- Alberto Franchetti
Alberto Franchetti (
18 September 1860 ,Turin -4 August 1942 ,Viareggio ) was an Italianopera composer .A nobleman of independent means, he studied first in
Venice , then inDresden under Draeseke, and finally at theMunich Conservatory under Rheinberger. His first major success occurred in 1888 with his opera "Asrael". His operatic style combined influences from Wagner and Meyerbeer with Italianverismo . During his life, critics sometimes referred to him as "the Meyerbeer of modern Italy."Other members of the "
Giovane Scuola " of the period (Mascagni, Giordano and Cilea) are remembered as "one-opera composers"; Franchetti did not quite achieve that soubriquet."Grove" calls "Cristoforo Colombo" (1892) Franchetti's best work. However, his most popular opera was "Germania" (1902). It clung to the general operatic repertoire until the
First World War , was performed worldwide, andEnrico Caruso held it high regard, recording various arias. It then lapsed into obscurity.Recent revivals and recordings of "Cristoforo Colombo" and "Germania" (Berlin Oper 2006/7) show his work to be of genuine quality with a fine ability in orchestration and use of the chorus, symphonic in style. These traits, along with a tendency for two-dimensional characters, were recognised early.
He also wrote a Symphony in E minor.
Performed Operatic Works
*"Asrael" (1888)
*"Cristoforo Colombo" (1892)
*"Germania" (1902; includes the tenor aria "Studenti! Udite")
*"La figlia di Iorio " (1906)
*"La Notte di Legenda " (1915)
*"Giove a Pompei " (1921; joint composition withUmberto Giordano ).References
*Rosenthal, Harold and John Warrack. (1979, 2nd ed.). " [http://www.folklib.net/index/discog/bibliog7.shtml#ko The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Opera] ". London, New York and Melbourne: Oxford University Press. p. 178. ISBN 0-19-311318-X.
Links
* [http://www.albertofranchetti.it/ Alberto FRANCHETTI (1860-1942) ] at www.albertofranchetti.it
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
