Flicka's performance of "Voi, che sapete" brought back memories. It was my late wife's and my favorite aria ever. When my wife was in John's Hopkins hospital, dying from a coma from which she would never recover, I hummed her that aria. It was the only time that the instruments attached to her registered that she knew what was happening around her. For years after she died, I couldn't bear to listen to that opera, but today hearing that aria just brought back fond memories. I've never thought of a better example of the power of opera.
Interesting that you should mention the scene in Shawshank, Michelle. In fact, it was that very piece of music in that very scene that sparked an interest in opera in me. My wife was always an opera lover, but I had always resisted. Since then I have watched Dr. Robert Greenberg's DVD set, "How to Listen to and Understand Opera" (Some of it several times), and developed a very nice opera DVD collection which my wife and I enjoy.
My first FIGARO was an amazing Norman Treigle at NYCity Opera; later the stupendous Paris Opera rendition with Solti; Van Dam; Von Stade in Strehler' production. More recently, I saw a really bad one at The Met. Not even Brynn Terfel could save it.
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Flicka's performance of "Voi, che sapete" brought back memories. It was my late wife's and my favorite aria ever. When my wife was in John's Hopkins hospital, dying from a coma from which she would never recover, I hummed her that aria. It was the only time that the instruments attached to her registered that she knew what was happening around her. For years after she died, I couldn't bear to listen to that opera, but today hearing that aria just brought back fond memories. I've never thought of a better example of the power of opera.
Thank you for sharing - your comment made my day 🙏🏼
Interesting that you should mention the scene in Shawshank, Michelle. In fact, it was that very piece of music in that very scene that sparked an interest in opera in me. My wife was always an opera lover, but I had always resisted. Since then I have watched Dr. Robert Greenberg's DVD set, "How to Listen to and Understand Opera" (Some of it several times), and developed a very nice opera DVD collection which my wife and I enjoy.
I love this - thank you so much for sharing - I am going to check out his material!
I listen every week…some weeks I don’t make it all the way through, this week I casted to the big tv…
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My first FIGARO was an amazing Norman Treigle at NYCity Opera; later the stupendous Paris Opera rendition with Solti; Van Dam; Von Stade in Strehler' production. More recently, I saw a really bad one at The Met. Not even Brynn Terfel could save it.
Sheer coincidence am currently reading the Figaro script. Began listening to Mozart a month after reading Pushkin's MOZART & SALIERI.
oh wonderful!