MascagniPietro
Mascagni (1863-1945) is a 'one-hit' composer, virtually only
known for his opera Cavalleria Rusticana. He was born in Livorno,
Italy,
and studied under Ponchielli at the Milan Conservatory. He became
famous in 1890 after the first performance of "Cav", with its melodies
resembling Italian folk song, combined with rich orchestration and a passionate
fast-moving plot. Sadly, he endorsed Mussolini's fascist regime for political
favour, and took over La Scala Milan, after Toscanini conscientiously resigned
from there in 1929. He died only one year after Mussolini was defeated, in a
shabby hotel in Rome.