Teresa Iervolino - L'Angelica - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Lamberto Pavanelli was born in Ferrara in 1890, but he established himself in Imola at a young age, graduating in piano and composition from the local conservatory. There is nothing known about his debut as a musician, but he must have been noticed not far on since, when he was just a bit older than twenty, he drew upon himself the attention of Casa Ricordi, which strove to represent his Vanna in the Teatro Dal Verme, a prestigious theater in Milan at that time. The opera was performed on November 23, 1910. Vanna is an exquisite score that transfigures a typical Realist libretto, with an orchestration having, at times, an almost Ravel-like touch. The overture is an introductory piece that already encloses within it the first signs of an impending drama, with the death knell, which resounds again at the end of the opera. The characters are well-constructed the main character, since her first appearance, is presented to us as a young girl who is in love and who is indifferent to everything else. Exemplary, in this sense, is the beautiful romance, 'Anima mia di neve, ricordi?', perhaps the most significant page of the entire score.

Building on the success of Cavalleria rusticana, Pietro Mascagni's commedia lirica L'amico Fritz was given seven encores and thirty-five curtain calls at it's premiere in Rome in 1891. Considered by critics to be one of Mascagni's best operas, the story is that of a love triangle involving the wealthy Fritz Kobus and Suzel, daughter of one of his tenants, who together sing the famous 'Cherry Duet' in Act II. Returning to the Teatro del Maggio Musicale in Florence for the first time since 1941, this production was acclaimed for it's superb cast and astonishingly effective modern setting.

Estevan Velardi - Il Dolore Di Maria Vergine [COMPACT DISCS] date 09/30/2003