Thirty Years of Musical Life in London, 1870-1900

urn:iso:std:iso:639:ed-3:eng

385-6

text excerpt

The elements were thus ripe for a fresh triumph  when the time came for the production of “I  Rantzau'' on July 7. Mascagni's third opera had  seen the light at Florence only in the previous  November. The book appeared to offer a promising combination, being written by the librettist  of “Cavalleria Rusticana” and founded upon a  novel, “Les Deux Freres,'' by MM. Erckmann - Chatrian, the authors of “L'Amico Fritz." Unfortunately, the material of the plot proved altogether inadequate for a four-act opera, while the  love interest which so largely predominated in  “L'Amico Fritz'' was here subordinated to the  events of a sordid quarrel between two wilful, ill-tempered brothers. Moreover, Mascagni treated  the quarrel in an intensely tragic vein, which is  nowhere more strikingly exemplified than in the  long and elaborate finale to the first act. This  ambitious piece of writing I have described as  strong, rugged, original, and clever. “Nevertheless, a big effort of the imagination is required to  suppose an entire village so upset by a squabble  over a field as to stand in two sections in the  open piazza, shouting at each other for ten minutes by the clock!" Even a street row in Nuremberg, aroused by a matter of genuine public  interest, was depicted by Wagner in less time than  that.  So, despite the presence and cooperation of the  genial young composer, “I Rantzau” was not a  success. The principal parts were sung by Melba,  De Lucia, Ancona, David Bispham, and Castelmary, and the opera was mounted in thoroughly  efficient style.

excerpt from 'Thirty Years of Musical Life in London, 1870-1900' pp. 385-6 (264 words)

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1438532730981