One Fine Day
Apparently abandon by her American husband (the cad!) Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly) still hopes that one fine day he will return to her. Renata Tebaldi was one of the finest actors on the operatic stage and she exhibits this here (an artful use of her face and hands, e.g.). Her sense of commitment to her character is palpable. Not all top singers can (or won't) do this. As well as being one of the finest sopranos ever.
Opera
Re: Opera
It was said that when the great English contralto Dame Clara Butt sang "Land of Hope and Glory" at Dover, she could be heard across the Channel in France. This being an opera thread, here she is singing "Ombra mai fu" from Handel's Serse (Xerxes).
Re: Opera
This is a reminder of a fabulous site which offers full performances of opera, mostly from opera houses across Europe. Excellent productions, great variety. Free.
https://operavision.eu
https://operavision.eu
Re: Opera
...oh, and yes, those pesky academic colleagues, all that dissonance and difficulty. If Sondy has eschewed these, as well as those arty intervals between notes so often found in tradionally famous operas and therefore are not catchy enough for normal people, then maybe it's not true opera after all.
Couldn't resist, King, and being just a tad facetious. I'm curious and will try it.
Couldn't resist, King, and being just a tad facetious. I'm curious and will try it.
Mona
Re: Opera
This is the rousing last three minutes of Il Trovatore by Verdi. Lots of revelations in this last three minutes. The lady in red is dying. The last male character is being told by the lady that he has just killed his brother. The lady who is staggering around the stage is a gypsy who is apparently going mad because she has found that her son has been killed. Whoopie!
Mona
Re: Opera
Uplifting stuff!laffite wrote: ↑September 27th, 2023, 6:35 pm This is the rousing last three minutes of Il Trovatore by Verdi. Lots of revelations in this last three minutes. The lady in red is dying. The last male character is being told by the lady that he has just killed his brother. The lady who is staggering around the stage is a gypsy who is apparently going mad because she has found that her son has been killed. Whoopie!
Re: Opera
Il Trovatore is a grand opera with the best arias, duets, choruses, etc. That's probably why the Marx Brothers used it in A Night at the Opera. The longest ovation I ever witnessed at the Met was when Monserrat Caballe sang "D'amor sull'ali Rosee."
Last edited by Swithin on September 28th, 2023, 4:08 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Opera
I didn't realize that a film was in development based on Saul Bellow's novel, Henderson the Rain King until Laffite mentioned it in another thread. But it reminded me that, in 1977, at the New York City Opera, I saw an opera called Lily, based on the novel. The composer was Leon Kirchner. I remember enjoying it, and that there were a lot of frogs on stage. I just googled Lily and found that it's a "lost opera."
The opera was directed by Tom O'Horgan. Ara Berberian sang the role of Henderson. George Shirley was also in the cast.
Here are quotes from The New York Times review, which was not favorable, apart from the singing.
On the face or it Saul Bellow's “Henderson, the Rain King” would be a strange subject for an operatic libretto. But Leon Kirchner has made the attempt, writing his own libretto, and his new opera, “Lily”—the first one by this veteran composer—had its world premiere last night at the New York State Theater. Mr. Kirchner himself conducted the New York City Opera forces.
It is a strange subject, for the novel takes place half in America, half in Africa, is full of symbolism, has a nonhero as its leading character, deals with ideas more than with action. What Mr. Kirchner has done is build “Lily”‐‐‐that character being Henderson's wife—around one episode in the novel, Henderson's encounter with the cow people.
The opera was directed by Tom O'Horgan. Ara Berberian sang the role of Henderson. George Shirley was also in the cast.
Here are quotes from The New York Times review, which was not favorable, apart from the singing.
On the face or it Saul Bellow's “Henderson, the Rain King” would be a strange subject for an operatic libretto. But Leon Kirchner has made the attempt, writing his own libretto, and his new opera, “Lily”—the first one by this veteran composer—had its world premiere last night at the New York State Theater. Mr. Kirchner himself conducted the New York City Opera forces.
It is a strange subject, for the novel takes place half in America, half in Africa, is full of symbolism, has a nonhero as its leading character, deals with ideas more than with action. What Mr. Kirchner has done is build “Lily”‐‐‐that character being Henderson's wife—around one episode in the novel, Henderson's encounter with the cow people.
Re: Opera
Nor was it meant to be. That's La Tragedia for ya.txfilmfan wrote: ↑September 27th, 2023, 8:05 pmUplifting stuff!laffite wrote: ↑September 27th, 2023, 6:35 pm This is the rousing last three minutes of Il Trovatore by Verdi. Lots of revelations in this last three minutes. The lady in red is dying. The last male character is being told by the lady that he has just killed his brother. The lady who is staggering around the stage is a gypsy who is apparently going mad because she has found that her son has been killed. Whoopie!
Mona