Search - Alberto Carusi, Carlo Micalucci, Ettore Cresci :: Giordano: La Cena delle Beffe

Interbellum decadence

Ivan W. Caine | Richmond, MA United States | 05/08/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Italian verismo burst on the scene at the end of the 19th century and only Puccini grew stronger. Mascagni and Leoncavallo would be associated with one short opera each, and Umberto Giordano would be known for ANDREA CHENIER (1896). Of his 15 operas, THE SUPPER OF TRICKS is penultimate (1924), set to a libretto adapted from his own "poema drammatico" by Sem Benelli. In 1910 Benelli had written L'AMORE DEI TRE RE (The Love of Three Royals) and adapted the play as a libretto for Montemezzi's work (1913), the finest Italian opera influenced by Wagner.

Giordano was contemporary with Gabriele d'Annunzio, whose presence was strong after the Great War. He probably influenced La cena delle beffe [Italian and French titles use capitals only for proper nouns after the first word] with its sensational sensuality. Composer and poet converged in their accommodation to popular entertainment in the period of growing fascism and cinematic escapism.

The opera often sounds like outtakes from Giordano's "other opera," FEDORA. Text and music are not great art and the drama is grotesque. The performers in this live recording are a pale reflection of the magnificent cast in the debut under Toscanini, but they give us an opportunity to hear an interesting work. The set has a learned introduction with a bilingual libretto, marred by errors. It should be offered at an economy, rather than a luxury, price.

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