tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post3483943141318377911..comments2024-03-30T01:32:11.664-05:00Comments on Every goddamn day: 03/30/24: Party with the devil without selling your soul; win tickets to "Faust"Neil Steinberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11468057838260476480noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-22434681855775010642018-02-16T16:56:23.372-06:002018-02-16T16:56:23.372-06:00He is also the subject of the opera, "Mephist...He is also the subject of the opera, "Mephistophele," by Ariggo Boito, who wrote both words and music. More faithful to Goethe than Gounod's "Faust," which Germans tend to dismiss as a trivialization. Not often done, but with the right, magisterial, bass, it can be a good show.<br /><br />Tom Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09641357239788323783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-43850723246255613442018-02-16T16:50:13.185-06:002018-02-16T16:50:13.185-06:00Trump signing a contract with Mephistopheles grant...Trump signing a contract with Mephistopheles granting the Presidency in exchange for his immortal soul? Not likely, in that the Final Destination of Trump's soul was already most likely a done deal. And Trump would include a clause in the contract compelling everyone to like him, something I don't feel one iota. Whereas against my normal nature, I'm at times glad to hear the Cubs won a game or a division or some such.Berniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17157600812959885192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-20001225985018423652018-02-16T14:32:28.382-06:002018-02-16T14:32:28.382-06:00Always loved the word "Mephistopheles"--...Always loved the word "Mephistopheles"-- just rolls off your tongue -- and I can see where it would make a fitting companion for a very common street epithet that also starts with "M."<br /><br />johntatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10088632798195131329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-47183421337363726172018-02-16T12:49:39.851-06:002018-02-16T12:49:39.851-06:00One day, I put in a DVD of Faust, and just had it ...One day, I put in a DVD of Faust, and just had it playing while I was doing house junk. Nothing new, I have a huge variety of operas and musicals, and my kids were brought up with all this since birth. If they payed attention, cool, if not, that was fine too, in other words, no forced listening. Back to Faust, about a week after I had played it, my sons kindergarten teacher called me because she was very concerned about what he was calling this other little boy. She said he was calling the boy Mephistopheles, and she had no idea what it meant. I asked if the boy was a bully or mean, she said yes. That made me laugh, and I had to explain where the name came from and what he meant. Rather proud of my son for that. NikkiDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15226032148784322997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-18946704009099052362018-02-16T10:46:58.388-06:002018-02-16T10:46:58.388-06:00At last, a plausible explanation for our national ...At last, a plausible explanation for our national madness!<br /><br />"Faust" is certainly a good introductory opera, the only downside being that it is full of "earworms," those tunes that wake you up in the middle of the night running through your head. I do, however, have to disagree about the ending. The Greeks, some centuries back, discovered the dramatic power of catharsis, the emotional cleansing that comes with the tragic end of a protagonist. It's something modern audiences can feel with the deaths of Mimi, Violetta or Aida, but you have to be into the old time religion to be so moved by Margareta's fate.<br /><br />I'm looking forward to Faust, but also saw the dress rehearsal of "Cosi fan Tutti," opening this Saturday, and would recommend it to Neil's legion of opera-loving fans. A fine ensemble of six gifted singing actors making a meal of Signor Da Ponte's politically incorrect treatment of the inconstancy of women and the foolishness of their lovers. And Herr Mozart's incomparable music.<br /><br />Tom <br />Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09641357239788323783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3972382144120426476.post-45501097448089417732018-02-16T09:40:01.900-06:002018-02-16T09:40:01.900-06:00We can't go a day without mentioning Donald Tr...We can't go a day without mentioning Donald Trump. I think he's the reincarnation of Herostratus of whom it was said, "But the iniquity of oblivion blindly scattereth her poppy, and deals with the memory of men without distinction to merit of perpetuity... Herostratus lives that burnt the Temple of Diana, he is almost lost that built it... Who knows whether the best of men be known? or whether there be not more remarkable persons forgot, than any that stand remembred in the known account of time?" The Greeks attempted to erase Herostratus's name from history; Trump is making sure we won't forget him.<br /><br />johntatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10088632798195131329noreply@blogger.com