Kukla, Anneliese And Ollie
For the first time in history, Rossini’s Cat Duet performed as the composer intended —by two, um, “chats”: soprano Anneliese Rothenberger and unbilled contralto, curiously unbilled. [Continue reading →]
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Songs Of Love & Jessye
I’m very grateful to Renee Fleming for many things, one of which is introducing me to “Song Of Love”, MGM’s late ’40’s Robert Schumann biopic starring, among others, Katharine Hepburn as Clara Schumann. The movie was one of The Divine Renee’s picks for her guest-VJ night on TCM a while back. I simply fell in love with “Song Of Love”, a movie mostly un-loved when it premiered in 1947. Now, after 60 years, it’s time for this overlooked gem to finally find an audience. “Song Of Love” is more than just Hollywood’s oft-inaccurate version of “Lives Of The Great Lieder Composers”. It’s a song of love, or perhaps “poem of love” would be more apt. This movie’s great humanity speaks to me — it’s “Affair To Remember” in A minor, it’s “Love Story” unadorned.
- Visit the TCM website for more “Love”, including articles & notes.
The video below is compilation of 2 scenes from “Song of Love” and one scene from … well, it’s a surprise!
- Scene 1: “Love, Dedicated”. 1840, Germany.
- Scene 2: “Love, Unadorned”. circa 1840s, Germany, with Franz Liszt on the Yamaha.
- Scene 3: “Love, Over-Accessorized”. 2005. “Somewhere under the sea…”
You’re a brilliant artist, Jessye. I envy you. I wish I had the power to translate the common place into such stupendous experience.
Once in a while though, a little moment comes along which seems to defy translation. Do you know what I mean Jessye? The littlest things — the wonder and the magic. Two hearts that speak, perhaps one to another. The unimportant things.
Love, Jessye, as it is. No illusions. No storms at sea. No guilt. No glitter. NO JELLYFISH.
Just love. Unadorned.
Or do you know what I mean, Jessye?
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The Bossa Nova Of The Seven Veils
SALOME MEETS SOUTH AMERICA
As Montserrat Caballe Moves Faster Than Ever Before
Pair Montsy With The Herod Of Mario Lopez
And “Dancing With The Stars” Would Have To Shut-Down
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Happy Mother-Of-The-Nation Day
“You know, you mustn’t mind if you dislike me. A mother can’t love all her children”
To give you some insight into the relationship with my maternal unit …. I look wistfully upon Livia from “I, Claudius” and wish that she was my mother. Even so, there is still much in “I, Claudius” that rings true. Strip away the Roman villa, replace it with a Texas ranch home, and insert me for Tiberius. Then, by Jove, you’ve got my senior year in high school ready to play.
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Leyla Gencer 1924-2008
One of my favorites has passed away. La Diva Turca, La Regina, La Gencer. I have 2.1 days of Leyla Gencer in my iTunes (and I haven’t even completed The Great iTunes Migration yet). What I admire about Gencer is her intense emotional commitment no matter what she’s singing, and she sang a lot of repertoire: in my iTunes alone, I’ve got 2 Gencer Elisabettas, 2 Gencer Elviras, 2 Gencer Gildas, 2 Gencer Giocondas, 2 Gencer Lucrezias …. I could go on, of course. For me, though, it was Gencer’s unique ability to make you feel like she was communicating directly to you which really made her special. The prima donna assoluta, indeed.
To commemorate this great artist’s passing, let’s listen to the Verdi Requiem with La Gencer singing the soprano role.
Leyla Gencer
Franca Mattiucci
David Hugues
Marius RintzierJohn Barbirolli, conductor.
Genoa 1967
Verd Requiem Part 1 Verdi “Messa di Requiem” Part 1
Verdi Requiem Part 2 Verdi “Messa di Requiem” Part 2
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Who’s “Shorty”?
Who’s This “Shorty” Person Everybody Keeps Talking About?
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We, Claudius
“History, like the press, misrepresents life because it loves the exceptional and shuns the newsless career of an honest man or the quiet routine of a normal day. Most Romans were like our neighbors and ourselves: they rose reluctantly, ate too much, worked too much, played too little, loved much, seldom hated, quarreled a bit, talked a great deal, dreamed waking dreams, and slept.”
-Will Durant, The Story Of Civilization III: Caesar and Christ
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Separated At Birth?
Dame Felicity Lott & Caligula, Emperor Of Rome?
… Caligulott
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Talkin Back To Manon Lescaut
I’ve been watching the Met’s Manon Lescaut all day (courtesy of Channel 241, the 24 hour cable appendage of Philly’s great public television station, WHYY). I wonder if other people talk back to their opera like they do to their soap opera? I do. I talk back to Manon Lescaut just like she’s Jill on “Young And The Restless”.
