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| Great Stuff for JB | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Feb 14 2009, 09:59 AM (549 Views) | |
| DivaDeb | Feb 14 2009, 09:59 AM Post #1 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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I am making this thread to post links to operatic stuff I find particularly notable for JBryan. Youtube is such a freakin awesome resource...there is so much there from past greats as well as the new crop of singers. I'll start with this final scene from Pagliacci. This vids are longish, so take your time. I am putting John Vickers first, mostly because there are subtitles and you will have a better idea of the story if you watch it first. Also because I saw him do the role live twice and he was amazing. Pagliacci is the story of the traveling troupe of performers...so it's a play within a play. I say this for those who might watch and not understand that they are performing in front of a little audience...that is why the acting appears so stilted for the other characters in the scene. The tenor is supposed to be performing with them but starts to interpolate his rage at her betrayal of him (they are married, she's stepping out) within the context of their little act. It ends (after he's killed her and her boy toy) with the famous line "La comedia e finita" So, Vickers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ucX26tyntc Corelli is really in his element in this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByDCKZOKbYY Pavarotti: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUe2OnXIBEg&feature=PlayList&p=34A8870AE52E0611&playnext=1&index=61 Domingo: (benefit of Nunziata as Nedda...yummy) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lefk7x0VQWQ&feature=PlayList&p=9F79F168286C71B4&playnext=1&index=24 Jussi Bjorling: definitely taking a prize for beauty of sound...omfg what a voice. Easily my second favorite tenor of all time, and in some repertoire I prefer him to Pavarotti. This is a live recording-no video sung, bizarrely, in his native Swedish...but sounds more Italian than a lot of tenors singing in Italian: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tl4jweGmjr0 and winning in the sheer hair-raising volume category...Mario del Monaco: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6kEjU1Td40&feature=PlayList&p=9F79F168286C71B4&playnext=1&index=18 I chose the final scene as it's more interesting, I think, and a better measure of the voice and the actor, than the more familiar famous aria from Pagliacci, Vesti la Giubba....but...since it's great too, here's one for the road. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8WOKsdHuc4 |
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| DivaDeb | Feb 14 2009, 11:37 AM Post #2 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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I have the entire video of this performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIQQv39dcNE It's Monserrat Caballe, 1974, singing Casta Diva from Bellini's Norma at the outdoor opera festival at Orange in France. The wind is blowing a gale and she sings with such ethereal ease you would swear she's somehow not even in the same dimension as everything around her. |
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| DivaDeb | Feb 14 2009, 12:20 PM Post #3 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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then...there are BARITONES: Sherrill Milnes sings Cortigiani from Rigoletto. The great part of his career was relatively short, but was really really great. I was able to sing for Milnes as well. He had a really unique ability to color the sound and communicate with just the tone...in that regard, I think he is without parallel, with the possible exception of Beverly Sills, who really knew how to shade the sound with many layers of meaning. I am a total sucker for that. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdCUZJJHvrs (the aria doesn't begin until about the 3:30 point of this cut) Leonard Warren is my most favorite baritone sound...I'm just in love with the fundamental sound. To prove that his is the most heavenly baritone voice ever, here's a lovely little pearl...this magnificent, spectacular voice that soared above huge orchetras in enormous houses, singing with a single piano, Malotte's The Lord's Prayer. Boy...I would have liked to have been there for this! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJrKZmeUd4c holy cow...that was great |
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| DivaDeb | Feb 14 2009, 12:27 PM Post #4 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Oh...this is just so very personally cool: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyiNaEGVSpE This is the prison scene from Gounod's Faust. Nicolai Gedda is Faust. He is my husband's favorite tenor ever. We have done this scene together. Mephistopheles is Jerome Hines. I own about 20 of Mr. Hines hymnals...I bought them from his estate. Phyllis Curtin is Marguerite. I don't like her much in this, but I like her much. She is a spectacular teacher for whom I sang many times during the late 70s. I also worked with her in a production of Otello. FWIW...there is no more *thrilling* music than the final trio from this scene. None. Nowhere. It's just fan-flipping-tastic. And SO MUCH FUN TO SING...AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH I wanna do Faust again. Who's up for it? I need a bass, I can supply the tenor! |
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| JBryan | Feb 14 2009, 02:05 PM Post #5 |
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I am the grey one
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Thank you, Deb. Some great stuff here that will take me some time to get through. I have always liked opera but it was never very accessible to me and for that reason I never learned very much about it. This is giving me a great starting point. |
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"Any man who would make an X rated movie should be forced to take his daughter to see it". - John Wayne There is a line we cross when we go from "I will believe it when I see it" to "I will see it when I believe it". Henry II: I marvel at you after all these years. Still like a democratic drawbridge: going down for everybody. Eleanor: At my age there's not much traffic anymore. From The Lion in Winter. | |
