To continue the correlations between the Russian musician and his young
colleagues of the time, we all know the appreciation of Tchaikovsky for
"Cavalleria Rusticana" by Mascagni, given in Warsaw in the last days of
1891.
Mascagni was a very active conductor, beginning with some suspicion (even
for the proposed "bold", then with great success).
One of his favorite composers was "Peter" ...
The official website of Mascagni:
http://www.pietromascagni.com/content/view/23/65/lang,%20en/
shows performances of Tchaikovsky's music in these years and places:
1898 (LONDON) 1899 - (LEIPZG) -1901 (ROME) -1901 (ROME) -
1903 (SAN FRANCISCO) -1904 (VENICE) 1905 (PARIS) -1911 (BUENOS AIRES 1924
(ROME) -1931 (FLORENCE).
Mascagni in 1898 gave six concerts at La Scala conducting, among other
things, for the first time in Italy the Tchaikovsky Pathetique:
"The Maestro Mascagni - watched the" Corriere della Sera "in the number
of 13/14 April 1898 - has undoubtedly the rarest quality of the interpreter
and the Director. Each of his new concert there is clear evidence ...".
Years ago one of the current directors and descendants of Mascagni's
legacy, he told me about an event passed as a true family. During a train
journey where the two musicians traveled both, unbeknownst to each other,
Mascagni to your station of arrival was greeted by an enthusiastic crowd.
Tchaikovsky inquired who the person was and knew that his namesake was
"Peter" he had delivered a note of appreciation.
This event must, however, coincide more precisely with the one told by
his brother Modest Tchaikovsky I happened to Vienna in September 1892 stayed
in the same hotel where the two musicians.
See in Tchaikovsky Research
http://www.tchaikovsky-research.net/en/people/mascagni_pietro.html
Tchaikovsky inform the person who he was and knew that it was "the other
Peter" delivered him a note of appreciation.
The descendants told me that Mascagni had kept jealously kept the ticket
but it was lost during the Second World War along with much other material
of the family.
The appreciation of Mascagni was to Tchaikovsky, according to the
descendants who told me these facts, the observation that Mascagni had
testified to that part of the public to its "first" show of Tchaikovsky did
not like the "Russian" ...
And Mascagni: "They do not understand anything !!!!".
Anthonio Garganese (Prato, Florence)
Regards
Antonio Garganese
Prato (Florence)