the piece itself hardly makes an indelible impression" is
quite a shortcut. Yes the piece is light, and it was so on purpose,
according to the tradition, Mascagni wanting to prove that his music
had value independently from a good libretto like that of Cavalleria
Rusicana. But the sheer quantity of melodic and harmonic invention in
L'amico Fritz is incredible, from the wonderful Prelude to the
intermezzo to the arias like "Son pochi fiori", "O amore", the Cherry
Duet, "Faceasi vecchio Abramo", "Non mi resta che il pianto", and the
final love duet.

Speaking of articles, here is one on the passing of Margherita Carosio
in January:

  http://tinyurl.com/46kd2

-Erik

(Who just read the usual string of banalities about Mascagni in Mosco
 Carner's Puccini, and so could be in a better mood ;-)
_______________________________________________
mascagni-interest mailing list
mascagni-interest@lists.alphanet.ch
http://lists.alphanet.ch/mailman/listinfo/mascagni-interest