Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh…

Today is the birthday of Amilcare Ponchielli. It’s possible you may not know his name, but you certainly know his music, thanks to Allan Sherman and Walt Disney.

Of his ten operas, only “La Gioconda” (1876) maintains a toehold in the repertoire. It’s certainly not for want of trying. Ponchielli swung for the fences, with a large orchestra in the pit and impeccable orchestration. He influenced composers of the rising generation, including Giacomo Puccini, Pietro Mascagni, and Umberto Giordano. But nothing outside of “Gioconda” has really stuck.

Fortunately, the opera has its share of memorable moments, including the contralto aria “Voce de donna o d’angelo” (a.k.a. the Rosary song), the tenor romanza “Cielo e mar,” a duet for tenor and baritone, “Enzo Grimaldo, Principe di Santafior,” and the soprano aria “Suicidio!”

However, far and way the most famous music is the ballet from Act III, known as “Dance of the Hours.” The opera is a tragedy (drawn from Victor Hugo), but it’s impossible now to take any of it seriously, since one can’t help but think of ostriches, elephants, alligators, and hippopotami.

Hey, there’s no such thing as bad publicity. Happy birthday, Amilcare Ponchielli!

Dance of the Hours

Pavarotti sings “Cielo e mar”

Callas sings “Suicidio!”

The charming Quartet for Winds with Piano Accompaniment

Muti conducts an orchestral work, “Elegia”

“Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh”

Disney’s “Fantasia” (excerpt)