Life
Trained during the period of Realism, his mature career unfolded in the complex climate of the Fin de siècle, an era where the poetics of Verismo, Decadentism, and Symbolism intertwined and coexisted.
Born in Ruvo di Puglia in 1857 to Biagio Cassano and Rosa Vella, Nicola Cassano received his first piano lessons from his uncles Francesco Cassano and Raffaele Vella. Having moved to Naples, he studied at the Conservatory of San Pietro a Majella with Paolo Serrao and was a classmate of Francesco Cilea and Umberto Giordano, thus forming ties with some of the most representative figures of the new Italian musical school.
He graduated in 1878 as a piano master and remained in Naples for a decade, dedicating himself to private teaching. During these years he composed the melodrama L’Alpigianina, performed at the conservatory in the presence of Richard Wagner and later revived with great success at the Mercadante Theatre. This episode marked his establishment as a talented author.
After moving to Bari, Cassano continued his career as a teacher and composer. He wrote the opera L’Orientale, for which he received compensation from Casa Ricordi, in addition to numerous chamber and vocal works such as Il canto dell’Usignolo, the Meditazione per strumenti ad arco, the Serenata spagnola per piano e violino, and a delicate Ave Maria. He also composed minuets, nocturnes, and serenades that enriched the Italian piano repertoire.
He died in Bari in 1915, leaving a rich heritage of compositions that testify to the intensity of his activity and the musical sensitivity that accompanied him throughout his life.
Aneddoto
An Encounter with Wagner
At the premiere of his melodrama L’Alpigianina at the Naples Conservatory, Richard Wagner was present and was struck by the freshness of the young Apulian composer's music.Works
Cassano's catalogue includes melodramas and chamber music. In addition to L’Alpigianina (Naples, Teatro Mercadante), L’Orientale stands out, published by Ricordi, which brought him fame and financial recognition. Other works include Il canto dell’Usignolo, Meditazione per strumenti ad arco, Serenata spagnola per piano e violino, and Ave Maria, as well as a corpus of minuets, nocturnes, and serenades that highlight his melodic skill and refined style.
Briciole di storia
The Tax on Hunger
In 1879, Italy was in turmoil over the "grist tax" (tassa sul macinato), the most hated tax in the Kingdom. As a tax on the grinding of cereals, it affected bread—the staple food of the poorest classes—and was perceived by the people as a true "tax on hunger." The Historical Left, having come to power promising its abolition, continued to postpone the decision for budgetary reasons, triggering a wave of protests. Precisely in 1879, Parliament voted for a gradual reduction, although total abolition would only occur years later. This desperate tax, a symbol of post-unification Italy's economic difficulties, remained an open wound in the country's conscience for many years and caused deep social tensions.
Pubblico dominio (Commons)
