As promised, I'm going to try to keep an opera theme going, even if it tangential.
I've loved that movie since I was a kid. I read the Gaston Leroux novel and paid respect to the Opera House when I first went to Paris. But I wasn't really into opera then.
Lon Chaney, Sr. was a gifted actor in his day -- probably the best actor in his day. If they had given out Oscars then, he'd have had a couple few.
I recall Chip Ahoy's reaction to Chaney's life story here. I don't recall who hear was first interested in ASL, Chip or Sixty. They both posted on it. They both knew it. How fascinating.
The Italian libretto uses the 2nd person plural: voi che sapete...(ye who know). This looks like the second person singular (formal) in French: vous qui savez (you, sir, who know): French uses its second person plural vous form to address single people formally, while Italian reserves that pronoun -- voi = vous-- for addressing more than one person (second person plural). Italians use their third person (pronouns Lei and Lui) and corresponding verbs to address someone formally.
It seems that every European language -- whether derived from Latin or not -- chose a particular way to address strangers but especially royalty. The Germans took over their third person plural for this purpose: Wissen Sie (literally "They who know" is used to address one person; Greeks, like the French, use their second person plural; We, like the Italians use our third person singular verb form which you can see in vestigial English: "Does his majesty wish" (third person, singular). Anything but the familiar tu, du, thou's to address royals. If you think this is confusing, try holding all these in your head when playing polyglot.
The word nozze in Italian is intriguing. Where does it come from? The closest English cognate is nuptials.
Back to the aria itself. I should see "The Marriage of Figaro" before I die. I am a perfect candidate for enjoying opera, especially Italian. I have a good working knowledge of the language. Back when when I first studied it as my first foreign language at UW Madison, it was just me and a bunch of female music students in that class. Good times! I was just a local bumpkin -- not even matriculated -- trying to show off for those young women. That worked out well. But I always thought opera too highbrow for the likes of me. My sad loss.
Yep, we got some weather. Tedious subject, I know, as this is now the second post in a row where I have mentioned it. Oh well, it's too freakin' cold to talk about anything else.
Went for walkies Wednesday evening, it was brisk out, a bit dampish, and when I got home I found that the recliner was calling my name. I wrapped myself up in a blanket, started watching Serpico, when next thing I know I get a call that there is a blizzard going on. No way - I was just out there, what are you talking about - sure enough - there was already over an inch of accumulated snow.
Next day dawned clear and bright:
But since then it has been below freezing, with temperatures drifting into single digits. Those whose job it is to sensationalize the weather are now saying that we will set a record for the longest sustained period below freezing EVER! Well, in 30-something years, anyway. It won't get above 32 until Monday, and I know many of you are all like "Dude, heatwave!"
So, how cold is it? I just went for another walk and it's so cold that everyone I saw out walking was wearing a parka. That's how cold it is -- we are wearing freakin' parkas! In the South! Cue Ron White! We all look like freakin' Frosty over here!
But enough about that -- how about something completely different, Renee Fleming singing Casta Diva from Norma. The architecture, the 3+ minute long pan shot that opens this video, not to mention the sublime singing warms my heart.
Renee Fleming is an American treasure. What coloratura - I am in awe.
As we join our opera, already in progress, the Countess and her maid, Susanna, betrothed to Figaro, servant to the Count, are writing a duplicitous letter to the Count. He has been delaying the marriage of Figaro to Susanna, with the aim of seducing her. With the Countess dictating, Susanna agrees to meet him 'under the pines.' A comedy of errors ensues.
What a gentle little Zephyr
This evening will sigh
Under the pines in the grove
The rest he will understand.
I know little of opera, please share your favorite pieces so we might all find new surprises. Wiki
