A basso porto
"A basso porto" was first performed in England by the Carl Rosa Co., in March, 1899, at Brighton, and by the Queen's Hall Orchestra on October 11, 1900, under Mr. H. Wood. The opera focuses on the slums of Naples, where Spinelli used mandolins and guitars in several places in his orchestral score. The mandolinists were Florimond and Cesare Costers. The mandolins were an important part of the opera, accompanying the tenor song of the second act, and the finale of the third act. Spinelli composed an "Intermezzo for mandolins and orchestra", as a prelude to the third and last act, a departure from the customary instrumentation. Philip J. Bone said that the audience reaction to the "Intermezzo" "was extraordinary." Bone, a music historian, added more detail about the use of mandolins by Spinelli, saying, "Spinelli makes good use of the mandolins, writing an elaborate cadenza in double stopping and rapid chromatic passages, which evidences a practical acquaintance with the instrument." He also said that the parts of the Intermezzo that were written for mandolins were the sections most striking feature of the "Intermezzo", along with the melody written for cello.
Notes from an English performance
A basso porto ("At the Lower Harbor") is an opera in three acts by composer Niccola Spinelli.