Biographies
- Stivender, David. Mascagni: An Autobiography Compiled, Edited, and Trans-
lated from Original Sources.White Plains, N.Y.: Pro/Am Music Resources, - xvi, 372p. ISBN 0-912483-06-7. ML410 .M29 A3.
Since this book was favorably reviewed in OQand Choice,it is included in this
guide. It is a weird blend of invented first-person narrative and imaginary con-
versations, drawn in a manner not well explained from writings by Mascagni
and other materials. Let the reader judge its value. Bibliography and index.
Individual Works
Cavalleria rusticana
ASO50 (1983), Rororo 1987.
- Sansone, Matteo. “Verga and Mascagni: The Critics’ Response to Cavalleria
rusticana.” M&L71–2 (May 1990): 198–214.
The two leaders of literary verismowere Giovanni Verga and Luigi Capuana.
They aimed at truth, spontaneity, and restraint, under a philosophic cloud of
pessimism. Music in the verismooperas increased the emotional aspects of the
stories, emphasized exotic settings, and sought to raise the love/jealousy syn-
drome to a universal level. - Favia-Artsay, Aida. “Did Mascagni Write Cavalleria?” OQ7-2 (Summer
1990): 83–89.
It was his only successful opera and like none of his others. Favia-Artsay specu-
lates, on the basis of a remark by her voice teacher (from the Milan Conserva-
tory, where Mascagni had studied), that “Mascagni did not write Cavalleria,
Ponchielli did. Everybody at the conservatory knew about it.” Ponchielli was
the professor, Mascagni the student; Ponchielli died as Mascagni left the school.
Could it be that the older man had loaned the younger his sketches for an opera
and did not get them back? No response has been seen to Favia-Artsay’s query.
1162.Cavalleria rusticana, 1890–1990: Cento anni di un capolavoro.Ed. Piero
Ostali and Nandi Ostali. Milan: Sonzogno, 1990. 209p. No ISBN. ML410
.M2698 C28.
Consists of 12 brief papers given at a conference held in Livorno in September - They deal with the verismoaspect, other “rustic” operas, and reception.
An appendix presents interesting critical views of the opera by 13 writers of
1890–1982. Name index, title index.
Iris
1163.Mascagni e l’“Iris” fra simbolismo e floreale. Atti del 2° Convegno di Studi su
Pietro Mascagni. Ed. Mario Morini and Piero Ostali. Milan: Sonzogno, 1989.
113p. No ISBN. ML410 .M2698 M37.
Consists of 10 papers from a conference in Livorno, 7–8 May 1988. They deal
with genesis, harmony and color, vocal aspects, and reception. Name and title
index.Pietro Mascagni 223