Marek Janowski draws on his expertise in Wagner and German symphonic repertoire for this interpretation of Mascagni’s classic verismo opera Cavalleria rusticana. He directs the Dresdner Philharmonie and Leipzig Radio Choir, along with soloists including Melody Moore as Santuzza and Brian Jagde as Turiddu.
Featuring
Anna Rad-Markowska
Brian Jagde
Elisabetta Fiorillo
Lester Lynch
Manja Raschka
Marek Janowski
Melody Moore
Roxana Constantinescu
Dresdner Philharmonie
MDR Rundfunkchor
Pietro Mascagni
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Composition History
Pietro Mascagni, a 26-year-old baker's son, became a celebrated star composer overnight after his one-act opera Cavalleria rusticana won first prize in a competition.
Composition History
Cavalleria rusticana was composed in just two months for a competition organized by Edoardo Sonzogno, a Milanese publisher, to revitalize Italian opera.
Critical Reception
The opera's success was immediate and widespread, with the work known throughout Europe within a year of its premiere, long before radio or gramophones existed.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Music critic Eduard Hanslick praised Mascagni for re-emphasizing melody and sung melody in opera, contrasting it with Richard Wagner's style.
Compositional Technique
The famous Intermezzo sinfonico from Cavalleria rusticana, which is often performed separately, was so popular it had to be repeated multiple times at the premiere.
Notable Performances
Cavalleria rusticana premiered in Rome at the Teatro Costanzi in 1890, with the applause reportedly lasting as long as the performance itself.