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| DivaDeb | Feb 14 2009, 02:49 PM Post #6 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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and a lot of fun for me to show you...when you are ready for more, let me know. |
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| JBryan | Feb 17 2009, 07:32 PM Post #7 |
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I am the grey one
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I thoroughly enjoyed these. I thought the Vickers and Corelli was interesting and I would put Bjorling ahead of them but I have to say my pick for best was Pavorotti with Domingo a close second. Pavarotti imparts a quality no others do which is not so much anger as hurt and betrayal. He is not a very good actor. In fact, he puts in my mind the image of a singing tree but his voice imparts the essence of pain and sorrow with a hint of joy (inexplicable as it seems but not something I have not experienced before). Domingo really characterizes all the rest with anger and vengeance pouring from his voice. Could Pavarotti even do that? I am really torn between the two but I still cannot stem the tears with Pavarotti so he gets my vote. I will listen to the rest of what you posted and tell you what I think but I have to thank you for giving me these moments. I have allways been in awe of the power of the human voice and I think all music really comes from there. I play Bach as I know Bach, lyrically. Not because I am trying for some effect but because the music itself sings to me. Again, thank you. |
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"Any man who would make an X rated movie should be forced to take his daughter to see it". - John Wayne There is a line we cross when we go from "I will believe it when I see it" to "I will see it when I believe it". Henry II: I marvel at you after all these years. Still like a democratic drawbridge: going down for everybody. Eleanor: At my age there's not much traffic anymore. From The Lion in Winter. | |
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| Mikhailoh | Feb 17 2009, 07:35 PM Post #8 |
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
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Thanks, Deb, and I hope JB does not object if I piggyback here. I love opera but must confess that I don't know too much about it as well. But when I have gone to Cincinnati Opera I have just been enthralled. Incredible experience. The Dayton Opera, not so much. |
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Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball | |
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| JBryan | Feb 17 2009, 07:42 PM Post #9 |
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I am the grey one
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This is wonderful. just wonderful. Thank you. |
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"Any man who would make an X rated movie should be forced to take his daughter to see it". - John Wayne There is a line we cross when we go from "I will believe it when I see it" to "I will see it when I believe it". Henry II: I marvel at you after all these years. Still like a democratic drawbridge: going down for everybody. Eleanor: At my age there's not much traffic anymore. From The Lion in Winter. | |
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| DivaDeb | Feb 17 2009, 07:47 PM Post #10 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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You have an *excellent* feel for this, it seems to me. In answer to your question, no...Pavarotti could not do the same things with his voice as Domingo (and vice versa). Domingo's voice was considerably more dramatic than Pavarotti's. You may remember I mentioned that Pavarotti backed away from Otello, and that it was one of his better moves. Domingo did not need to back away, but rather embraced Otello and made a career of it for a time...and it was a perfect progression for an instrument of the type, size, and timbre of Placido's. Lots of people said a lot about Pavarotti not acting...in some roles, particularly in the latter years, I agree. But...if you get a chance to see the 1981 Met video of L'Elisir D'Amore with Judith Blegen, you will see a guy who was very competent as an actor (and sang the living snot out of the thing). I think as he grew heavier and older, the stage became more of a distraction and obstacle for him with regard to his acting. It made no difference to me. All there is to acting is to get people to willingly suspend their disbelief long enough to become involved in the story. He could always do that to me with the sound only. I love your comments. I think the line up of Pagliaccis is interesting because they are so different...vocally and from a standpoint of interpretation. It's interesting to me to find how involved I can become in so many different performer's takes on the same piece. I look forward to hearing what you think as you listen to more. After you've had a chance to get through some of this stuff, I'd like to show you around an area of great affection for me, the French opera. You won't hear so much Pavarotti at that point...but the music is sublime. |
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| JBryan | Feb 17 2009, 07:56 PM Post #11 |
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I am the grey one
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These are wonderful. |
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"Any man who would make an X rated movie should be forced to take his daughter to see it". - John Wayne There is a line we cross when we go from "I will believe it when I see it" to "I will see it when I believe it". Henry II: I marvel at you after all these years. Still like a democratic drawbridge: going down for everybody. Eleanor: At my age there's not much traffic anymore. From The Lion in Winter. | |
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| Free Rider | Feb 17 2009, 07:59 PM Post #12 |
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Fulla-Carp
