Mascagni: Silvano

Well worth a listen - and perhaps a revival?

There are some lovely, plangent melodies in this opera and although it doesn't have the thrust and drive of "Cavalleria" and is something of a plot clone, it is very appealing, especially when performed as well as this. It is much more gentle and wistful in mood, relying heavily upon sinuous, soaring string lines and a dark, brooding orchestral colours - Mascagni was always a master orchestrator. He wrote seventeen operas in all, and apart from his one great, lasting triumph, only "L'Amico Fritz" hovers around the periphery of the operatic repertoire. This one seems like the most likely candidate for revival.

My apologies to previous Amazon.com reviewers, but the excellent Jospeh Wolverton sounds nothing like Bjorling - nobody does! I agree with the Amazon.uk reviewer that there are from some passing similarities, particularly in the middle of the voice, to Pavarotti, but there is less pharyngeal ring to Wolverton's voice than you find with either of those great gentleman - it is a little huskier and cloudier of tone, but he has the top notes and sings with great feeling; his big aria towards the end of the opera (which has survived as a concert item in the repertoire of more adventurous tenors) is a gem. I wonder why he hasn't recorded more and become more celebrated?

The other singers are very acceptable. Even if Rachel Sparer's vibrato is a little broad, she sings very expressively. The baritone Knezevic is new to me; his is not an especially large or beautiful voice but he is well in character and his Italian is idiomatic. The conducting and orchestral playing are beyond reproach; the recording quality first rate.

If you enjoy this, I would also recommend the Domingo recording of "Iris" (see my review) - a great favourite of the legendary Magda Olivero and perhaps the other candidate for revival among Mascagni's works.



October 28, 2008

AN UNKNOWN GEM!

FRANKLY, I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN I BOUGHT THIS. LITTLE DID I KNOW IT WOULD TURN OUT TO BE THE TWIN OF "CAVALLERIA." THE PLOT IS BASICALLY THE SAME, BUT THE CHARACTERS CHANGE. THE TENOR IS THE ASSASIN, THE BARITONE THE VICTIM. THE MOTHER-SON RELATIONSHIP IS PRESENT, AS WELL AS THE UNFAITHFUL WIFE.WHAT MAKES IT DIFFERENT IS THAT THIS IS A TENOR'S DREAM OPERA, AND THAT JOSEPH WOLVERTON HAS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VOICES I HAVE EVER HEARD ON RECORD--ENOUGH TO MAKE ME LISTEN TO THE RECORDING TWICE IN A ROW, WHILE I IMAGINED HOW HE WOULD SOUND IN OTHER OPERAS LIKE "L'ARLESIANA," OF "LES PECHEURS DES PERLES." I AM TOTALLY STUNNED HE HAS NOT HAD, FROM WHAT I GATHERED ON INTERNET, A MAJOR CAREER.THE OTHER PRINCIPALS ARE ALSO EXCELLENT. A MUST HAVE FOR THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING FOR OPERAS OUTSIDE THE USUAL FARE! October 25, 2007

Tenor Joseph Wolverton IS Supurb!

I agree with the reviewer, Delman, that Joseph Wolverton, who plays Silvano, is a supurb tenor and, yes, he does remind me of Jussi Björling as well. Too bad there are not any other recordings of him. The high point is definitly Silvano's big aria that comes toward the end of act II, "S'e spento il sol". Rachel Sparer as Matilda is equally as good. This little known opera by Mascagani is very good, reminicent of Cavalleria Rusticana, but missing the beauty and dramatic flow of that opera. When the opera starts it's as if we are walking into the middle of an opera that has already started. That is why I have only given this CD 4 stars. The recording is also very good. March 18, 2004

A marvelous American Tenor

The clarity and pure sound of Joseph Wolverton is a reminder of the great Jussi Bjoerling. Need I say more. October 3, 2000

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