TURANDOT : THE ICE PRINCESS

 My opera posts are almost as unpopular as my political posts......but don't panic. Look at the positive side:
I'm diverse and unpredictable, which makes me fascinating.
Or perhaps unbearable.

Above: via SoundCloud
This is my piano transcription of music from the opera Turandot by Puccini, which I wrote when I was twenty. It's one of my most difficult (and favorite) transcriptions. 
A reckless and brash hodgepodge of themes from my favorite opera, peppered with unnecessary difficult passages shamelessly intended to show off my astounding technique.

Should I insert a *smile* here?

One of the greatest tragedies in operatic history is that Giacomo Puccini (1858 - 1924) died before he completed Turandot.
The final scene of the opera was finished by composer Franco Alfano, who used sketches left by Puccini. This finale is adequate, but lacks the sublime genius of Puccini - whose incomparable skill would have made it a masterpiece.

 My pen & ink sketch of Puccini

So, who is Turandot?

The name is derived  from the Persian Turan-Dokht (daughter of Turan).

In the opera, Turandot is a Chinese Princess: beautiful and mesmerizing, but cold and ruthless with an inability to love. The tragic death of one of her beloved ancestors has inspired her to hate men - and take revenge on them.

Despite Turandot's many negative aspects, she is (inexplicably) extremely desirable and many men of noble blood have sought her hand in marriage - - with dire consequences.

Here's the catch:
in order to marry Turandot, the potential groom must first successfully answer three riddles. If he fails the test, he's put to death by beheading. 

To make a long story short (if it's not too late) - valiant Prince Calaf comes along, correctly answers the three riddles and marries Princess Turandot. His burning love eventually melts Turandot's icy heart and - we can only hope - they live happily ever after.

In essence, love conquers all.

The plot might seem a bit hokey, but the concept (theatrically speaking) works.

The entire opera takes place at night and is drenched in moonlight, exotic mysticism, echoes of danger, a lavish setting, and underlying eroticism. 

In the first act, the unfortunate Prince of Persia fails to answer the three riddles. During the rising of the moon, before a horrified crowd, he is executed.
His severed head is displayed for all to see. 
The sinister scene is deliciously intriguing.

Puccini's music is completely intoxicating and beyond superb: majestic, exotic, erotic, overwhelmingly beautiful.
Of course, I am prejudiced.....

 Franco Zeffirelli's magnificent production of Turandot at the MET

If there are any opera aficionados out there - - who is your favorite Turandot?

Anne Roselle's interpretation of Turandot is very impressive in some old 1927 recordings - but her voice seemed more suited for Butterfly.

I always liked Eva Martin's Turandot (I met her once and she gave me her photo with an inscription in Hungarian, but it was lost when I moved to TN).


Brigit Nilsson was arguably the best - she was like a Sherman tank - - pulverizing everything in her path.

My personal favorite Turandot is the late, great Ghena Dimitrova. Her powerful voice was superb. In my humble opinion she was flawless.

Ghena Dimitrova

as Turandot

 

 One more thing:

If you want to see a video of me playing my Turandot transcription, you can find it on my YouTube channel Jayveesonata.

ROMANCE AND DEATH ON A WINTER NIGHT

Snow again. Monday night, Tuesday, today. Finally dwindling to flurries this afternoon. Soft, wayward, drifting flakes. Annoyingly cold. My fingers and toes are numb. Everything is very still, except for the occasional squabble of hungry birds - and random, distant blasts from hunter's rifles.

It's 20 degrees (Fahrenheit) this afternoon. The nights are bitterly cold. This is the coldest house I ever lived in (ha, that's what I said about my Texas house, too). Bosco always sleeps under the covers, which helps keep me warm.

my back yard this morning

I summoned the courage to drive into town last Friday. Got groceries in anticipation of the predicted storm. Very early this morning I made soup from the turkey leftovers. I'm actually going to make two pots of it. I forgot to buy bouillon and V-8, which always enhances the flavor, but what the hell - I'm the only guest. And I never complain about my cooking.

 This is just before I started cooking the soup. Raw veggies and onions floating on top (it looks much better now...)

Had an unbelievably bad migraine last night. My vision was so impaired that I couldn't see. I get migraines frequently. My mother used to get them.

The migraine induced a panic attack. I'm miles from civilization. An ambulance could never get here on icy mountain roads.....

I'm really f***k up. Or screwed up. No matter how you look at it. 

Paris, snow, romance, death

I immensely calmed my nerves by watching  a performance of La Boheme.

( a snowy, winter story of romance....and impending death - - what could be more appropriate on a frigid winter night?).
This was the 2009 film version, with Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon.
(it's available on YouTube)

Villazon is not exactly my favorite Rudolpho....
but Netrebko is exquisite as Mimi...I'm hopelessly in love with her.

And as for all of you little sniveling, nitpicking Netrebko critics - - you're just jealous.

Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon

Here's an old, raw & unedited rehearsal tape of me playing shreds of music from La Boheme. (music by Puccini, in case you didn't know).

Taped in my San Angelo music studio on a broiling 110 degree (Fahrenheit) summer day. 

I was way past my prime and hopelessly out of practice, but - what the hell.....