PIETRO MASCAGNI (1863-1945): Sì.

Description: Mascagni’s one and only operetta dates from 1919 and its background is of parodist grotesque, re-enacting petty-bourgeois salacity, even in the title: Sì, from the name of the protagonist, so called because she never knew say no to anyone. In this operetta Mascagni lavished the gifts of his most spontaneous melody; the letters aria sung by Vera, the andantino of the duet in Act 1, the page of the wedding party in act 2, the seduction duet between Chablis and Vera, the “sad waltz” sung by Sì; the prelude for strings opening Act 3. Margherita Vivian, Amelia Felle (sopranos), Marina Gentile (mezzo), Mauro Nicoletti (tenor), Coro Symbolon Ensemble, Orchestra Sinfonica del Cantiere d’Arte di Montepulciano; Sandro Sanna. Original 1989 release.