Opera - What's there to be afraid of?

My schedule is filling up fast these days (you know why), so be sure and email me early if you want a reading.

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Rome is, indeed, a marvelous city. That handsome young man on the right, there at the Pantheon, sold me tickets to hear a concert of favorite arias from operas, one of highlights of my trip. There at the Pantheon.

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Goodreads is a great family site. I got on it because my granddaughter asked me to. Family-friendly sites are so important for the kids today.

As to this book, "Who's Afraid of Opera?" I'm not surprised they don't have the book cover. I'm probably the only person who's read it, I don't know.

Well, I love opera and found it very enjoyable. Perfect what I call "airport fiction." And, BTW, Lufthansa has an opera station on their earphones. Another reason to live in Europe ...

So here are some great quotes from this book, Who's Afraid of Opera, by Michael Walsh - you'll recognize his name as music critic for TIME magazine.

BTW, I took the what opera would you be quiz on facebook and I'd be "The Magic Flute." That's Mozart, and I can't think of a "nicer" opera to "be." This is the best starter-opera, in fact it was mine, and wonderful for kids as well as adults. While I prefer Verdi and Puccini, operas with the dynomite arias (like "Othello" and "Madama Butterfly"), what's not to like about that magical magid flute opera?

OK, ready? Here we go --

1. The opera is like a husband with a foreign title: expensive to support, hard to understand, and therefore a supreme social challenge. (Cleveland Armory)


2. I have always believed that opera is a planet where the muses work together, join hands and celebrate all the arts. (Franco Zeffirelli)


3. To write an opera demands a range of skills that are not limited simply to the musical. The opera composer must also be a judge of literary merit, able to work collegially with a partner (the librettist); a student of the theater, knowing eexactly what effects are possible on stage, and an impresario, adept in the ways of money-raising and patronage. [It is no wonder these men were giants - Wagner, Verdi, Puccini, Rossini]


4. Words were of paramount important to both Verdi and Wagner.


5. As proud as Boito (the librettist) might have been about his own contributions, though, the sense of his letter ... makes it clear that his words are meant to serve the composer, who, in turn, is serving the dramatic situation .... Which in the end, is what opera is all about.


6. The essential condition of opera is .... that it have something to say to us about the way we live our livews, and the social and moral circumstances in which we find ourselves.


7. THERE IS NOT A SINGLE OPERA WRITTEN BY A WOMAN.


8. It has been said that more has been written about Wagner than about anyone else with the exception of Napoleon Bonaparte and Jesus Christ; that's how important Wagner was, and is.


9. [In the Rhinegold and the Ring] Wagner created a metaphor for society and social disintegration that is even more potent today than it was a century ago.


10. Mozart admired Papa Haydn above all composers.


11. For it is the composer who gives moral shape and meaning to the story through his marvelous music.


12. Otello (Verdi) is, indeed, an opera to die for.

Have you been to goodreads?

Who's Afraid of Opera? by Michael Walsh

My review

This book is perfect "airport fiction." I took it on my flight to London. It's clever, true, good stuff.


View all my reviews.

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Potty Parity - Does it work?

Bidet in Italian hotel room

What took them so long?

"Potty parity" it's called, and it's really no laughing matter. In fact, it was interesting to see how our tour guide handled things on my vacation in Europe. At one cathedral, for instance, he told the gentlemen that both restrooms would be turned over to the ladies, first, and then it would be their turn. Why? Because everyone knows women take twice as long.

So that's one solution if you have that kind of clout. Or no one's looking.

Well take a look at the plans for restrooms in the new Yankee Stadium. The article is Ballpark Statisticians Follow a New Count

From the article:

Studies show that women take about twice as long as men in the restroom...

Groups including the American Restroom Association and the World Toilet Organization view quick access to clean public toilets as no laughing matter...

For years, women have most dealt with the consequences, if not the indignity, of waiting in long lines.

New York City passed a law in 2005 requiring that all new or significantly renovated places of public assembly — concert halls, arenas, Broadway theaters, stadiums and the like — have two women’s toilet fixtures for every one devoted to men.

One time this is really a problem is at concerts and operas, when you only have a certain amount of time for intermission. Do you have to choose between going to the restroom and getting a drink?

Well, I'm glad this issue is finally being addressed. Venus Retrograde isn't a bad time to be doing it, either.

CURRENT MOON

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Venus Retrograde

This is one of the most exhausting times astrologically that we've had in a long time. Take it easy. Don't rattle someone else's cage. And stay focused on what it is you really want. It's not nice to fool around right now -- most especially with yourself.

Venus Retrograde is especially hard on creative projects (ask me about the PowerPoints I did from my vacation to Europe), relationships (a bit strained now? You aren't the only one) and finances (ouch!)

Only one more day folks. Then it's a great time for a reading so you can process what happened (and that's about how it feels ... what happened?) and get prepared to get what you want.

Has you life been like this?

• Earthquake near Rome?
• Pirates on the high seas?
• A man decapitates his sister while the grandmother does laundry in the basement?
• Flooding in the Midwest?
• A Saudi judge upholds an 8 year old's marriage, and
  
• Michele Obama touches the Queen of England

It's no wonder we're all exhausted. Turn off the news, tune in to Spirit, and be good to yourself. My friend recommends drinking lemon juice, darkening the room, and listening to good classical music. Sounds good to me!

In fact, why not an Irish lullaby. No one does lullabies like the Irish.



And those of you who study emotional intelligence along with me, and the calming effects of music, notice how the first chords sooooothe. Gartan Mother's Lullaby.

CURRENT MOON

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The Dublin Ramblers - Gartan Mother´s Lullaby

A lot of us are having trouble sleeping right now. If you are, here is a special Irish lullaby for you. Sweet dreams.