You
don't like opera. At least you think you don't like opera. And then
you're out in a public place---a square in Madrid, a mall in
Philadelphia, a restaurant in Los Angeles---when, without warning, opera
breaks out all around you. What? This is fun? You find yourself smiling?
Laughing? Tapping your foot, swaying, bobbing? Even though you don't
know the words? The melody might even be familiar---maybe you heard it
in a Bugs Bunny cartoon. How could this be? You think to yourself,
huh, maybe I sort of kind of do like opera. . .a little. . . wonder if
maybe I should listen more? Answer: yes, you should. Here are
flashmob opera excerpts, compared with the real thing.
Opera Flashmob in a market in Sydney, Australia. Would you like your
"Carmen" in a bag?
Saturdee Opry Links Overture!
"William Tell," by Rossini. (Yeah, that's right---you know this one,
Kimosabe!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOofwWT3Edc
1.
"Libiamo Ne' Lieti Calici" ("Let's Drink"),
from Verdi's "La Traviata."
Translation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libiamo_ne%27_lieti_calici
Setting: A late-night party at the house of Violetta Valery
Synopsis: Alfredo is convinced by Gastone and Violetta to show off his
voice. He sings (as this title suggests) a drinking song.
Shopera/Opera: the "flash opera."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNOg9nczTZ0
The real thing, with Placido Domingo and Teresa Stratas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZUonmbtVQo
2.
Ode to a funicular railway! In this case, the
trademark song, "Funiculi, Funicula."
From Wikipedia: "Funiculì, Funiculà" is a famous Neapolitan song
composed in 1880 by Luigi Denza to lyrics by Peppino Turco. It was
written to commemorate the opening of the first funicular cable car on
Mount Vesuvius. It was presented by Turco and Denza at the Piedigrotta
festival the same year. The sheet music was published by Ricordi and
sold over a million copies within a year. It has been widely adapted and
recorded since its publication.
Shopera/Opera: the "flash opera."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44UC6muN8KY
Mario Lanza with the "real thing:"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJd-SHzqUC4
And The Grateful Dead (warming up):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93b8t66qwZw
3.
"Bevo al tuo fresco sorriso," the astonishingly
beautiful quartet from Puccini's,
"La Rondine" ("The Swallow.")
Synopsis:
Ruggero offers a toast: Let us drink to love! The two couples
drink, then Ruggero toasts Magda. "I drink to your fresh smile. I drink
to your profound desires and to your lips, which have uttered my name."
(Bevo al tuo fresco sorriso) To Magda, this evening is a
fulfillment of her dream. She is supremely happy. Lisette and Prunier
exchange thoughts of love for each other. Prunier even tells her that
she is the first who has spoken to his heart. Ruggero and Magda swear to
be with each other forever.
http://opera.stanford.edu/Puccini/LaRondine/synopsis.html
Shopera/Opera: the "flash opera."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsLivg6byjM
Real thing, with Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto
Alagna.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bLVF8ffzOM
4.
"Votre toast je peux vous le rendre," The
"Toreador Song," from Bizet's "Carmen." Escamillo, a great
bullfighter, sings of his adventures in the bullring.
Shopera/Opera: the "flash opera."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bymQ0j4LcLY
The real thing, with the wonderful, largely
forgotten Argentine tenor
Luis Lima.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tIemwS024I
Translation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toreador_Song
5.
Shopera/Opera: the "flash opera," and the real thing.
"Te Deum" from "Tosca."
Synopsis: The sound of a cannon signals
that Angelotti's escape has been discovered. He and Cavaradossi hasten
out of the church. The Sacristan re-enters with choristers, celebrating
the news that Napoleon has apparently been defeated at Marengo. The
celebrations cease abruptly with the entry of Scarpia, his henchman
Spoletta and several police agents. They have heard that Angelotti has
sought refuge in the church. Scarpia orders a search, and the empty food
basket and a fan bearing the Attavanti coat of arms are found in the
chapel. Scarpia questions the Sacristan, and his suspicions are aroused
further when he learns that Cavaradossi has been in the church; Scarpia
mistrusts the painter, and believes him complicit in Angelotti's escape.
