Falstaff...

[fajrdrako]

Last night I went to see Verdi's Falstaff at the National Arts Centre with commodorified.

It isn't the Falstaff of the history plays. It's like the Falstaff of The Merry Wives of Windsor (which is more or less the story), but it's blended with the style of Goldoni and the spirit of A Midsummer Night's Dream. It's Shakespeare put through an Italian filter.

And the set was magnificent. I want to redecorate my apartment in high Tudor. Sadly, I would need a 50-foot ceiling for the stained glass, which I do not have.

The more I hear opera, the more I want more of it.

Comments

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

Sooper sekrit message: Operation Dragonfly carried out?

Sounds like the code name for some top secret highly dangerous military op from WWII. *g*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Operation D'fly is still in the works. The Objective knows Something is about to happen, on whatever day I see her when I expect to see her or when I haven't just had a full day at work while the item sits, safe and dormant in my apartment.

Meanwhile commodorified has a dramatic duelling scar that (on Monday) made it difficult for her to laugh. I hope it is somewhat improved by now.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

Safe and dormant, and ready to be unleashed upon an unsuspecting world. *g*

And commodorified's "duelling scar" is making me think of Aral. Hers isn't l-shaped, is it?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

No, not L-shaped. I checked.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

You would.

*g*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, I would. And it was on my mind, which will not surprise you.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

I was supposed to poke you, BTW, about putting Eye of the Wind online. *poke, poke*

And I seem to be too engrossed in/obsessed with/addicted to Lowachee to have much attention to spare for the Bujold read. Sound at all familiar to you? *g*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Poke acknowledged. I hadn't forgotten. I just hadn't done it yet. (Bad me.) Tonight, maybe. Honest. Really.

Yes, I can certainly understand being obsessed with/addicted to Lowachee. I am so glad you are enjoying the books! Which one are you reading now? I'd love to hear your thoughts. On the list, maybe? Tasia's been wanting to discuss it too, since she recently finished "Cagebird". She found Azarcon not just formidable but frightening (and fascinating).

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

I've read them all, in order, and now I've dived back into Cagebird, following Yuri's story chronologically, as someone (was it you?) suggested on the list. He's only just got on board the "Abyssinian" with "Marcus" and Estienne, and at this point, he wants to go home and Bo Sheng doesn't. Funny (not haha!) how that changes.

Favourite characters are Jos and Yuri, absolute favourite depending on which book I'm reading. *g* I wouldn't say Cairo Azarcon's frightening, not quite, but he certainly is formidable. Very. I think it's the result of first "meeting" him in Warchild, through Jos's eyes. The whole Macedon experience, its Captain included, is frightening for Jos at first. That's one of the things I like about these books - the povs are very well done. Jos finds the jets very menacing to start with - of course he does: he's a symp infiltrating the Mac, who's grown up with the striv (and Niko!), and he has Falcone in his past. I suspect some of the tension was lost by your not reading Warchild first, because while you knew Cairo was one of the good guys, Jos (and therefore the reader) isn't sure what to make of him initially - and Azarcon is, in turn, suspicious of Jos because of his history with the pirates. Erm, now I can't remember how much of the truth Jos tells when he's recruited. His cover story is that he's an orphan from Austro Station, ok, but he doesn't hide the fact that his ship (the Mukudori?) was destroyed by pirates, does he?

I've been spending hours reading the list messages from January. You think it's time for another round, then? *g*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I've read them all, in order, and now I've dived back into Cagebird, following Yuri's story chronologically, as someone (was it you?) suggested on the list.

I don't remember whether I suggested it or not, but it's what I did myself - after reading the whole series, I reread "Cagebird" chronologically. (It was just so hard to stop reading those books, on and on! They seemed so much more interesting than anything else I might be reading.)

Yes, it's ironic that at first Yuri is the one with doubts and Bo Sheng is eager to join "Marcus". Poor Bo Sheng - talk about doing something you thoroughly regret later!

Favourite characters are Jos and Yuri

Yes, I love them both too. Secondary favourites: Niko, Sid, Erret.

absolute favourite depending on which book I'm reading.

My absolute favourite is Cairo Azarcon.

I wouldn't say Cairo Azarcon's frightening, not quite, but he certainly is formidable. Very.

Yes. Which is one reason I like him. I'm not sure why Tasia finds him frightening, and hope to get a chance to discuss it with her.

Jos finds the jets very menacing to start with -

Which of course took me by surprise, reading Warchild right after Cagebird and seeing Azarcon as a white hat and a rescuer - a man with wise questions. But of course Jos doesn't know this. To him, Azarcon is potentially another Falcone.

Azarcon is, in turn, suspicious of Jos because of his history with the pirates.

He knows how dangerous and pervasive Falcone's influence can be.

I can't remember how much of the truth Jos tells when he's recruited. His cover story is that he's an orphan from Austro Station, ok, but he doesn't hide the fact that his ship (the Mukudori?) was destroyed by pirates, does he?

That's right. It's known he was orphaned on the Mukudori and that he spent a year with Falcone - the part that's completely edited out of his story is his involvement with the Striv and the simps. He says he got his fighting skills from a community association. That in itself would be enough to make Azarcon suspicious - but of course, Azarcon is suspicious in all the wrong directions. Of course, he has his own hang-ups about Falcone.


I've been spending hours reading the list messages from January.

Eek - ! Entertaining, I hope. I remember getting names confused and floundering a lot but thoroughly enjoying the discussion.

You think it's time for another round, then? *g*

I would like it. Tasia said she would like it. I bet Mara would. And in the meantime, Sharron and (I think) Buster have read the books and might want to participate.

I think I'm about ready to reread them again, too. Maybe it's time for another go at Warchild.