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Zaïde, A Matter Of Style

OK. So last week Netflix delivered to my doorstep the 2006 Salzburg production of this German-language opera by Mozart. It - the production – was so German, I mean, wow. Every single one of the male characters, except one, were in a constant and slow amble all over the stage wearing giant papier-mâché heads! Sometimes the heads came off so they could sing; sometimes, not. Here is a sample. Please note the out-of-scale elements (all unexplained within the drama…), and the title character's partic

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undertow

What misery supplies is often met Not by cure, and much less by solution, But it's by injury our pains get wet – With tearful demand, comes absolution. Like a stroll on the beach I see them come; One care pushing the incoming beneath, By the weak undertow, the strong grow numb, And bathe the tides in shallow points of grief. Yet the heart returns to a hunger bold, And old woes sometimes new wail decries Not letting new grief luxury in old The way hope often better-sense denies.

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una mano umana

l'amore non muore mai, a meno che da una mano umana   (love never dies, unless by a human hand)

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Twenty-Five Days of December -- Day Twenty-Two

It's a subject of inexhaustible interest to me, and it seems every time I turn around, I learn new, incredible things about the people who made up this incredible organization. Only today -- about an hour ago, in fact -- I learned that Famous-Barr was the first department store in the nation (the world, I guess!) to offer Black Santas in Santaland so families could choose inclusion in their kids' pictures with the Old Man. And this was in the 1960s. The 1960s!!! It's honestly enough to brin

Twenty-Five Days of December -- Day Twenty-Three

A poem for the day.   A tale begun in other days, When summer suns were glowing –- A simple chime, that served to time The rhythm of our rowing –- Whose echoes live in memory yet, Though envious years would say ‘forget’. Come, hearken then, ere voice of dread, With bitter tidings laden, Shall summon to unwelcome bed A melancholy maiden! We are but older children, dear, Who fret to find our bedtime near. Without, the frost, the blinding snow, The storm-wi

Twenty-Five Days of December -- Day Twenty-One

“Shut out nothing,” or “Welcome, old aspirations, glittering creatures of an ardent fancy, to your shelter underneath the holly! We know you, and have not outlived you yet.”     Time was, with most of us, when Christmas Day encircled our limited world like a magic ring, left nothing out for us to miss or seek; bound together all our home enjoyments, affections, and hopes; grouped everything and everyone around the Christmas fire; and made the little picture shining in our bright y

Twenty-Five Days of December -- Day Twenty-Four

Tony Rowe and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra preform William Henry Fry’s Santa Claus Symphony from 1853. From its premiere to the 1930s, Fry’s symphony was concertized all across America and was as integral a part of the holiday season as the Nutcracker is to us now. Ironically, it was the music of Tchaikovsky‘s ballet which replaced Fry’s incredibly charming tone poem.  The scenes are: Introduction and Christmas merrymaking; Juvenile song and dance (sounding straight out of Aaron C

Twenty-Five Days of December -- Day Twenty

I suppose their use is waning these days, which is sad, but have you ever wondered about the origins of Christmas Seals? No, me neither, until I was wrapping presents last year and listening to some noble soul's compilation of old time radio holiday-themed shows. The following one relays the real-life struggle to establish and help fund the American Lung Association -- the parent company of the venerated seals -- in an effort to first combat tuberculosis (and afterwards, lung cancer). It is writ

Twenty-Five Days of December -- Day Twelve

When society creates outcasts -- the weirdos, the queers, the nerds -- the rejected will oftentimes bring good into the world knowing few will ever praise it. The following is one such a tale, as two misunderstoods join forces.       High above the city, on a tall column, stood the statue of the Happy Prince. He was gilded all over with thin leaves of fine gold, for eyes he had two bright sapphires, and a large red ruby glowed on his sword-hilt. He was very much admired indeed. “

Twenty-Five Days of December -- Day Three

One of the things I'm grateful for in 2023 is happening upon the recordings of a certain radio program. Proudly We Hail started after WW2 as a show of a mere fifteen minutes, but it was one dedicated to bringing true Short Stories to its listening audience. Under the writing baton of Tom Petty (yeah, not THAT Tom Petty...) some wonderful performances rang out live to everywhere in the world the Armed Forces Network broadcast.    To remind us how delightful the Short Story form can be (

Twenty-Five Days of December -- Day Thirteen

Leopold Mozart -- Wolfgang's father -- was known for his tone poems. His Peasants' Wedding was very popular, and his Toy Symphony was copied out in full score and performed all over Europe, usually attributed to Joseph Haydn. But today we'll enjoy another of most evocative works of winter and holiday good cheer: A Sleigh Ride. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dwt6fQMjwFA&t=555s  

