Mascagni plays his Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana - Historical Piano Roll

Ampico (live) recording, piano: the composer himself, Pietro Mascagni.

Here I hope this recording may convince that Mascagni was a very fine pianist indeed, fully expressing many 19th century techniques (e.g. the rubato and non-synchronization of the hands).

Overall this playing is so exceptional in its ability to transport the listener back to late nineteenth century Sicily. (But, I also think the sound quality of this roll recording adds to the period 'feel'...)

Those arpeggi, micro-accelerandi, and notes ahead of the beat all contribute to a fluid, flexible, liquid-like lyrical performance. One thing that's lacking in this interpretation is the dynamic range though... which has been compressed somewhat by the roll recording.

Again... I'm mesmerized by his performance... needed to listen to others in this Andante sostenuto... and actually I find an incredible tenderness, nostalgia, surrender, exceptional "fraseggiando" (as no one else actually)...

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Pietro Mascagni - Composer (1863-1945)
Regarded as one of the most important Italian composers of the turn of the last century, his first masterpiece, a one act opera known as Cavalleria Rusticana, opened in Rome in 1890, met with wide public acclaim and was soon being performed throughout Italy. Gustav Mahler conducted its performance in Budapest. He toured Russia in 1900 and later, the United States and South America.


"Pietro Antonio Stefano Mascagni (December 7, 1863 - August 2, 1945) was an Italian composer most noted 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. It has been stated that Mascagni, like Leoncavallo, was a 'one-opera man' who could never repeat his first success ... the Sicilian passion and warmth of Cavalleria..."
From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mascagni

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Mascagni
• Cavalleria
• Rusticana
• Intermezzo
• Piano
• Roll

[studakota1]

I consider this to be the most beautiful music ever written. It never fails to tug at my heart...

[MrCafiero]

Pianists SHOULD be playing Mozart, Bach etc. HANDS apart like this!!

[countceprano]

Fabulous.... love his tempi!

[maxmastrangelo]

Thanks a lot for this wonderful and moving document..

[kablue79]

Brividi.