"Ridi, Pagliaccio..." (Vesti la giubba)

Ok, so this makes me sob every time.  I don't actually cry...I just make the same sounds as the tenor makes in the last, "il cor." It is beautiful and tragic and straight-up operatic.  Canio has found out that his love, Nedda has done what her character does every night on stage: fallen in love with another man. He must, however, go onstage, play the clown and laugh (ridi).  If you have heartstrings and you like them to be pulled then watch. 

Da Ponte

was born Jewish, became a priest, wrote arguably the 3 most brilliant operas with Mozart and ended up in New York selling broccoli.  Leave it to this man to sneak sex onto every page of Cosi fan tutte, which was fortunately premiered in the German-speaking realm, as any self-respecting Italian girl would have run blushing from the theater.  "toccate, bel naso" indeed.

Mozart

Mozart just takes charge.  He says, "Sit back, the music will take it from here.  No need to wonder if you will understand the emotion or the drama...you will."  I heard such a wonderful Cosi at the Staatsoper tonight.  Floating high notes from the women and super virility from the men.  And no one was afraid to sing the dynamics. Muti's romantic version won me over although I have not heard classical music with rubato like that, or with prepared subito p.  Also, the slowest largo and the fastest allegro, beautifully carried out by the whole cast.  And now I must learn Fiordiligi...

Joyce DiDonato

Well, Ms. DiDonato also has a blog and I find her daily Gratitude posts inspiring.  Some call this sort of thing "career Porn"  but if it inspires instead of making one depressed or envious, then it is totally worth it.  This mezzo is so down to earth and is constantly seeing the positive.  She has a vision and races towards it.  I shall do the same. 

Flamenco

wow.  I was taken aback by the intensity of the flamenco in Granada.  The ability to capture the audience (at least me) and hold their attention...  My mouth was open most of the time in that brain-busy-with-great-artistry-can't-attend-to-jaw kind of way.  The female dancer was beautiful but her strength and dramatic movement would have been just a compelling if she were a crone.  -Maria la Canastera, Sagramonte, Granada