Posts: 331
From: Gaia
Registered: Apr 2010

posted May 11, 2010 12:08 AM         

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I love this song. Maybe you can't understand how much this touches my inner self if you haven't studied opera. It's like the first kiss by your first love. The one that you take with you always.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNt3iiqjLww

Who could guess the beautiful dream Doretta had?
Why her mystery came to an end

One day a student kissed her on the mouth
And that kiss was the revelation:
It was the passion!
Mad love!
Mad happiness!
Who will ever be able again
To describe the light caress
Of a kiss so burning?
Oh! My dream!
Oh! My life!
Who cares for wealth
If at last happiness flourishes!
Oh golden dream
To be able to love in this way!

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Posts: 331
From: Gaia
Registered: Apr 2010

posted May 11, 2010 12:24 AM         

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXMktrb0Kng

Act 3

Magda and Ruggero are living in a cottage by the sea. He has no idea how they will pay their mounting bills and he tells her that he has written to his parents for permission to marry her (Aria: Dimmi che vuoi seguirmi). Magda is deeply touched, but knows that she can never marry him because of her past. Prunier and Lisette arrive. She has had a disastrous and brief career as an actress, constantly criticised by Prunier; she begs for her job back, and Magda consents. Prunier delivers the message that Rambaldo wants her back, and tells her that she cannot maintain a life in the cottage. Ruggero returns with the letter permitting the marriage, but Magda finally tells him everything. Like a swallow, she flies back to Rambaldo, leaving Ruggero heart-broken.

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posted May 11, 2010 12:27 AM         

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Yes, the lovely Chi il bel sogno di Doretta! I love Puccini and this is such a beautiful aria. It makes my heart ache to listen to it, especially in context of the Swallow.

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Posts: 331
From: Gaia
Registered: Apr 2010

posted May 11, 2010 01:08 AM         

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Thank you Musette for the reply. Sometimes I feel alone in the opera world here.

Puccini was the common man's opera writer.

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posted May 11, 2010 05:06 PM         

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I'm especially sentimental about Puccini as La bohème was my first opera when I was very young.

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From: Gaia
Registered: Apr 2010

posted May 12, 2010 12:21 PM         

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OMG Me too! I just love the part where they're singing in the snow together.

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posted May 12, 2010 12:23 PM         

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Registered: May 2009

posted May 13, 2010 12:15 PM         

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So sweet! There was a new film version shown on PBS last year with Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazon and it was lovely. I still have not seen the Baz Luhrmann version with the Australian Opera and I'd like to find it on DVD sometime. Bravo used to show things like that but not so much anymore. It's become focused on reality shows and infomercials.

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Posts: 1824
From: Australia
Registered: Apr 2009

posted May 16, 2010 03:18 AM         

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She's almost crying...

Where is this from Abs?

One day a student kissed her on the mouth
And that kiss was the revelation:
It was the passion!
Mad love!
Mad happiness!
Who will ever be able again
To describe the light caress
Of a kiss so burning?
Oh! My dream!
Oh! My life!
Who cares for wealth
If at last happiness flourishes!
Oh golden dream
To be able to love in this way!

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Posts: 331
From: Gaia
Registered: Apr 2010

posted May 16, 2010 01:54 PM         

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La Rondine by Giacomo Puccini

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We cannot seek or attain health, wealth, learning, justice or kindness in general. Action is always specific, concrete, individualized, unique. --Benjamin Jowett

It is in giving that we receive. --Saint Francis of Assisi

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