1000 Recordings and Puccini’s Turandot

I have a fascination with opera.  I don’t really know why, it tends to be insanely tragic…but one cannot argue that it is amazing what people can get their voices to do, and certainly if you are going to express some kind of deep emotion, opera seems to complement that quite well.

I remember first reading the story of Turandot in a children’s book, believe it or not, and the illustrations were what really captured my attention.

Now, the music is still absolutely captivating…especially “Nessun Dorma,” probably my favorite from the opera.  And quite common, you have probably heard it if you’ve eaten at an Italian restaurant at some point in your life.  Of course, if you listen to the recording mentioned in the book, with Luciano Pavarotti, you will certainly be even more impressed because he has an incredible voice.

I think the most tragic part of Turandot was that Pucinni was unable to finish it, he couldn’t come up with an ending that satisfied him.  The ending I remember is more of a fairy-tale (thank you, children’s book!) than an opera, and I feel like a happily ever after ending might be a little bit of a stretch. But who knows? If the composer himself couldn’t even finish it, does anyone else really have the right? I wonder.

1000 Recordings and ABBA

I bought this book recently, mostly to satisfy my seemingly unsatiable curiosity and endless quest for new music.  That way when I’m bored and I can’t figure out what my playlist of the day should be, it’s Russian Roulette with the 1000 Recordings to hear before I die.  And ABBA’s Gold Greatest Hits CD was my first victim.

Speaking of music bringing back memories, I remember the ABBA tribute band coming to the outdoor concert venue where I worked one summer in high school.  That was probably the biggest highlight after Aretha Franklin. Mostly because she was herself, and not a tribute band.

In any case, regardless of whether or not you actually like ABBA, their songs certainly have had a certain staying power.  I happen to find them pretty catchy, for the most part…though like most things, they seem to be best in small doses.  There is something to be said for a group that merits a tribute band, i suppose.  What I really liked about the CD though, was the fact that all the songs came out between 1974 and 1976, the years when my mom was my same age.  As I listened to the disc, I started thinking about my mom when she was 22, how the world was, and the experiences she was having at the time.  A lot has changed between then and now, but it was kind of comforting knowing that at that point in her life, she and I shared some things in common.  Now, I have a couple things from her first place in my first solo apartment:

The lovely patterned chair (there’s a matching couch too!) was a hand me down from my parents, and I’m constantly in search of something to cover them up with despite the sentimental attachments.  And of course, who could forget “Crazy Grape.” My sister’s proud owner of “Choo Choo Cherry.”  Maybe they’re not cool anymore, but they mean something if only for what they represent and what they ushered in after them…kind of like ABBA. So what if the metaphor is a stretch, this is my post.

Without a song or a dance, what are we? - “Thank You For The Music” – ABBA