THE ROMANCE OF "CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA."

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 323, 9 October 1908, Page 3

THE ROMANCE OF "CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA."

Tho story told in an Australian paper of how Mascagni's beautiful "Intermezzo' 1 was given to the world is a very interesting one, and' furnishes yet another instance of how a jvifo's-discrimination has saved a husband's work from his impatient destruction. When first married Signor Mascagni and his wife were almost penniless, and had the greatest difficulty in keeping the wolf-from the door; In despair, Mascagni sat down, determined to do or die, and after weeks of continual work composed the music . of " Cavalleria Rusticana.". He sent • the score to ; a pub-lisher-in' an agony of trepidation, and all hopo seemed taken from him ;when, shortly afterwards, his beloved music was returned to liirn. Things, had reached a serious pass when one day. he heard that a'money prize had'been offered by an Italian-newspaper for the. best two-act opera, and with tears in her eyes his; wife begged him to try and wiii it with the: rejected work. '-Mascagni was so upset at his'failure, however,' that at" first ; he: : :would not consent' to enter "Cm'alleria,Rusticana" for the priz6; but ih desperation -ho at< last gave in, and after a frugal •meal' took - the 'rejected scoro from a 'draworj, and began to' look .through it'. Then it' was that the_ inspiration of . his lifo came to -him, and with feverish fingers ho wrote out-the world-renowned "Intermezzo," which ;he> added-.to the opera, and which has sinco made his name known throughout the length arid breadth of Europe.' But when it was finished despair again seized him,' and ho flung tho " Intermezzo " into-tho fireplace. Luckily for tlio world, his wifo came in at that moment; and, was just in'time to savo the precious, MS. from tho fire,'. In duo course "Cavalleria Rusticana" appeared, mid at once captivated the' musical world.'