👋 Hello, and welcome to Rossini month! (and the once-a-month-free edition of Opera Daily).This post has been written in partnership with Heather Johnson. This month will be truncated, given we started on the 15th. We will typically run a theme for one month. If you are a paid subscriber, you will get an email from us every week (Sunday mornings) with content, listening examples, interviews, or other soon-to-be-announced events. We are just warming up!This post has been written in partnership with Heather Johnson. This month will be truncated given we are starting on the 15th. We will normally run a theme for one month. As a paid-subscriber, you will get an email from us every week (every Sunday morning) with content, listening sessions, interviews or other soon-to-be announced events. Only paid-subscribers will receive the following for the month of January:
We didn't go into this much in the post but I find it fascinating that Rossini was able to become UBER wealthy in comparison to Mozart and Beethoven who struggled.
Also, the borrowing that Rossini did reminds me of the phrase:
“Good artists borrow, great artists steal.”
Unclear who to attribute it to these days, but I think it definitely applies here. Rossini stole from himself!
“Great artists steal” is at its root about finding inspiration in the work of others, then using it as a starting point for original creative output. Artists may recontextualize, remix, substitute, or otherwise mashup existing work to create something new. Sometimes it’s as simple as calling something art (Duchamp’s “Fountain” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_(Duchamp)
I liked most of the posts and loved three of them. Would like to to see a scrolled translation of the opera an Italian in Algeria. I loved listening to it. Please keep up the great posts. 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
To think that Looney Tunes and The Lone Ranger were probably my first introduction to Giaochino Antonio Rossini! I enjoyed learning about his life, influence and compositions. I especially loved listening to these celebrated stars perform his music.
Since films have benefited financially from strategic product placements, might opera companies benefit financially from more collaborations with animators of cartoons and video games, or creators of children's films? There is so much great music in the public domain. Art and music teachers, at all levels of schooling, might use instructional projects with an interdisciplinary approach like this, to start planting such seeds in young, creative minds.
Netflix recently released a seven part documentary series called "Pretend It's a City" directed by Martin Scorsese featuring interviews and conversations between Scorsese and Fran Lebowitz. It's incredible and worth watching. (https://www.netflix.com/title/81078137_)
Fran Lebowitz talks a lot about artists and "art" a lot in the series. We might do a post on this series one day but for now, I wanted to share this quote from Fran which reminded me so much of Rossini:
“Musicians and cooks are responsible for the most pleasure in human life. Music makes people happier, and it doesn’t harm them. Most things that make you feel better are harmful. It’s very unusual. It’s like a drug that doesn’t kill you.”
Ladies, rev your engines! I'm so excited to see what will come from your collaboration and this auspicious beginning. I smiled when I read: ". . . we talked about how truly wealthy Rossini got from his career as a composer (at 37) when Beethoven and Mozart were struggling financially". I, too, have asked myself: "If you're so smart, how come you aren't rich!?!" I was never a Buppie, but Mama teasingly called me a "Puppie" (Poor Urban Professional).🤣 The post-pandemic era offers all who create art and love art a rare opportunity to begin again with innovative solutions for age-old dilemmas - respect, valuation, equity, access, schooling, compensation. I'm sure you are aware of institutions which have tried to change the game, but the arts are still treated in America like the red-headed stepchild. Here in America, we continue Old World traditions in the performing arts, making them the favored destination for the feel-good philanthropy of rich patrons, who get coverage in society pages and the benefits of tax breaks. Only yesterday, a challenge was mounted to a few million measly dollars being allocated to the Kennedy Center, when it has opened one of the most innovative, interdisciplinary centers for the arts ever in Reach. I will wait until the time is appropriate for this, and look forward to what others may add to the discussion. Um, back to Rossini (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqfKBcJfY1I)!
I have barely begun to explore the many great performances of "Una Voce Poco Fa" from " Il Barbiere di Siviglia", but my favorite so far is Joyce DiDonato's for her gorgeous soprano and deft comic touch. In the video clip, she conveys Rosina's mischievousness and lightheartedness. I'd like to see that production in full. I am so glad to have discovered Ewa Podles. Her version of the aria (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J5Iy6sdaSg), and other performances I've been checking out, have renewed my love for the contralto voice. As for Maria Callas well, of course, she can do no wrong in my book (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG0BIOgl-aQ)! Looking forward to Sunday!
