Pietro Mascagni (1863 –1945)
Iris
Iris Karine Babajanyan
Osaka Samuele Simoncini
Kyoto Ernesto Petti
Der Blinde David Oštrek
Eine Geisha Nina Clausen
Ein Lumpensammler Andrès Moreno García
Choir and Orchestra of the Berliner Operngruppe
Felix Krieger
“The impression made by the orchestra of the Berliner Operngruppe
under Felix Krieger was overwhelming, who brilliantly conveyed
Mascagni's multi-layered music with its shimmering strings, the
impressionistic-melancholy mood and the luxuriant melody.”
–
Bernd Hoppe in the Opera Lounge
Pietro Mascagni (1863–1945) was one of those composers famous for a single work, the remainder of their oeuvre
being practically unknown. His opera Iris is based on the libretto by Luigi Illica, who also wrote the libretti for Puccini
operas such as La Bohème, Tosca and Madama Butterfly.
It was Illica who gave birth to the idea of an opera about Japan. Exotic subjects, i.e. those set in distant lands, were in
vogue throughout Europe, and the Far East in particular was very present at the time. It was Mascagni’s express wish
to write ‘original’ music to this specific material, something hitherto unheard-of.
This recording with the choir and orchestra of the Berliner Operngruppe under Felix Krieger is a live recording of
the Berlin premiere of the original version from the Konzerthaus Berlin. The Berliner Operngruppe celebrated its
10th anniversary.