L'amico Fritz - L'Amico Fritz

Following the resounding success of Cavalleria Rusticana, Rome's Teatro Costanzi commissioned Pietro Mascagni to write a new work. The young Italian composer wrote L'amico Fritz, a commedia lirica in three acts based on the comedy L'Ami Fritz, which was first performed at the Comédie-Française in Paris in 1877. Numerous changes were made to Nicola Daspuro's libretto by Targioni-Tozzetti, Menasci and Angelo Zanardini, so many in fact that he eventually signed his text under the pseudonym P. Suardon.

The opera premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 31 October 1891, with a stellar cast including tenor Fernando De Lucia in the title role, soprano Emma Calvé as the innocent Suzel, and baritone Paul Lhérie as David. Encouraged by the composer's previous success with Cavalleria Rusticana, L'amico Fritz was an enormous popular success — seven of the work's arias were performed as encores on the evening of the premiere. The work was soon revived in Italy and abroad, often with the same cast as the premiere. It was performed in Vienna and Covent Garden in London in 1892, at the Metropolitan Opera in New York the following year, and in Hamburg in 1893 under the direction of Gustav Mahler.

However, in the 1930s, L'amico Fritz suffered due to the rise of fascism, with the role of 'Rabbi David' being replaced by 'Doctor David'. After the Second World War, the work became increasingly rare on opera stages. Nevertheless, it was revived from time to time and recorded with Luciano Pavarotti in the title role opposite Mirella Freni's Suzel.

Summary of L'amico Fritz (Pietro Mascagni)

Fritz Kobus is a wealthy nobleman surrounded by many friends. He is resolutely hostile to the idea of getting married and bets his vineyard in Clairefontaine with his friend Rabbi David that he never will. However, when he attends a wedding, he meets the young Suzel. The rabbi plays matchmaker, helping Fritz and Suzel to realise their feelings for each other. Eventually, Fritz declares his love for Suzel. The rabbi wins his bet and gives Suzel the vineyard as a dowry.