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.

EASTER LIZARD AND OPERATIC MOONWALK WITH SWASTIKAS

I kept hearing scurrying noises in the eaves of the house. At first I thought I was on the brink of insanity - but I crossed that brink years ago (I have no clue what that means - - use your own discernment).

Weird, unexplained noises aren't uncommon around here. After all, I have mice in the walls, 'possums under the house, and there are strange hoof-sounds on the roof late at night, which I'm positive have nothing to do with Santa Claus.

So on Easter morning I step out the back door and suddenly see a lizard emerge from the eaves and climb down the wooden post where the utility box is.

I photographically documented the event for posterity.
Then I emitted a Big Sigh of relief.
Lizards are definitely the lesser of many other evil possibilities.
I'd rather have lizards than rats...

 

Change of subject
 
One of the pleasures that I always indulge in during the Easter season is listening to a performance of the opera Parsifal by Richard Wagner (Wagner preferred to call his creation "a festival play for the consecration of the stage" - but that's beside the point).

Nothing stirs my senses and nourishes my soul more than this masterpiece of suffering, compassion, and salvation.
Speaking of suffering, the opera is nearly five hours long. It isn't merely a performance - it's an event.

Before we go any farther (further?) let me explain that Parsifal is an Arthurian knight, who is on a quest for the Holy Grail. The story traditionally takes place in the thirteenth century.

 Parsifal

Since I'm not in the mood to excavate my old VHS tape of Parsifal, I decide to watch it on YouTube.

I select a performance recorded in Salzburg in 2013. Imagine my complete shock, when I discover that the traditional 13th century theme has been abandoned in favor of a "modern, updated" version. 

Instead of knights and maidens, the cast is arrayed in some sort of bizarre outer space costumes. They look like rejects from an Apollo moon mission casting call.

  the 2013 Salzburg production of Parsifal

Looks like the Space Cadets have seized some fat guy in drag

This updated production is beyond my realms of tolerance. I quickly turn it off in disgust  and search for another version.

My next discovery is a 2012 version of Parsifal recorded at the Bayreuth Festspielhaus - which is the holy grail of Wagnerian opera. The Festspielhaus is a theater built by Wagner solely for his own operas. The premiere of Parsifal took place there in 1882.

What could possibly go wrong?

I was nearly blown to the moon when I discovered that this production was also a new "modernized" version - - which apparently takes place in Nazi Germany! The singers were clad in SS uniforms and the stage was adorned with swastikas!

After I regained consciousness and found my tongue  I screamed What the freaking hell does an 1882 opera by Wagner have to do with Nazi Germany?!!??

 Here it is, folks: the 2012 Bayreuth production of Parsifal

I am a staunch traditionalist. I don't want operatic masterpieces to be "updated" so they "appeal" to modern audiences. I don't want true art to be usurped with carnival tactics and pseudo-intellectual psycho-babble garbage.

I am thoroughly disgusted with these pompous, "innovative" producers, directors, and set designers - who get a degree from Walmart University and think they can trample the course of tradition with their own demented versions of progress in the arts.

These gang-rapes of Parsifal must have Wagner revolving in his grave.

Have I said enough? 

Dammit, Jon, you're cute when you are angry. 

GOD DAMN A RUNG

 Brunnhilde

Seldom can anything cause such fury and rage, such strife and disharmony!

Am I talking about politics?

Hell, no. I'm talking about opera. Opera aficionados are some of the most fiercely opinionated people on earth.

I got into a riff with a guy on YouTube over the great Immolation Scene from Wagner's Gotterdammerung - - or God Damn a Rung, as they call it in Texas.

For all of you opera virgins, I'll try to explain. Composer Richard Wagner wrote Der Ring des Nebelungen (The Ring of the Nibelungen), known as the Ring Cycle. It consists of four operas (which he preferred to call "Music Dramas"). The final opera in this series is Gotterdammerung (Twilight of the Gods). The Immolation Scene is the intensely dramatic finale of Gotterdammerung.
  
Siegfried is dead - killed by Hagen. Brunnhilde, (our heroine) lights a funeral pyre for Siegfried, gives the Ring back to the Rheinmaidens, and then leaps into the lake of fire.

Are you still confused?
I thought so. Heck, so am I.

 Lake of Fire

I know you're on the edge of your seats waiting to hear what happened between me and the guy on YouTube.

This particular dude is one of those armchair critics who loves to leave caustic comments on YouTube videos. This time around, he targeted soprano Gwyneth Jones and her interpretation of the Immolation Scene. After verbally ripping her performance to shreds, he concluded that she has minimal vocal skills and her voice is extremely wobbly. Wobbly! He said she can't compare to Kirsten Flagstad.

Flagstad??
Okay, that did it. My boxing gloves are on and I'm ready to rumble. 

                    Gwyneth Jones                     Kirsten Flagstad

First off, I don't like comparisons. It is completely futile to compare musicians, artists, singers, dancers - especially from different eras. Each has their own special style and talent.