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Wow, I've been following this thread, I just wanted to say thank you, Deb and JBryan. There's some good information getting tossed around right now. |
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| JBryan | Feb 17 2009, 08:01 PM Post #13 |
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I am the grey one
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OMG! |
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"Any man who would make an X rated movie should be forced to take his daughter to see it". - John Wayne There is a line we cross when we go from "I will believe it when I see it" to "I will see it when I believe it". Henry II: I marvel at you after all these years. Still like a democratic drawbridge: going down for everybody. Eleanor: At my age there's not much traffic anymore. From The Lion in Winter. | |
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| VPG | Feb 17 2009, 08:01 PM Post #14 |
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Pisa-Carp
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Deb, I also thank you. I have saved all your links and comments for study. |
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I'M NOT YELLING.........I'M ITALIAN...........THAT'S HOW WE TALK! "People say that we're in a time when there are no heroes, they just don't know where to look." Ronald Reagan, Inaugural, 1971 | |
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| DivaDeb | Feb 17 2009, 08:17 PM Post #15 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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cool...I'm so glad you are enjoying it. There is so much to explore in opera...really, it is a shame when a person decides after hearing some snippets of operatic noise or seeing a couple of operas that they "don't like opera"...it's really as rich and varied as the category "classical music"...so there is something there for anyone unless they just flat out don't care about music at all. Sometimes it takes some time to find the thing that most appeals, but that hunt is worth it. This is a timely interest for me, JB et al...at my brother's memorial service, I spoke of three important gifts he had given me. The middle one was his educating himself about singers and operas after I made my decision to pursue a career in opera. It was a real wonderful affirmation for me, as a teenager, that my older brother who could just as easily have rolled his eyes and moved on, loved me up by learning about what was important to me. He became quite an afficianado...that totally blew me away because he has always been a rocker. But then, he just loved music, so he probably was an easy sell. It is a lot of fun for me to share one of the loves of my life with other folks. |
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| JBryan | Feb 17 2009, 08:20 PM Post #16 |
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I am the grey one
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More, please.
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"Any man who would make an X rated movie should be forced to take his daughter to see it". - John Wayne There is a line we cross when we go from "I will believe it when I see it" to "I will see it when I believe it". Henry II: I marvel at you after all these years. Still like a democratic drawbridge: going down for everybody. Eleanor: At my age there's not much traffic anymore. From The Lion in Winter. | |
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| DivaDeb | Feb 18 2009, 11:47 AM Post #17 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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you got it! ![]() I love the Italian repertoire...but my ears and heart are really drawn to the French. Perhaps my favorite role to perform was Juliette from Gounod's Romeo et Juliette. I wish I had the ability to convert tape to digital because I have a recording of a performance of mine from 1981 that is good quality sound, with orchestra, etc. Maybe I'll figure that out at some point. For now, here is the "Poison Aria"...this occurs at the familiar point in the story where Juliette drinks the sleeping draught given her by Friar Laurence that will make her appear to be dead...but not before having a great dramatic vision of the horrors of the tomb (yea for great dramatic visions :)) Here is the scene with Leontina Vaduva, who I really love in this part. This clip has a cut in it, I don't know why...but it basically only cuts a repeat of the chorus. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A2bhL3CHkM Here is my performance of the aria in its entirety. This is not in context...my show tape has orchestra and people noises. http://www.divadeb.com/track5.mp3 I de-----test Angela Gheorgiu vocally, artistically, in every conceivable way, and think it's a real shame that she built such a great career by hanging from her husband's well-deserved stardom, so I won't link to her performances, althought they are as easy to find as any over-sold bit of marketing on the web. She is, however, the name most linked to this role in recent years. Better you should hunt for Ruth Ann Swenson, Mirella Freni or me. False modesty is stupid...I was really good in this role and will try to prove that with a recording if I can get something worked out. Moving along, but still in Gounod's Romeo et Juliette, here is, I think, the most beautiful tenor aria ever written. It's "Ah! leve-toi soleil" and is based loosely on the "But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?" speech right before the famous balcony scene in Shakespeare's drama. I think Roberto Alagna was the best Romeo ever for a period of several years. Unfortunately, the performances on youtube are all past his prime in that role. The Alagna performance to hear is from the Covent Garden production with Vaduva as Juliette. It's on video, but the stuff on youtube is almost all from the silly opera-movie he made with his dreadful wife. So...for a young, ardent perfect Romeo sound, I'm going with this up and coming American Tenor, James Valenti. He looks and sounds oh so beautiful: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zCJIlxlXo8 Here is his webpage...he's a pretty boy: http://www.jamesvalenti.com/index.htm then, Placido-the freaking God-Domingo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpRIBtP1i4Y&feature=related maybe a little too much sound and too much man for the role, but who cares? ![]() and another young one, the incredibly beautiful voice of the incredibly beautiful Juan Diego Florez (try to ignore the gawd-awful clarinet solo at the end of the recitative...bet that guy wishes he had a do-over): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1izI_sPgV_k&feature=PlayList&p=48A2495C6369A02D&playnext=1&index=57 If I can ever get my tape on digital, you can hear my Romeo...he was pretty magnificent. |
