Photos from this afternoon including the visit to the Cambridge Uni Library and the Genizah Unit (where we were treated to a fantastic presentation and then the opportunity of viewing a number of the fragments).
The paper given just before dinner was an examination of the treatment of Saul in an opera based on the play of Gide (a French playwright). It was a fascinating presentation showing how this king is treated by librettists.
I’ve discovered to my considerable chagrin that Ernst Axel-Knauf will not be present tonight to give his paper because of extenuating circumstances. It will instead be given by Diane Edelman, who will doubtless handle it in an able manner. The topic, the ‘end of history’, should be a minimalists delight.
More anon…
5 responses so far ↓
Joe Blackmon // January 6, 2009 at 4:28 pm
How could anything related to opera be described as facinating? Opera comes from the Latin for “work” which is what it takes to listen to opera. My music history professor, when I was a college music major, said “Opera is basically fat people shouting at each other for hours in another language”. I think that pretty well sums it up.
Jim // January 6, 2009 at 6:56 pm
well that’s just uncouth. as a devoted mozartian i take umbrage at this slander against one of the most fantastic forms of art ever developed. you sir are a cad.
note- the above was said with all the love in my heart.
Doug // January 6, 2009 at 6:21 pm
Yikes, Jim. Describing Gide as a “playwright” is a b it like describing (say) Shakespeare as a “poet”. It’s true, but it’s so short of the full truth as to be misleading. “Gay writer and man of letters” might be nearer a full description. Hell, even Wikipedia would have given you more info than “playwright”.
Jim // January 6, 2009 at 6:54 pm
and a very bad one if his work on saul is any indication.
Joe Blackmon // January 7, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Touche’, Jimbo.
Mozart operas are actually ok in measured doses. Now I have heard of states considering using Wagner as a method for the death penalty. I mean, dude has good moments but really bad quarter hours.
Like gas stations in rural Texas after 10 pm, comments are closed.