Pietro Mascagni

Opera Review: “Iris,” A Powerful Vision of an Imaginary Japan — Six Years Before “Madama Butterfly”

February 14, 2022

Posted in Featured, Music, Opera, Review

The composer of Cavalleria rusticana brought his sense for characterization and drama to the all-too-plausible tale of a woman victimized by a cad.

Opera Album Review: An Important Early Opera by the Composer of “Cavalleria Rusticana”

August 3, 2021

Posted in Featured, Music, Opera, Review

I felt at times that I was listening to the Italian equivalent of a Broadway musical, though a serious rather than jolly one.

CD Reviews: Mascagni’s “Zanetto” and Thomson’s “Four Saints in Three Acts”

January 24, 2017

Posted in Classical Music, Featured, Music, Review

Odyssey Opera’s first commercially-released album is a fun showcase; BMOP delivers an excellent performance of Four Saints in Three Acts.

Commentary: Top Classical Recordings of 2016

December 17, 2016

Posted in Classical Music, Commentary, Featured, Music, Review

I make no claims to have listened to everything released in 2016; here are my picks for the top classical recordings of the year.

Pietro Mascagni

Opera Review: “Iris,” A Powerful Vision of an Imaginary Japan — Six Years Before “Madama Butterfly”

Opera Album Review: An Important Early Opera by the Composer of “Cavalleria Rusticana”

CD Reviews: Mascagni’s “Zanetto” and Thomson’s “Four Saints in Three Acts”

Commentary: Top Classical Recordings of 2016

Recent Posts

Visual Arts Review: At the Danforth Art Museum — Strong Exhibitions That will Get You Thinking

Poetry Review: “What Comes from the Night” — Witnessing Tiny Secret Lives

Film Review: “Oh, Canada” — Remembrance of Uncertainty Past

Musician Interview: The Jesus Lizard’s Duane Denison Talks About Assembling the “Rack”

Coming Attractions: December 8 Through 23 — What Will Light Your Fire

The Arts Fuse

We are