Composer

:

Pietro Mascagni

Genre

:

Opera

Style

:

Opera

Publication Date

:

1905

First Performance

:

Mar 16, 1905

Average_duration

:

85:34

'Amica' is an opera in two acts composed by Pietro Mascagni. The libretto was written by Paul Bérel and Luigi Illica, based on a French play by Édouard Adenis and Eugène Cormon. The opera was composed in 1904 and premiered on March 16, 1905, at the Teatro Lirico in Milan. The plot of 'Amica' revolves around the love triangle between two men, Gennaro and Raffaele, and a woman, Amica. Gennaro is a wealthy landowner who is in love with Amica, but she is already engaged to Raffaele, a poor musician. Despite this, Amica and Gennaro continue to see each other in secret, and their relationship becomes more intense. However, when Raffaele discovers their affair, he becomes jealous and confronts Gennaro. In the ensuing fight, Raffaele is killed, and Gennaro is arrested and sentenced to death. Amica, unable to bear the thought of Gennaro's execution, takes his place and is executed in his stead. The music of 'Amica' is characterized by its lush melodies and rich orchestration. The opera is divided into two acts, each with several movements. The first act begins with a prelude that sets the mood for the drama to come. The first movement introduces the main characters and establishes the love triangle between them. The second movement features a duet between Amica and Gennaro, in which they express their love for each other. The third movement is a lively dance, which serves as a contrast to the emotional intensity of the previous scenes. The second act begins with a funeral march, as Raffaele's body is carried to his grave. The first movement features a duet between Amica and Raffaele, in which he expresses his love for her and his jealousy of Gennaro. The second movement is a dramatic confrontation between Gennaro and Raffaele, which ends in Raffaele's death. The final movement is a powerful aria sung by Amica, as she prepares to take Gennaro's place in the execution chamber. Overall, 'Amica' is a powerful and emotional opera, with a tragic plot and beautiful music. It is not as well-known as some of Mascagni's other works, such as 'Cavalleria Rusticana', but it is still considered a masterpiece of Italian opera.

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