Opera Small Talk

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

Do you guys all read Italian? Or, is just my lack of imagination that I couldn't find my way through the site?

Soave and I do read Italian, but it's really not needed; the video clip plays five very well known arias and he only recognizes the one from Carmen.

[Hoffmann]

Not a famous opera, but the aria "Ebben? Ne andrò lontana" often appears on soprano recital discs and was also in the very famous film "Diva" by Jean-Jacques Beineix (which is where I first heard it). So he really could have recognised it.

One of my all time favorites!





Time for another viewing, I think..

[Soave_Fanciulla]

Oh YES! Mine too. A perfect film in many ways. I had a copy on VHS recorded from the TV and it was one of the first that I bought on DVD.

(A bit in love with Richard Bohringer in that bath)

(Oh dear just google imaged him and my illusions have shattered. Age has not been kind...)

[Floria]

So did I, they weren't exactly obscure. Which makes it pretty shocking. He even had to think about Carmen!

Yes, shocking !!!!

I got all 5 also.

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

It's easy but kind of fun. I got a perfect score.

Opera or Cheese?

http://www.classicfm.com/discover/mu...r-cheese-game/

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

This one is a bit more difficult. I made a couple of mistakes.

Composer or Pasta?

http://www.classicfm.com/discover/mu...or-pasta-game/

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

Hilarious announcement for Piedmont Opera's The Magic Flute:

https://files.ctctcdn.com/aa65563800...d35129d12e.pdf

[Clayton]

It's easy but kind of fun. I got a perfect score.

Opera or Cheese?

http://www.classicfm.com/discover/mu...r-cheese-game/

YOU SCORED: 15

CLOSE BUT NO GRUYERE.

[Clayton]

This one is a bit more difficult. I made a couple of mistakes.

Composer or Pasta?

http://www.classicfm.com/discover/mu...or-pasta-game/

WELL DONE!
YOU'VE GOT 16 ANSWERS RIGHT!

[MAuer]

I scored 16 on each quiz. And now I want some macaroni and cheese . . .

[Luiz Gazzola (Almaviva)]

Operatic expressions of good luck, and those in other arts

In the performing arts, saying Good luck! to someone is supposed to backfire and produce the opposite effect. So, other expressions are used to wish well to an artist prior to a performance.

Toi Toi Toi! or simply Toi Toi! seems to be the preferred one for opera singers. The most accepted explanation for its meaning/origin is the equivalent of knocking on wood three times, to ward off evil spirits. There are others, such as, it being derived from the Hebrew "tov" or good, or being the verbal equivalent of spitting three times which also bans devils. Apparently outside of the operatic environment, nobody knows or understands this expression. Probably it's wise to say it three times... since Toi Toi is the name of one of the main companies that make portable toilets...

I find the Italian one very charming: In bocca al lupo! The person being issued the good luck charm through this expression is supposed to reply Crepi il lupo! or simply Crepi! - It means "in the mouth of the wolf" and the response means "may the wolf die." The Italians also have a less charming one: In culo alla balena! (in the whale's a$$).

In spoken theater it's Break a leg! Its origin is controversial and there are several different explanations. One of the most plausible is that it comes from Yiddish הצלחה און ברכה (hatslokhe un brokhe, “success and blessing”) through the heavy Ashkenazi Jewish influence in the American theater, via the misinterpretation in German as Hals- und Beinbruch (“neck and leg break”).

Professional dancers say Merde! which is French for sh!t.

In Spain apparently they say Mucha mierda! or lots of sh!t.

In Australia, Chookas! It means, if there is a successful turnout, the artists will be eating tasty chicken instead of plain bread.

Does anybody know of any other such expression? How is it said, in your country?

-----

Hehe, our software doesn't allow certain words so I had to use some spelling tricks above to convey them.

[MAuer]

I've seen "Toi, toi, toi" used in German as a general expression for wishing someone good look, and I've also seen the expression "Hals- und Beinbruch" used -- neither in connection with opera. I was unaware of the origin of either one of them, however.

[Amfortas]

[B]In Australia, Chookas! It means, if there is a successful turnout, the artists will be eating tasty chicken instead of plain bread.

Winner winner chicken dinner!

[MAuer]

My sister sent me this link to an NPR site with their Bachelors of Opera quiz.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptiveca...erm=storyshare

It's not difficult -- the snippets of recordings that accompany the questions reveal the answers. I got 5 out of 6, my only error dealing with an opera I've never heard (and don't even know the plot).

[Soave_Fanciulla]

My sister sent me this link to an NPR site with their Bachelors of Opera quiz.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/deceptiveca...erm=storyshare

It's not difficult -- the snippets of recordings that accompany the questions reveal the answers. I got 5 out of 6, my only error dealing with an opera I've never heard (and don't even know the plot).

Yes 5 out of 6 for me too - we probably got stuck on the same question.