Despite the widely held opinion that Kirsten Flagstad was the greatest Wagnerian singer in history, I've always had big doubts. Opera purists desperately hang onto archaic Flagstad recordings that were made in the 1920's (she was born in 1895) and gush at the perfection of her tone.

Here's a flash: she wasn't the definitive Brunnhilde and her singing wasn't always perfect.
You want wobbly, Bucko?
I heard a 1952 recording of Flagstad singing the Immolation Scene and her voice was as wobbly as the chassis on a '34 Chevy. Of course, she was in her 50's then, but maybe she should have quit while she was ahead.

I'm being intentionally cruel. That's part of the fun.

Gwenyth Jones was superb in Gotterdammerung and has always been one of my favorite Brunnhildes.

There. Do I feel better? Hell, yes.  

 Siegfried and Brunnhilde

Kirsten Flagstad and Brigit Nilsson had Big Powerful operatic voices and are considered (by most) to be the definitive interpreters of Wagner.

In my opinion, power isn't everything. I like emotion. And the role of Brunnhilde affords ample opportunities for emotion. As well as power.

I've carefully studied many singer's interpretations of Brunnhilde and it truly is impossible to choose.

Of Flagstad and Nilsson, I prefer Nilsson. 

I've always loved Gwyneth Jones as Brunnhilde - she's smooth and appealing in the role.

Astrid Varnay has a super vocal interpretation.
Anne Evans has superb emotion. 

Jones, Varnay, Evans, and Nilsson are my favorites.

Hildegard Behrens is worthy of mention, but her Brunnhilde voice lacks sufficient strength.
And we can't overlook Marta Fuchs, Waltraud Meier....and maybe Debra Voigt.

Does anybody have a favorite Brunnhilde?
And don't you dare tell me Bette Midler.   

 The stereotypical operatic Brunnhilde - a 400 lb. Viking with a spear, shield, and brass boobs.

FROST, FIRE, AND TURKEY

Note:
as you read this post you'll probably notice that my text size and font style inexplicably keep changing. This has been happening to my blog for weeks, and so far everything I've tried to correct it has failed.

Also, the "I" key cap on my laptop keyboard is still broken and I have to go through a slow and painstaking process to insert an "i" into my words. 

Both of these problems have made typing so agonizng and frustrating that I no longer enjoy blogging. It's very diffcult to maintain my chain of thought while constantly struggling to eradicate these annoyances. I'm seriously considering abandoning my blog because of it.
Anyway, here's my latest post:
 

I indulged in one of my greatest passions last night. This is where your wicked imaginations should go into overdrive.

Opera! Not quite as good as sex, but a satisfying facsimile. I watched an entire performance of Die Walkure - a duration exceeding three hours. I was emotionally and spiritually transported to the realms of Valhalla, where I could easily reside forever.

Yea, I know - the subject of opera is a sure way to repel my three readers (bitter sarcasm inserted here), but allow me to vent for a glorious moment.

Wagner's artistic musical imagination and sheer genius for drama is beyond superb. Wotan's Farewell and the Magic Fire Music are so sublimely beautiful that the emotion overwhelms me.
 

Magic Fire Music on a very frosty November night. What could be better?

My personal favorite Brunnhilde?
Gwyneth Jones. I love her.
And Wotan?
Tough choice. James Morris and Donald McIntyre.

There. That wasn't so bad, was it? Now for a change of subject.

My previous blog post  All About Thanksgiving was written two years ago and posted on my old blog Lone Star Concerto. After reading it again, it's not quite as funny as I initially thought (I have a feeling that you agree.....)
but I still think it's good. 
And it's damn true.

 View from one of my bedroom windows

Thanksgiving?
I'll be spending it home alone, with the three pesky cats. I bought a turkey but think I'll save it for December. Why have turkey on Thanksgiving just because tradition dictates it? I might have roast chicken and stuffing. Haven't really decided yet.

Actually, I love turkey - - could eat it once a week, at least. And I always make homemade soup from the leftovers. Smoked turkeys are the very best, but they're expensive. 

I also make homemade pumpkin bread, pudding, and pie. Yea, I can cook.....I'm not just another pretty face.....I love anything with pumpkin in it.
I remember the delicious Mexican pumpkin candy I used to get as a kid on Olvera Street in Los Angeles.

What I like best about the holiday season is the festive atmosphere and the good food. I was never into family gatherings and all the faux unity and kissy kissy crap. Why bother to fake it once a year?

This undoubtedly stems from my parents. They had the most turbulent marriage in history and were complete opposites, but they fully agreed on one thing: they never liked holidays, parties, or inane social gatherings. 
The fact that we lived thousands of miles away from most of our relatives was another factor. We never had to worry about being involved in all the family holiday crap.

So what's happening here on the mountain? Beautiful days, but the temperature is supposed to drop to 15 degrees tomorrow night.(yes, 15 degrees Fahrenheit)I'm sure as hell not looking forward to it. I had to crawl under the house again today to check some things. Didn't scare me half as much as it did the first time. Emerged covered in dirt and cobwebs.

It's presently 3:00 p.m. - getting dark, rainy, windy, and cold. I'm going to make dinner and a cup of tea.