We didn't go into this much in the post but I find it fascinating that Rossini was able to become UBER wealthy in comparison to Mozart and Beethoven who struggled.
Also, the borrowing that Rossini did reminds me of the phrase:
“Good artists borrow, great artists steal.”
Unclear who to attribute it to these days, but I think it definitely applies here. Rossini stole from himself!
“Great artists steal” is at its root about finding inspiration in the work of others, then using it as a starting point for original creative output. Artists may recontextualize, remix, substitute, or otherwise mashup existing work to create something new. Sometimes it’s as simple as calling something art (Duchamp’s “Fountain” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountain_(Duchamp)
I liked most of the posts and loved three of them. Would like to to see a scrolled translation of the opera an Italian in Algeria. I loved listening to it. Please keep up the great posts. 💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖💖
To think that Looney Tunes and The Lone Ranger were probably my first introduction to Giaochino Antonio Rossini! I enjoyed learning about his life, influence and compositions. I especially loved listening to these celebrated stars perform his music.
Since films have benefited financially from strategic product placements, might opera companies benefit financially from more collaborations with animators of cartoons and video games, or creators of children's films? There is so much great music in the public domain. Art and music teachers, at all levels of schooling, might use instructional projects with an interdisciplinary approach like this, to start planting such seeds in young, creative minds.
These two examples of what could be are a little off-topic, and not pioneering works, but they do illustrate my point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EPl8zAsq8A and https://www.imdb.com/video/vi3517291289?ref_=tt_pv_vi_aiv_1.
Now it's back to Rossini, I promise.🆒
Netflix recently released a seven part documentary series called "Pretend It's a City" directed by Martin Scorsese featuring interviews and conversations between Scorsese and Fran Lebowitz. It's incredible and worth watching. (https://www.netflix.com/title/81078137_)
Fran Lebowitz talks a lot about artists and "art" a lot in the series. We might do a post on this series one day but for now, I wanted to share this quote from Fran which reminded me so much of Rossini:
“Musicians and cooks are responsible for the most pleasure in human life. Music makes people happier, and it doesn’t harm them. Most things that make you feel better are harmful. It’s very unusual. It’s like a drug that doesn’t kill you.”
Ladies, rev your engines! I'm so excited to see what will come from your collaboration and this auspicious beginning. I smiled when I read: ". . . we talked about how truly wealthy Rossini got from his career as a composer (at 37) when Beethoven and Mozart were struggling financially". I, too, have asked myself: "If you're so smart, how come you aren't rich!?!" I was never a Buppie, but Mama teasingly called me a "Puppie" (Poor Urban Professional).🤣 The post-pandemic era offers all who create art and love art a rare opportunity to begin again with innovative solutions for age-old dilemmas - respect, valuation, equity, access, schooling, compensation. I'm sure you are aware of institutions which have tried to change the game, but the arts are still treated in America like the red-headed stepchild. Here in America, we continue Old World traditions in the performing arts, making them the favored destination for the feel-good philanthropy of rich patrons, who get coverage in society pages and the benefits of tax breaks. Only yesterday, a challenge was mounted to a few million measly dollars being allocated to the Kennedy Center, when it has opened one of the most innovative, interdisciplinary centers for the arts ever in Reach. I will wait until the time is appropriate for this, and look forward to what others may add to the discussion. Um, back to Rossini (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqfKBcJfY1I)!
"A friend of yours? Larry? Get involved?" My heart is beating wildly.
I have barely begun to explore the many great performances of "Una Voce Poco Fa" from " Il Barbiere di Siviglia", but my favorite so far is Joyce DiDonato's for her gorgeous soprano and deft comic touch. In the video clip, she conveys Rosina's mischievousness and lightheartedness. I'd like to see that production in full. I am so glad to have discovered Ewa Podles. Her version of the aria (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J5Iy6sdaSg), and other performances I've been checking out, have renewed my love for the contralto voice. As for Maria Callas well, of course, she can do no wrong in my book (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG0BIOgl-aQ)! Looking forward to Sunday!
Yes! That will spice things up and maybe draw others (especially veteran performers and fans) into the discussion.