Act 2, Manon Lescaut
“Shame On Them. Makin Love Right There On That Bed!”
“I Hate When I Lose My Earring Up In The Bed Too, Honey”
“Des Grieux, You A Fool. I Don’t Feel Sorry For You One Bit”
“Well, Now, I Can’t Blame Manon Too Much. I Feel The Same Way About My Opera Recordings”
“I Bet If He’d Built Her A Toll Brothers Home, She’d Still Be With Him Today”
p.s. Act 4, Manon Lescaut
“They sure do get to America fast. I wonder what they use. Lufthansa?”
(To Des Grieux) “Well, Look AGAIN! Dammit! Did You Try The 7-Eleven?”
“How Those Splits Workin For Ya Now, Baby?”
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Separated At Birth?
Eva Marton & Diana Rigg?
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Gorgonzola And Me
click on picture for link to festival homepage
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Steber Melody
The Memory Of Love’s Refrain
And now the purple dust of twilight time
Steals across the meadows of my heart
High up in the sky the little stars climb
Always reminding me that we’re apart
You wander down the lane and far away
Leaving me a song that will not die
Love is now the Steber of yesterday
The music of the years gone by
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Postcard From The Edge
The other day, I got this uncontrollable urge to surf around Vinyl Divas, the fanatical website devoted to the lost art of divadienst LP covers. I had no particular reason to visit the site that day, but I felt compelled to go to Vinyl Divas right then. I didn’t know why. Now, I do.
Waiting for me at Vinyl Divas was a postcard. A postcard from the great beyond, in fact, sent to me by my recently-deceased black cat. When I saw it, I immediately knew my purpose for visiting Vinyl Divas that day. I also immediately knew the message I was receiving.
“Don’t Worry. Marian Anderson’s Taking Great Care Of Me. Miss You Lots. See You Soon. Love, Oprah”
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Diva-Diamonds Are Forever
Gigi: [referring to emerald ring] Who gave it to you, Aunt?
Aunt Alicia: A King
Gigi: A great king?
Aunt Alicia: No, a little one. Great kings do not give very large stones.
Gigi: Why not?
Aunt Alicia: In my opinion it’s because they don’t feel they have to.
Gigi: Well, who does give the valuable jewels?
Aunt Alicia: Who? Oh the shy, the proud, and the social climbers because they think it’s a sign of culture; But it doesn’t matter who gives them, as long as you never wear anything second rate. Wait for the first class jewels Gigi. Hold on to your ideals.
To think, Anna Moffo’s ideals auctioned-off and we could have acquired some [Continue reading →]
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I, Hottie
“I, Claudius” is one of my Desert Island DVDs. I’m watching it again for the the umpteenth million time, except that this time I’ve ripped it to my computer. No more scratched discs. Hurray!
So let us celebrate ancient Roman hottie Marcellus, who doesn’t survive even one hour with Livia! [Continue reading →]
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Pushy Queens
I taught myself Mac’s iMovie application today, hence the video below. I wonder if that qualifies as “home-schooling”?
Poor Dorothea & Kathy, they get manhandled unmercifully by those Queens. Poor Dorothea anyway. I wonder how many people will find catharsis watching Miss Battle being hurled across that stage, over and over again? Even I couldn’t help being a little envious of Luciana Serra.
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Rehab With Marilyn Horne
No, No, No. I’m not absolutely certain about this, but I think that was Marilyn Horne singing that Amy Winehouse song [Continue reading →]
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Lucky Dalila
Samson et Dalila, by Camille Saint-Saens.
Act I, before the Temple of Dagon.
It’s Dalila’s lucky day when Samson just happens along.
No, Shirley, it is we who are the lucky ones. Many thanks for your many Dalilas!
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Could’ve Danced, Should’ve Danced?
I created one of those iMix things at the iTunes store a long time ago and had forgotten all about it, until I noticed it yesterday. Now I remember it’s purpose.
Dancing Fool When Your Diva Wallows In Filth
You’re Ultimately The One Who Has Cleanse, Purge & De-Tox.
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Never Been Baritoned
I was reading the February issue of “Men’s Health: Best LIfe” magazine the other day (the one with speed racer hottie Jeff Gordon on the cover) and was surprised to find The Nathan Gunn Workout lurking amidst all the flat-belly diets, fatherhood tips for dangerous dads, and Jack Nicholson seduction clinics.
“A budding opera star shows you the hotel-room workout that has given him the most powerful upper body on the circuit” Go read it.
I don’t want to brag, but … I’ve also had some memorable workouts in hotel-rooms. [Continue reading →]
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