Pasquale Di Cagno: Maremma

Description

Opera Discovery Records presents the world premiere recording of Pasquale di Cagno's opera Maremma (c 1930). Urged by Puccini, who hosted him in his "La Tagliata" estate in Ansedonia, to write a work on the Maremma region and to use Giuseppe Adami as librettist, Pasquale di Cagno waited a few years before beginning this project.

Di Cagno submitted his work, entitled Maremma, at the Scala under the pseudonym of Costante Costanti. The ploy failed and his score was rejected, as were the following submissions, determining an authentic ostracism towards the Apulian composer's music. Embittered, di Cagno withdrew from composing while remaining tied to the world of music. In the 1960s there was a sudden interest in his work which culminated in the first performances of theMaremmaon Italian Radio in 1966 conduced by Pietro Argentowith Angela Vercelli and Luigi Infantinothen at the Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari in 1968. Unfortunately, the composer could not rejoice in their success because he had sadly died a few years previously.

The story takes place near the ancient city of Ansedonia, in Maremma. Giose, a shepherd in love with Mara, killed the groom whom the old father Turi had destined for the girl. Trembling and insecure Mara joins him in the forest, led by a sheperd. Meanwhile Turi rushes to avenge the honor of his family. With the proud accents of the ancient patriarchs he claims the right to give his daughter a husband of his choice and deplores Giose's violence. Enraged, Giose strangles him after a furious quarrel and apathetically concedes himself to the judgement and revenge of the community.