Once upon a musical time, Pietro Mascagni (1863–1945) was an operatic superstar. His name was paired with that of Giacomo Puccini as the greatest opera composers of their time, that is, the late 19th and early 20th centuries. But while today Puccini’s operas are staged every year around the world—“La Bohème,” “Madame Butterfly,” and “Tosca” as representative titles—and while even non-operagoers are familiar with the strains of Puccini’s “Nessun Dorma” as sung by tenor Luciano Pavarotti and others, Mascagni’s music has largely disappeared.
Mascagni composed 15 operas, one operetta, many orchestral works, and songs for voice and piano. His operas were premiered at major venues of the opera world, such as La Scala in Milan and La Fenice in Venice, Italy. Vanity Fair magazine made him the subject of one of its famous caricatures in 1912 in connection with the premiere of his opera, “Isabeau.” On Sept. 16, 1923, Time magazine put Mascagni on its cover to promote his new opera, “Visione Lirica.” But you haven’t heard of either opera, have you?
