Much like the Southern European nations’ stereotype, I’m late and behind schedule! However, unlike Italy’s ex-prime minister Silvio Berloscummy I don’t deserve prison nor are my excuses stronzate. The new month had a crazy start the afternoon of October first; I was called in to be the backfill team manager again due to extenuating circumstances. So the following two days took up a lot of energy going over the administrative things for about a dozen co-workers. It’s a good thing. I hand the reins to another great co-worker Monday which I don’t mind at all.
Why? See the above post. I want to stick with the theme here.
My annual tradition celebrating Italian accomplishments is going to be a tight squeeze (again) but I have been working off and on all year to find new people. One new twist is enlisting several other people who are also Italian or have some expertise in 2014’s theme…opera and to some extent, its cousin, ballet.
Italians invented opera several centuries before the nation existed. It’s even derived from their word for “work,” as in an “artistic work,” not general labor. From my mediocre research, it was invented by accident during the Renaissance. As the Italians were “rediscovering” Ancient Greek and Roman art, science, philosophy, etc.; they tried to reverse engineer Greek plays. When they read about the Greek chorus in the stories, they figured it was much like choirs in religious services, thus the Greeks had singing. Today we know the Greek chorus just spoke, sometimes through individuals or as a group. Still, the Italians were inspired to create new works based upon their incorrect conclusions and the result is opera.
Opera took off gradually. Within a couple centuries, it was the entertainment on the peninsula loved by all socio-economic classes. Opera concept was exported to other nations and adapted to their languages over the years: Wagner, Gilbert & Sullivan readily come to mind.
In America, it has permeated our culture in two immediate examples I can give. The first is the rather rude expression used in sports, “It ain’t over until the fat lady sings.” Practically every American understands what is meant despite most opera singers lacking Pavarotti’s girth and I don’t think many stories involve a woman singing in the finale. The second involves cartoons, namely Bugs Bunny but I’m sure others have done similar integrations. Bugs has had three adventures involving opera: “Long-haired Hare,” “What’s Opera Doc?” and “Rabbit of Seville.” The latter uses a scene as my header since it was by Gioachino Rossini, an Italian I plan to write about with help from José, the biggest expert I personally know. I was also inspired by opera thanks to the great ladies from Stuff You Missed in History Class doing an episode covering the legendary La Scala.
Kick back, relax, enjoy and if you want, participate.
There will be non-Italian things should it bore you.