Pietro Mascagni

Pietro Mascagni (7 December 1863 – 2 August 1945) was an Italian composer primarily known for his operas. His 1890 masterpiece ''Cavalleria rusticana'' caused one of the greatest sensations in opera history and single-handedly ushered in the ''Verismo'' movement in Italian dramatic music. While it was often held that Mascagni, like Ruggero Leoncavallo, was a "one-opera man" who could never repeat his first success, ''L'amico Fritz'' and ''Iris'' have remained in the repertoire in Europe (especially Italy) since their premieres.

Mascagni wrote fifteen operas, an operetta, several orchestral and vocal works, and also songs and piano music. He enjoyed immense success during his lifetime, both as a composer and conductor of his own and other people's music and created a variety of styles in his operas.

Biography

Early life and education

Mascagni was born on 7 December 1863 in Livorno, Tuscany, the second son of Domenico and Emilia Mascagni. His father owned and operated a bakery. Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti ("Nanni") was born the same year in the same city and became Mascagni's lifelong friend and collaborator.

In 1876, at the age of 13, Mascagni began musical studies with Alfredo Soffredini, who founded the ''Instituto Musicale di Livorno'' (later called ''Istituto Cherubini''). Soffredini had just completed his musical studies in Milan. Also a native of Livorno, Soffredini was a composer, teacher and musical critic. Mascagni started composing rapidly: between 1879 and 1880, he wrote several works: ''Sinfonia in do minore'', ''Prima sinfonia in fa maggiore'', ''Elegia'', ''Kyrie'', ''Gloria'' and ''Ave Maria''.

Musical career: 1880–1889

The premiere of Mascagni's first cantata, ''In Filanda'', took place at the Istituto Cherubini on 9 February 1881. Performed at a musical contest in Milan, the cantata won the first prize. In the same year Mascagni met the musicians Arrigo Boito and Amilcare Ponchielli in Milan.

In 1882, he composed his ''Cantata alla gioia'' from a text by Friedrich Schiller, followed by ''La stella di Garibaldi'' for voice and piano, and ''La tua stella''. On 6 May Mascagni left Livorno for Milan. He passed the admission examination of the Milan Conservatory on 12 October. In Milan, Mascagni met the noted composer Giacomo Puccini.

On 9 January 1883, Mascagni's sister, Maria, died. The cantata ''In Filanda'' became ''Pinotta'', and was proposed for the musical contest of the Conservatorio, but as his registration was late, it was not accepted.

In 1884, he composed ''Ballata'' for tenor and piano; ''M'ama non m'ama'', scherzo for soprano and piano; ''Messagio d'amore'', and ''Alla luna''.

In 1885, Mascagni composed ''Il Re a Napoli in Cremona'', a romance for tenor and orchestra, on a text by Andrea Maffei. He left Milan without completing his studies. That year, he began touring as a conductor in the operetta companies of Vittorio Forlì, Alfonso and Ciro Scognamiglio, and, in Genoa, the company of Luigi Arnaldo Vassallo.

Mascagni met the impresario Luigi Maresca in 1886 and started working with him. That December, Mascagni arrived in Cerignola with Maresca's company. He was accompanied by Argenide Marcellina Carbognani (Lina), his future wife. Helped by the mayor Giuseppe Cannone, Mascagni soon left the company of Maresca, though not without problems.

He was appointed as the master of music and singing of the new philharmonia of Cerignola. His reputation grew. He also gave piano lessons. In February 1888, he began work on the ''Messa di Gloria.'' In July, Casa Sonzogno announced in the ''Teatro Illustrato'' its second competition for a one-act opera. The following year, Mascagni completed his composition of ''Cavalleria rusticana'' on 27 May and sent the manuscript to Milan.

Mascagni married Lina Carbognani on 3 February 1889. The next day their first son, Domenico Mascagni ("Mimì"), was born. Their son Dino was born on 3 January 1891. A daughter, Emi, was born in 1892.

1890–1899

On 21 February 1890, Mascagni was summoned to Rome to present his opera. The première of ''Cavalleria rusticana'', winner of the Sonzogno contest, was held 17 May at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome. It had outstanding success, and the opera was soon performed in both the north and south of Italy: Florence, Turin, Bologna, Palermo, Milan, Genoa, Naples, Venice and Trieste.

In December, Gustav Mahler conducted the opera in Budapest. Soon thereafter, the cities of Munich, Hamburg, St. Petersburg, Dresden and Buenos Aires welcomed the opera. In March 1891, it was sung in Vienna. At age 26, Mascagni had become internationally famous.

Mascagni premiered his ''L'amico Fritz'', his second most successful opera, on 31 October 1891 at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome. ''I Rantzau'' was premiered on 10 November at the Teatro La Pergola, in Florence, under his personal direction.

