Another Queen of Night
I post this because whenever I recommend to anyone the Queen of Night, I always recommend it in the Lucia Popp rendition. It's a matter of personal taste, but what I love about this is that it is somewhat slower than the other versions and as a result, it would seem to me somewhat more difficult to perform and sustain--those high notes in which the Queen's voice becomes the Magic Flute itself are rounded, full, and deep while remaining light and airy. I have read some rather severe criticism of this ritardando; and while it may or may not reflect Mozart's intent, it is certainly within the options for staging. It creates a real vocal showpiece from what is already a magnificent example of same. It really is an amazing example of a virtuoso composition sung by a virtuoso voice. All of which should not be taken to mean that I do not truly appreciate the version posted earlier by Diana Damrau, it's just nice to see what a difference tempo can make.
I think we can take …
I think we can take …
Steven,
ReplyDelete_The Hunger Games_ is the Feb book selection for the SF Group I belong to. I just finished it yesterday. It's a page-turner and very action-oriented. However, I didn't find the philosophy in the book that one of the blurbs promised me. Perhaps it was too subtle for me to pick up on.
The Theroux book sounds interesting. I hadn't heard of it or of the author. Thanks for the link.
Dear Fred,
ReplyDeleteHmmm. Philosophy in a YA? I wonder what they were thinking. I see a worldview and a certain way in which there is a kind of thinking that would be comfortable for the YA world (you and me against the mean bad world that grown-ups have made). And there's more and more of this evolving.
shalom,
Steven
Steven,
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't call it a worldview--more likely just typical adolescent thinking that many never grow out of.