When Tosca arrives looking for her lover, Scarpia artfully arouses her
jealous instincts by implying a relationship between the painter and the
Marchesa Attavanti. He draws Tosca's attention to the fan and suggests
that someone must have surprised the lovers in the chapel. Tosca falls
for his deceit; enraged, she rushes off to confront Cavaradossi. Scarpia
orders Spoletta and his agents to follow her, assuming she will lead
them to Cavaradossi and Angelotti. He privately gloats as he reveals his
intentions to possess Tosca and execute Cavaradossi. A procession enters
the church singing the Te Deum; exclaiming 'Tosca, you make me forget
even God!', Scarpia joins the chorus in the prayer.
Shopera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uWEpmpctxeg
The real thing, with: Fiorenza Cedolins
(Tosca) Marcelo Alvarez (Cavaradossi), Ruggero Raimondi
(Scarpia).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgWW6o1y9xI
Translation:
http://operainenglish.blogspot.com/2011/07/va-tosca-te-deum-tosca.html
About "Tosca:"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tosca
6.
Shopera/Opera: the "flash opera" and the real thing. Yes, even Wagner!
"Ride of the Valkyries." No, this
has nothing to do with the smell of napalm in the morning, or car
commercials, or cartoons. This is the duly famous sequence from Wagner's "Die Walkure" (The Valkyrie),
in which the Valkyries---female goddess warriors---gather up dead fallen
heroes from battlefields and carry them on flying horses to Valhalla.
Shopera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9EcmI9cCes
The real thing, from the LePage production at
the Met:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aKAH_t0aXA
About:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Walküre
Translation:
http://www.rwagner.net/libretti/walkure/e-walk-a3s1.html
7.
Shopera/Opera: the "flash opera" and the real thing.
A little "Carmen" at San Jose International
Airport. (Not everyone looks pleased.) "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle"
("Love is a rebellious bird.") As the factory bell rings, the cigarette
girls emerge and exchange banter with young men in the crowd ("La cloche
a sonné"). Carmen enters and sings her provocative habanera on the
untameable nature of love ("L'amour est un oiseau rebelle"). The men
plead with her to choose a lover, and after some teasing she throws a
flower to Don José, who thus far has been ignoring her but is now
annoyed by her insolence.
Shopera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33jtfSPJRjM
And in Livorno, Italy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Upu96iQH_d0
The real thing, with Anna Caterina
Antonacci and her two remarkable co-stars:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJ_HHRJf0xg
Translation:
http://www.aria-database.com/translations/carmen01_habanera.txt
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmen
8.
Shopera/Opera: the "flash opera" and the real thing.
In Adelaide, Australia, a restaurant crew hams
it up---with "La Donne e Mobile" (Women are Fickle) from Verdi's
"Rigoletto," the "Flower Duet" from "Lakme" by Delibes, the good old
"Habanera" from "Carmen," and then,
uh. . .it sort of devolves into uh, well, you have to see it.
Shopera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kn-pSKCdLMQ
"La Donne e Mobile:" The real thing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OQchYUNITE
About, translation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_donna_è_mobile
About "Rigoletto:"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rigoletto
"Flower Duet," the real thing,
with Joan Sutherland and Huguette Tourangeau.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXKICcUijME
About, translation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Flower_Duet
Habanera, translation:
http://www.aria-database.com/translations/carmen01_habanera.txt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJLyZqETuBU
FINAL BOW:
Shopera/Opera: the "flash opera" and the real thing. "Anvil Chorus,"
from Verdi's "Il Trovatore." From Wiki: The Anvil Chorus is
the English name for the Coro di zingari (Italian for "Gypsy chorus"), a
chorus from act 2, scene 1 of Giuseppe Verdi's 1853 opera Il trovatore.
It depicts Spanish Gypsies striking their anvils at dawn – hence its
English name – and singing the praises of hard work, good wine, and
Gypsy women.
Shopera:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNqosHRbWog
The real thing, live on stage at the Met:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZN01_pAxro
About, translation:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anvil_Chorus
