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Days with Guiseppe Verdi: La Traviata
La Traviata is one of the cornerstones of the operatic repertory. The score is littered with fantastic tunes that are now wildly famous (even those who aren’t at all operatically versed will know many of the arias from countless TV ads), but beyond that, the coherence of the whole piece makes it a masterpiece. The…
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Days with Giuseppe Verdi: Ernani / featuring Luciano Pavarotti *X 12 1935
Music: Giuseppe VerdiLibretto: Francesco Maria Piave`ACT I: THE BANDIT Spain, 1519. Don Juan of Aragon has lost his title and wealth during a civil war. Taking the name Ernani, he leads a band of outlaws in the mountains. He tells his men of his love for Elvira and his daring plan to rescue her from…
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Days with Giuseppe Verdi: Simon Boccanegra
Music: Giuseppe Verdi Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave World premiere: Teatro la Fenice, Venice, 1857 (original version); Teatro alla Scala, Milan, 1881 (revised version). PROLOGUE Genoa, 14th century. Paolo and Pietro, leaders of the plebeians, are conspiring to overthrow the aristocracy. They name the popular former pirate Simon Boccanegra as their candidate for the office of…
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Falstaff — the last opera by Giuseppe Verdi
ACT I The Garter Inn. Dr. Caius bursts into Sir John Falstaff’s room in the Garter Inn, accusing him of unseemly behavior the previous night. He further accuses Falstaff’s two henchmen, Bardolph and Pistol, of having robbed him while he was drunk. Unable to obtain reparations, Dr. Caius leaves in a fury. Falstaff contemplates the…
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Edwin Fischer *X 6 1886 — The Life You Give
Edwin Fischer was a Swiss pianist, conductor, and educator during the first half of the 20th century. He was known for his expressive interpretations of the piano music of J.S. Bach and Mozart. Fischer was born in 1886 in Basle, Switzerland, and started playing the piano when he was four years old. Both of his…
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Pajama Party Preliminaries
This post pertains to the planning which is underway for a marathon — in pajamas, in bed — for the cultured clinomaniac and dysaniac. Wether you desire to stay in bed, or have difficulties getting out of bed, the stay will be filled with an array of joys. These days in pajamas put us as…














