| At the age of just twenty one, Umberto Giordano presented his opera Marina, with libretto by Enrico Golisciani, at the second Sonzogno competition, in which Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana was a resounding success. Marina came sixth but the composer impressed publisher Sonzogno, who shepherded him into his team alongside the winner. Giordano’s opera was accompanied by a citation from Dante: The spark comes first, and then a mighty flame (Paradise. I, 34). It was a quote that turned out to be a prophecy. For the talented composer from Foggia, Marina was the spark destined to burst into a blaze of music, several theatrical masterpieces, and immediate acclaim, leading from that last glimpse of the eighteen hundreds as the composer, along with Mascagni, opened up the season of Verismo and the «Young Italian School». To be singing today as “Marina” for the world premiere of the opera, and in a concert performance, is of enormous significance for me. The event is one of the most eagerly awaited in the music world and the concert is being held at Teatro Dal Verme, the opera house that was so strategic in the history of Italian Verismo opera. This is a unique opportunity for us as artists and for the audience, another piece in the mosaic of Italian opera history set in place, which record label Decca has chosen to record. Marina is a stream of music and, as such, is similar to the other operas by composers like Mascagni, Puccini and Giordano himself, who revolutionised Italian opera at the close of the eighteen hundreds. Marina, in the critical edition by Andreas Gies, is conducted by Vincenzo Milletarì at the helm of the Orchestra dei Pomeriggi Musicali and the Teatro Petruzzelli Chorus prepared by Marco Medved. The other soloists are Freddie De Tommaso, Mihai Damian and Nicholas Mogg. |