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| DivaDeb | Feb 18 2009, 03:10 PM Post #18 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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Okay...I don't hate this. In fact I love it and I'm really sorry because I love hating Angela Gheorghiu so much that I'm seriously disappointed that I can't hate this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbzPqemzuLk&feature=related That is the same music as in my earlier post...the final trio from Gounod's Faust. Sheesh I love this music. This clip has the apotheosis that occurs right after the trio where the skies open and the angels take poor mad Marguerite up to Heaven. Read a synopsis...Bryn Terfel is the bass in this one, he is Mephistopheles. The tenor, Roberto Alagna, is playing Faust, and the soprano, his young lover who goes to prison for murdering her own child (his) when she goes nuts after he cuts out on her. Anyway...it's brilliantly sung and I'm sure is an anomaly for Ms. G
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| JBryan | Feb 18 2009, 06:25 PM Post #19 |
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I am the grey one
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That is a wonderful perfomance of the Romio et Juliette aria by you. My wife and I enjoyed it very much. I am still working my way through the rest but I just had to say that. |
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"Any man who would make an X rated movie should be forced to take his daughter to see it". - John Wayne There is a line we cross when we go from "I will believe it when I see it" to "I will see it when I believe it". Henry II: I marvel at you after all these years. Still like a democratic drawbridge: going down for everybody. Eleanor: At my age there's not much traffic anymore. From The Lion in Winter. | |
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| DivaDeb | Feb 18 2009, 07:25 PM Post #20 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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thank you kindly |
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| JBryan | Feb 20 2009, 05:55 PM Post #21 |
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I am the grey one
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I really liked Placido Domingo. He has a powerful clear voice and I think he is technically stronger than Pavarotti but he just doesn't have that "sunshine". In some of these clips you have posted I have been torn because Domingo seems to be the better performer, technician, etc. But every time Pavarotti opens his mouth the tears come to my eyes. It must be the only reason he could lumber about the stage and "act" as though no one else was there and be revered as he is. |
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"Any man who would make an X rated movie should be forced to take his daughter to see it". - John Wayne There is a line we cross when we go from "I will believe it when I see it" to "I will see it when I believe it". Henry II: I marvel at you after all these years. Still like a democratic drawbridge: going down for everybody. Eleanor: At my age there's not much traffic anymore. From The Lion in Winter. | |
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| JBryan | Feb 20 2009, 06:09 PM Post #22 |
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I am the grey one
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This Juan Diego Florez guy is wonderful. His voice is full and bright and clear. |
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"Any man who would make an X rated movie should be forced to take his daughter to see it". - John Wayne There is a line we cross when we go from "I will believe it when I see it" to "I will see it when I believe it". Henry II: I marvel at you after all these years. Still like a democratic drawbridge: going down for everybody. Eleanor: At my age there's not much traffic anymore. From The Lion in Winter. | |
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| DivaDeb | Feb 20 2009, 06:12 PM Post #23 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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yep....that's pretty much the size of it, JB. Domingo is the consumate artist. A fine pianist and brilliant conductor. He was fabulous in Italian and French...Pavarotti's French was just dire. And Domingo...a fine fine actor. Pavarotti was, as I mentioned earlier, quite a good actor when he was younger, stronger, and fitter. Over the years he quit doing what he didn't have to do, or physically could no longer do. People still wanted to hear him. |
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| DivaDeb | Feb 20 2009, 06:12 PM Post #24 |
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HOLY CARP!!!
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I've seen Florez twice in person. He's fabulous...and boy...is he ever a hunk! |
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| JBryan | Feb 20 2009, 06:22 PM Post #25 |
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I am the grey one
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This stuff is wonderful. |
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"Any man who would make an X rated movie should be forced to take his daughter to see it". - John Wayne There is a line we cross when we go from "I will believe it when I see it" to "I will see it when I believe it". Henry II: I marvel at you after all these years. Still like a democratic drawbridge: going down for everybody. Eleanor: At my age there's not much traffic anymore. From The Lion in Winter. | |
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4:48 PM Jul 10