New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-17
A Tragic Comedy
from Real Life
soncavaos 'Pagliacci -Veritism in Italian OPera-n-
spred by Mascagnis "Cavaleria Rustcana
Source of the Plot
By n. E. KREHBlEL.
copz4ss'. 1916 by II Z N'e4.a

>DR rarer OF a century Cayaleria rustIcaua and ael
II a,ci have been the Castor and Poluz Of operate
theatres Of Europe and America Together they have
oed the OF Impresano for that CALIFORNIAN
i- success together they lighted the way through
5I-o'an Opera House New York efforts have been made
them and to find associates for one or the other since
,b- is sufficient in for evening, entertainments but
bev refuse put asunder scadsty did the twin
brother, Helen and Clytemnestra There has been no op
tc Zec powerful enough separate and alternate their eX
ence even day; and though bae critics viii continue to
ali At the double bill they have done or decades
-s the two fierce little dramas will sit shining the sails of
any managerial ship and bring 1t safe to haven Tor many
year TO come. .. =: .:-... ; -. .t.; ..r,;,, ~ go.
irene representatives OF verismo; twins IN the fitness OF their
~ N but twins they respect OF 4arenage or
~Cayaera rustcana Is older than aghacD and as
truly progenor a. w eber operas were the PoSemlors OF
Wacner They the offspring OF the same artistic o'enen
and it the phenomenal success OF Ma-casnl opera which
was the spur that drove eoncaEalo TO write ms When OaN
m ruscana appeared the two generations o opera
o had passed away without experiencing anything like the
sensation caused by this opera. They had witnessed the pro-
f-on indeed Of great masterpieces, which would be almost
acregous To- the breath with Mascagni tu
bent and torenta tragedy but these works the produc
% If mature masters from whom thing, monumental and
irc were expected a matter OF men like Nagner
f T TIE generation, had also seen the coming of Car
men and gradually opened their minds appreciation OF IFS
meaning and beauty while the youthful genius who had created
9. ,,,ed into hi. grave. bit they had not seen the
advent f work which almost day set the world ON tire and
raised an anNa.In i ul' rom ce II was scarcely
~ he wondered that Judgment flung To the winds and ha
the most volatile OF musical NATIONS ana 'e 1 49,
he Young composer the successor 81 efdi the reSehed'o
+ one
- oe- and make unnecessary the hopeless task of trying
81. ,..-k along the lines laid down by Wagner
and hi, the outcome OF competition DaSed on
the nke kind Of o0mmercialsmone of those occa9ionas
from which ue been taught to believe we ought never 10
expect ANYTHING Of ideal and lasting merit aShacci wa" III
Nay fruit 0i the competition hree years OJ'e
Caa rustcana" had started the universal conagraon Ke
ce-5 Leorcavao who at sixteen year, ~ age had won u"
diploma a. the Naples Conservatory and received the degree
Doctor Ietters from the University Of Bologna at twenty @
read bis dramatic poem II Medci 10 the publisher R'ord ana
been commissioned Music fDr THIS Nrk ne was I'd
receive 2-0O francs He completed the composition Withn
- ft here was no contract that the opera h uld be per-
formed and this hoped-or contamination did not follow" men
cane ascagns triumph and Leoncavao who had been oDseu
- return 70 the routine work Of operate rpetear
los, PATIENCE Satisfied that Rcordi would never do anythn2
more FIR him and become desperate he shut himself IN his room
r. ATTEMPT one more workas he said in auobographcaI
sketch which appeared in La Reorme journal published j.
Alexandria In I'VE month, he had written The book and music
o psgacc which accepted for publication and PROD
tv So-zogno Records business rival after single TeaII
the re AIaure. whose friendship Leoncaao had mad n
coaching opera singers Paris. used his influence III favor OH me
opera oered 10 the part Of IoH and ana SO al Inc |
performance Of the opera the Teatro dial ERNIE Man. on
Nav = 1892