Hello and welcome to this week’s edition of Opera Daily. If you missed the Rossini kickoff post from last week, you could find it here. Like last week, this issue is written in partnership with Heather Johnson. As a bonus this week, we will take you behind the scenes of Opera Daily. On Thursday, we’ll share a Listening Session with the two of us where we discuss and debate our favorite Rossini pieces. We will then wrap up Rossini month with a post on Sunday, January 31st, with some highlights (and a hint at next month’s theme).
Why do I think Rossini stopped composing at such a young age?
I see Rossini like Jerry Seinfeld - after 9 seasons, he wanted to go out on top. I think he knew how demanding opera was and understood what it took for him to do it RIGHT. And I am not sure if he thought he had it in him?
If you've ever experienced a rap battle or a poetry slam, you might recognize this vocal competition - “Ah, vieni, nel tuo sangue” from "Otello", featuring Lawrence Brownlee and Javier Camarena - as an operatic version. It just goes to show there's nothing new under the sun. Both tenors left it all on the stage. I'd call this a draw, underscored by the mutual respect and obvious friendship they have for each other. Just a couple of brothers in a friendly musical duel to the delight of the audience (and me).
Why did Rossini call it quits at such an early age? Maybe he was simply exhausted. He had worked hard churning out and staging all those operas. He had bounced between Italy and France. I imagine he enjoyed the fame, the acclaim, the wealth and the hero worship. Perhaps, like modern-day celebrities, he woke up one morning and asked himself, "Is that all there is?" Maybe he found joy not in the glittering life of the opera, but in the little things that make life worth living, too. It would be nice to know.
Why do I think Rossini stopped composing at such a young age?
I see Rossini like Jerry Seinfeld - after 9 seasons, he wanted to go out on top. I think he knew how demanding opera was and understood what it took for him to do it RIGHT. And I am not sure if he thought he had it in him?
What do you think?
If you've ever experienced a rap battle or a poetry slam, you might recognize this vocal competition - “Ah, vieni, nel tuo sangue” from "Otello", featuring Lawrence Brownlee and Javier Camarena - as an operatic version. It just goes to show there's nothing new under the sun. Both tenors left it all on the stage. I'd call this a draw, underscored by the mutual respect and obvious friendship they have for each other. Just a couple of brothers in a friendly musical duel to the delight of the audience (and me).
Why did Rossini call it quits at such an early age? Maybe he was simply exhausted. He had worked hard churning out and staging all those operas. He had bounced between Italy and France. I imagine he enjoyed the fame, the acclaim, the wealth and the hero worship. Perhaps, like modern-day celebrities, he woke up one morning and asked himself, "Is that all there is?" Maybe he found joy not in the glittering life of the opera, but in the little things that make life worth living, too. It would be nice to know.