Yes, this is mandolin as stage prop, not featured instrument. The second movement is called "Tarantella" and uses the mandos to sound sort of Italian, although not too slavishly. Corigliano is a theatrical writer (movie scores, too), and they are a special effect, mainly. Not that the part is easy---it was a challenge for me when I did it.
The symphony is a trip, screaming 1st movt, busy 2nd, lyric 3rd, dreamy 4th with mandos playing light chords at the end.
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