Mugnone, Leopoldo

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Mugnone, Leopoldo

Mugnone, Leopoldo, noted Italian conductor; b. Naples, Sept. 29, 1858; d. there, Dec. 22, 1941. He studied with Cesi and Serrao at the Naples Cons., and began to compose as a young student. When he was 16, he produced a comic opera, Don Bizarro e le sue figlie (Naples, April 20, 1875); other operas were II Biricchino (Venice, Aug. 11, 1892; fairly successful) and Vita Brettone (Naples, March 14, 1905). He also composed an attractive Neapolitan song, “La Rosella,” and other light music. But it was as a fine opera conductor that Mugnone achieved fame, his performances of Italian stage works possessing the highest degree of authority and an intense musicianly ardor. He also brought out Wagner’s music dramas in Italy, and conducted the first performances of Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana (Rome, May 17,1890) and Puccini’s Tosca (Rome, Jan. 14,1900).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis Mclntire

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