The release of “I Lituani” by Accentus Music is a revelatory achievement. Premiered in 1874, the opera presents itself as a medieval-themed “Aida,” complete with a triumphal ballet and a somewhat untempered penchant for musical hyperbole. Yet, above all, it firmly positions Amilcare Ponchielli as a transitional figure between Verdi and Puccini. This in itself is a feat, as {…}