Twenty-Five Days of December -- Day Ten

A "boy left behind for Christmas" turns into a "boy meets boy" story? Read and find out   Satherwaite, '02, threw his overcoat across the broad mahogany table, regardless of the silver and cut-glass furnishings, shook the melting snowflakes from his cap and tossed it atop the coat, half kicked, half shoved a big leathern armchair up to the wide fireplace, dropped himself into it, and stared moodily at the flames. Satherwaite was troubled. In fact, he assured himself, drawing his h

Twenty-Five Days of December -- Day Sixteen

A while back I was chatting with a young man one evening, and he asked me what I was doing. I replied "Watching Creature Comforts." Long story short, he had no idea what that was. I suppose these episodes are creaking up to an authentic "vintage" category (as with automobiles, 25 years old or older), so for all you Christmastime spring chickens out there, here is Aardman Animation Studio's 2005 Creature Comfort's Xmas show. Gotta love the powerhouse singing, scarf-mufflered bird!   https://

Twenty-Five Days of December -- Day Six

Happy Saint Nicholas Day! Thinking about cookies yet? An area of interest of mine is studying when certain food items were invented, and where. Devil's food cake, for example: Philadelphia, circa 1910. Angel food cake: Saint Louis, 1890s. How about toast? The ancient food writer Athenaeus tells us the cook's name and dates it to the 6th century B.C. So what about a more recent, but never-more-popular, treat? The chocolate chip cookie? Here we have one person's efforts at digging into i

Twenty-Five Days of December -- Day Seventeen

Robert Nathan’s 1928 novel may seem unfamiliar to you, but the holiday episode from the book (starting with Chapter 11) has been adapted for the Christmas big- and small screen about half a dozen times. His Bishop’s Wife was first presented to movie-going audiences in 1947 as The Preacher’s Wife.   Here is the original to read https://archive.org/details/bishopswife0000robe/page/106/mode/2up   And here are two clips of Whitney Houston performing the title role in 1996

Twenty-Five Days of December -- Day Seven

Decorating traditions sure have changed. I remember being a kid and begging my mom to start hauling out the attic boxes of holiday cheer. When I was small, she always had the same reply: "Not until December 7th. Not until Saint Nicholas Day is over!" As the years went by, she relented and let me start decorating earlier in the month. Undoubtedly, when she was a child, the date was even later, and traditionally, decorating for Christmas only occurred on the twenty-fourth. But nowadays, it's

Twenty-Five Days of December -- Day One

Twenty-five days of memorable performances, stories and real-life encounters. So, we'll start with something to wake you old Grinches up! Let this brief real-life encounter defrost your jaded holiday cynicism. Let it re-awaken the dormant spirit you’ve suppressed for far too long   A birthday girl's pinata https://youtube.com/shorts/okJA_jhECM4?si=dM2DL5Dpke2z9rCf  

Twenty-Five Days of December -- Day Nineteen

A great study of life, connections and death, Mon oncle Antoine (1971) is on my personal short-list of significant films. In it, young adolescent Benoît is an altar boy and general mercantile boy-of-all-work. Set during Christmas week, the young man sees funerals, a kid his own age die, his uncle's drinking problem and his aunt's infidelities. The makings of a great holiday film? You bet; one of the best because it reminds us what's really important in life, even in the midst of decay. Especiall

Twenty-Five Days of December -- Day Fourteen

On the evening of December 14th, 1949, Harold Peary read Why the Chimes Rang by Raymond McAlden (1906) to his radio audience, live. The premise of this episode has Peary’s character – The Great Gildersleeve – trying to out-Christmas his rival for the attentions of his nurse girlfriend. However, the tale of Pedro and his brother changes his intent entirely. Please listen, because this is magic.   First, Harold Peary’s recitation of the tale (December 14, 1949): https://youtu.be

Twenty-Five Days of December -- Day Four

“Well,” he said presently, “what is it that is wrong with Christmas?” “Why,” I answered, “all the romance, the joy, the beauty of it has gone, crushed and killed by the greed of commerce and the horrors of war.”  ----------------   Considering how jaded the world is, who said writing a holiday tale was ever an easy task? Surely, Father Time has perspective on his side, and is always willing to advise the young-at-heart if their ears are open   ----------------  

Twenty-Five Days of December -- Day Five

Today, let us ruminate upon a remarkable Gay man's remarkable gift for food and writing: James Beard. In his recipe-laden1964 autobiography, Beard's boyhood Christmases in Portland, Oregon, are shown in all of their uniqueness. His mother ran a small hotel, and relied on a man named Let to get things done, in and out of the kitchen.   The Christmas sequence from Delights and Prejudices occurs in chapter 5, beginning on page 164  https://archive.org/details/delightsprejudic0000bear
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