The composer next completed '' Silvano '' (1894). On 16 February 1895 he premiered ''Guglielmo Ratcliff'' at the Teatro alla Scala of Milan. On 15 March ''Silvano'' was premiered at the same theatre. That year, Mascagni accepted the directorship of the Liceo Rossini in Pesaro and moved his family there.

On 2 March 1896, Mascagni conducted the première of ''Zanetto'' at the Liceo. He continued his composing and directing. On 29 June 1898 in Recanati, Mascagni conducted the première of his symphonic poem, ''A Giacomo Leopardi''. Mascagni began a collaboration with Luigi Illica, a librettist. Their first work, ''Iris,'' was premiered on 22 November at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome.

Mascagni's father died in May 1899.

1900–1909

In 1900, Mascagni toured Moscow and St. Petersburg and, on 17 January 1901, ''Le maschere'' was premiered in six Italian theaters. Giuseppe Verdi died on 27 January and the following month Mascagni commemorated Verdi's passing. That same year, he conducted Verdi's ''Requiem'' in Vienna.

Mascagni composed the incidental music for Hall Caine's play, ''The Eternal City'' in August 1902; the première of the play with Mascagni's music took place in London on 2 October.

In 1902 and 1903, he toured in Canada and in the United States, (in particular Montreal, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston and San Francisco), where he conducted many of his and other composers' works. The tour was mostly a fiasco, except for the visit to San Francisco where Mascagni was extremely well received.

In 1903, Mascagni left Pesaro after problems with the authorities. He became director of the ''Scuola Musicale Romana'', in Rome. In the same year he signed a contract with the French editor Paul de Choudens.

''Amica'', based on a poem by Choudens with French libretto by Paul Collin, was premiered on 16 March 1905, in Monte-Carlo. That year, he had disputes with Ruggero Leoncavallo and Giacomo Puccini. He also had the Livornese première of ''Le maschere''.

Mascagni was director of the Costanzi for the season beginning in August 1909.

1910–1919

On 4 April 1910, Mascagni began a relationship with Anna Lolli. In October he was reconciled with Puccini.

Mascagni ceased his activity as director of the Scuola Musicale Romana in 1911. That May he left for Buenos Aires, beginning a seven-month tour in South America. The première of ''Isabeau'' took place in Buenos Aires on 2 June.

The Italian première of ''Isabeau'' was held simultaneously at La Scala in Milan (conductor Tullio Serafin) and at La Fenice in Venice (conductor Mascagni) in 1912. On 28 March, he began to work on ''Parisina'' in Bellevue, near Paris, sometimes with his daughter Emi, his mistress Anna Lolli, and the librettist Gabriele d'Annunzio.

''Parisina'' was premiered in Milan on 15 December of that year. Almost all the important Italian composers of the time were present, among them Puccini, Umberto Giordano and Riccardo Zandonai. The new work was premiered in Livorno and Rome in 1914. On 28 July occurred the events that shortly led to World War I: Puccini and Mascagni were against the involvement of Italy in this war, in which Mascagni's son Dino was later made a prisoner.

In 1915 Mascagni wrote music for Nino Oxilia's movie ''Rapsodia Satanica''; the custom was for silent films to be accompanied live in a theater by organ, piano, or an orchestra, often using a prepared score (sometimes with original music) with cues for the conductor or musician. Mascagni had a quarrel regarding the rights of Louise de la Ramée's ''Two Little Wooden Shoes ''(''I due Zoccoletti''), that inspired both Puccini and Mascagni. The subject was retained by Mascagni for '' Lodoletta''. The latter opera was premiered on 30 April 1917 in Rome. The Livornese première of the opera was on 28 July with Beniamino Gigli as Flammen.

'' Sì'', Mascagni's operetta, which he had been manoeuvred into writing by the impresario Carlo Lombardo, was premiered on 13 December in Rome.

1920–1939

In 1920 Mascagni composed ''Il piccolo Marat'', which was premiered in Rome on 2 May 1921, following by a premiere in Buenos Aires in September. The composer returned to South America for a tour beginning in May 1922.

In 1923, he composed ''Visione Lirica''. Mascagni appeared on the cover of ''Time'' on 6 September 1926.

He moved to the Grand Hotel Plaza in Rome in 1927, a place he would not leave until his death.

In 1930, Mascagni conducted ''La bohème'' in Torre del Lago, as a homage to Puccini, who had died in 1924. In 1931, ''Le maschere'' was performed at La Scala.

''Pinotta'' was premiered in San Remo on 23 March 1932. He joined the PNF (Fascist party), following the example of many contemporary musicians, including Giordano.

'' Nerone'' was premièred in Milan on 16 January 1935, followed by the première in Livorno on 24 August.

In June 1936, Mascagni's son Dino died in Somalia.

Last years

In 1940, celebrations for the fiftieth anniversary of his most popular opera, ''Cavalleria rusticana'', took place all over Italy, often with Mascagni conducting. The opera was recorded for ''La Voce del padrone'' ("His Master's Voice") at La Scala under the direction of Mascagni, who recorded a special spoken introduction. EMI later reissued the recording on LP and CD.

