Yesterday, the radio opera was “Tristan und Isolde” by Wagner, who is known for long operas – but this may be the longest (5 hours with intermissions) – unless you count the Ring Cycle as a single work. Probably everyone knows the story (even if you don’t think you do), it’s so iconic. Almost everyone betrays just about everyone else in one way or another, and in the end the doomed lovers die together. And you may well have heard parts of it too -it’s been quoted in multiple movie scores. At least one tenor and two conductors have collapsed and died after a performance. I looked up the photos of this new production and was somewhat spooked to see that they made Tristan and Isolde look almost like twins – or almost like the same person (Garnted, the photo is of the dancers who co-represented them – but still.) It fits, certainly, but it’s a new approach – at least to me – and it catches the eye, but it also startles. Debussy is credited with making the transition from 19th century art music to 20th century with “Afternoon of a Faun” (1912) – but without Tristan (1865) I’m not sure he could have (even though he made fun of it in “Golliwog’s Cakewalk”. People tend to either love it or loathe is (and sometimes both, though not at the same time.) Also – sadly – Robert Mueller’s death Friday night became public. if you want to wait a day before reading his eulogy (by Joyce Vance), I get it Off to see Virgil now – will check in.
This from Ukrinform is a bit late, and it is more political than I usually like to use on Sundays. But it made me smile.
In case you missed Gavin Newsom‘s response to the Saffron Sauron referring to him as the President of the United States – it’s classic.
Well, SOME people understand that Ukraine is important, and deserves its independence. And are willing to put their money where their mouth is.
And SOME other people understand the importance of bison – not only to the earth, but particularly to indigenous Americans.
And still SOME other people understand the value of music with relation to medical conditions, even in surprising ways.
