Composer

:

Pietro Mascagni

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Song

Compose Date

:

1883

Average_duration

:

2:25

Pena d'amore is a vocal work composed by Pietro Mascagni, an Italian composer known for his operas. The piece was composed in 1913 and premiered in the same year in Milan, Italy. It is a song cycle consisting of six movements, each of which is a setting of a poem by Italian poet Gabriele D'Annunzio. The first movement, "L'alba separa dalla luce l'ombra," is a gentle and melancholic piece that sets the tone for the rest of the cycle. The second movement, "Sogno," is more dramatic and passionate, with soaring vocal lines and a sense of urgency. The third movement, "La sera fiesolana," is a nostalgic and wistful piece that evokes the beauty of the Tuscan countryside. The fourth movement, "L'ultima canzone," is perhaps the most famous of the cycle. It is a hauntingly beautiful piece that tells the story of a dying woman who sings her last song to her lover. The fifth movement, "Tramonto," is a peaceful and serene piece that captures the beauty of a sunset. The final movement, "Odi et amo," is a passionate and intense piece that expresses the conflicting emotions of love and hate. Overall, Pena d'amore is a beautiful and emotional work that showcases Mascagni's skill as a composer. The vocal lines are expressive and lyrical, and the piano accompaniment is sensitive and supportive. The cycle as a whole is characterized by a sense of longing and nostalgia, as well as a deep emotional intensity.

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