About the work
Le maschere is a commedia lirica in a prologue and three acts by Pietro Mascagni to a libretto by Luigi Illica, conceived as a tribute to Rossini and the commedia dell'arte tradition. It was premiered simultaneously at six Italian opera houses on 17 January 1901, including La Scala in Milan under Toscanini and the Teatro Costanzi in Rome under Mascagni himself.
Plot
In the prologue, a troupe of travelling actors introduces the masked characters they are about to play. Rosaura, the wealthy Pantalone's daughter, is to be married off against her will, though she loves Florindo. With the help of Colombina and Arlecchino, the couple manages, after many complications, to thwart the marriage Pantalone has arranged.
Cultural significance
Except for the Rome performance conducted by Mascagni himself, the premiere was a failure with both audiences and critics; the Genoa performance was halted early amid loud protests. Le maschere subsequently fell into near-obscurity and is only rarely revived.