Description:

Mascagni, who came into the limelight with "Cavalleria Rusticana," a pioneering verismo opera in the history of Italian opera, followed it up with "Fritz the Friend," a love-hate story set in the rich Alsatian countryside, which replaced his previous work, "Cavalleria Rusticana. This work is a story of a man and a woman in love in the rich Alsatian countryside, replacing the love-hate drama of the previous work that takes place in a cold village in Sicily. Rosetta Cucchi's staging of this production replaces the Alsatian setting with the American countryside of the mid-20th century, and together with the chic stage design, creates a unique atmosphere. The cast includes the popular tenor Charles Castronovo as the main character Fritz, the beautiful soprano Salome Zizia from Georgia as his lover Suzelle, and Teresa Iervolino as Beppe, who plays the role of a trouser wearer, and the well-known Japanese singer Riccardo Frizza. The Florentine May Festival Orchestra is led by Riccardo Frizza, a well-known master in Japan, in a heartwarming opera full of Mascagni's beautiful melodies and richly expressive performances. (C)RS