Balthasar Neumann Orchestra, Balthasar Neumann Choir & Thomas Hengelbrock - Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana (2023) [Hi-Res]

For the premiere of his Cavalleria rusticana in 1889, Pietro Mascagni had to make a whole series of cuts and transpositions: The chorus at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome was not up to the demanding choral parts, and the soloists of Santuzza and Turiddu sometimes complained that their parts were uncomfortably high – and so the composer not only deleted large parts of the choral passages, but also changed his carefully thought-out key concept. Nonetheless, the piece was such a resounding success at its premiere that it continued to be performed in modified form – even after the piece had long since begun its triumphal march around the world.

Under the direction of Thomas Hengelbrock, the verismo one-act is now heard again in its original version for the first time: the singers’ parts in the original, higher registers exude radiant splendour, and large, virtuoso choral scenes can be heard for the first time in their entirety and in a rousing and meticulously executed version by the Balthasar Neumann Choir.