In 1942, after an audience with Pope Pius XII, newspapers quoted Mascagni, a Roman Catholic, as saying that his tuberculosis-stricken niece was cured after receiving a rosary and silver medal blessed by the pope.

In April 1943, Mascagni appeared for the last time at La Scala to conduct ''L'amico Fritz''. By that time he had to conduct sitting on a chair. The last season of Mascagni at the Rome Opera (''Cavalleria rusticana'' and ''L'amico Fritz'') was 1944–45.

Mascagni died on 2 August 1945 in his apartment at the Grand Hotel Plaza in Rome. The funeral ceremony was on 4 August. The Italian authorities were not present. In 1951, his body was transferred from Rome to Livorno, where Mascagni finally received an official homage. On 7 December 1963, the centenary of Mascagni's birth, a plaque was erected in Rome on the Albergo del Sole where Mascagni stayed during the premiere of ''Cavalleria rusticana''.

Selected works

Operas

* ''Cavalleria rusticana'' (17 May 1890 Teatro Costanzi, Rome)
* ''L'amico Fritz'' (31 October 1891 Teatro Costanzi, Rome)
* ''I Rantzau'' (10 November 1892 Teatro La Pergola, Florence)
* ''Guglielmo Ratcliff'' (16 February 1895 Teatro alla Scala, Milan), composed between 1885 and the early 1890s
* '' Silvano'' (25 March 1895 Teatro alla Scala, Milan)
* ''Zanetto'' (2 March 1896 Liceo Musicale, Pesaro)
* ''Iris'' (22 November 1898 Teatro Costanzi, Rome)
* ''Le maschere'' (17 January 1901 Teatro Carlo Felice, Genoa – Teatro Regio, Turin – Teatro alla Scala, Milan – Teatro La Fenice, Venice – Teatro Filarmonico, Verona – Teatro Costanzi, Rome)
* '' Amica'' (16 March 1905, Monte Carlo, in French)
* ''Isabeau'' (2 June 1911 Teatro Coliseo, Buenos Aires)
* ''Parisina'' (15 December 1913 Teatro alla Scala, Milan)
* '' Lodoletta'' (30 April 1917 Teatro Costanzi, Rome)
* ''Il piccolo Marat'' (2 May 1921 Teatro Costanzi, Rome)
* ''Pinotta'' (23 March 1932 Casinò, San Remo), adapted from the cantata ''In filanda'' (1881)
* '' Nerone'' (16 January 1935 Teatro alla Scala, Milan), with music written between the 1890s and the 1930s

Operetta

* '' Sì'' (13 December 1919 Teatro Quirino, Rome)

Sacred music

* ''Messa di Gloria in F major'' for soloists, chorus and orchestra (1888)

Orchestral music

* ''A Giacomo Leopardi'', cantata for voice (soprano) and orchestra (19 June 1898, Teatro Persiani, Recanati)
* ''Il re a Napoli'', romanza for tenor and orchestra (18 March 1885 Teatro Municipale, Cremona)

Projects contemplated

During his long career, Mascagni contemplated writing many operas. The following is an incomplete list of such projects, which never saw the light of day:

* ''Zilia'', probably on a libretto by Felice Romani (c. 1877)
* ''Scampolo'', probably on a libretto by Dario Niccodemi (c. 1921)
* ''I Bianchi ed i Neri'', on a libretto by Mario Ghisalberti (c. 1938)

In other media

The sound track of the 1980 film ''Raging Bull'' uses the ''Intermezzo'' from ''Cavalleria rusticana'', the Barcarolle from '' Silvano'', and the Intermezzo from ''Guglielmo Ratcliff'' (known as ''Il sogno di Ratcliff'').

The 1990 film ''The Godfather Part III'' used a production of ''Cavalleria rusticana'' at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo as the setting for its climax, with Michael Corleone's son Anthony as Turiddu. The movie ends with the Intermezzo playing.Lauri-Lucente, Glori
Cavalleria Rusticana and metatextuality in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather III
, paper presented at the British Council conference, ''Reading Screens: From text to film, TV and new media'', Corpus Christi College, Oxford, 6 – 12 April 2003.

Notes and references

Notes

References

Further reading

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External links

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Official Italian web site about Pietro MascagniEnglish web site about Pietro MascagniMascagni cylinder recordings
from the Cylinder Preservation and Digitization Project at the University of California, Santa Barbara Library.
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mascagni, Pietro
1863 births
1945 deaths
19th-century classical composers
19th-century Italian male musicians
20th-century classical composers
20th-century Italian composers
20th-century Italian male musicians
Grand Officers of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus
Italian classical composers
Italian male classical composers
Italian opera composers
Italian Roman Catholics
Italian Romantic composers
Male opera composers
Members of the Royal Academy of Italy
Milan Conservatory alumni
People from Livorno
Pupils of Amilcare Ponchielli
Commanders of the Order of the White Lion