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71Vera Bradley Handbags Are Among the Most Popular Bags
There is an undeniable charm to a Vera Bradley bag. That's why they're so popular and sought after. With a variety of feminine and flowery fabrics, in colors that make even the dreariest day seem sunny, Vera...
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75Opera plots - Puccini's Tosca
There are not too many laughs in Tosca, which is based on a drama by the French playwright Victorien Sardou, set in Rome in 1800. The play was first performed in 1887, and it first attracted the attention of...
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78Madame Butterfly's Pets
He called her his "Madame Butterfly," always with an affectionate chuckle as he quickly amended that nickname, with: "Hmmm . . . . I mean Madame Ailanthus." It was long time joke between them, one she...
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54Which Opera Should Be Your First One?
Opera is indeed an acquired taste, and approaching this antiquated and somewhat daunting art form takes considerable courage. First of all, before you consider delving into the operatice realm, ask...
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64My Favorite Opera Arias and Duets
This Italian opera, Turandot, was unfinished by Giacomo Puccini. He suffered from throat cancer and died from a heart attack before he could finish it. Franco Alfano, a friend of Puccini, completed the score,...
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77Opera plots - Puccini's Madame Butterfly
This is one of the best-known and loved of all operas, both for its superb music and its plot, a tragedy of broken faith in which the whole audience longs to scream out to Butterfly, "don't trust him!" The...
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61World's Most Romantic Music
Romantic MusicAdagio for strings (or string quartet; arr. from 2nd mvt. of String Quartet), Op. 11, Samuel Barber Aida, Celeste Aida, Giuseppe Verdi Arabeske for piano in C major, Op. 18, Robert Schumann...
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74Opera plots - Puccini's La Boheme
The willing suspension of disbelief is required for any dramatic performance, but this seems to be especially so in the case of opera. For one thing, people just don't go around singing at each other, at...
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67Mediaeval towns: Lucca
If France has its Carcassonne, Italy has nothing to envy with its mediaeval town of Lucca in Tuscany. We were travelling along the coast of Italy, when attracted by the word "mediaeval town" we decided to...
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67Tristan and Isolde: The opera vs the movie
I am not necessarily an avid listener of Wagner. Most of his music is intense, heavy and goes on forever. But his operas are truly masterpieces; although, not as easy to listen to as Puccini and Verdi. If you...
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