Only in America . . .

Post by **Corlyss_D** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:17 am

I want someone to turn this into an opera libretto

San Diego Agonistes

Rarely has a city's self-image tumbled so quickly as that of San Diego, the seventh-largest municipality in the country. Within the last month, a $2 billion public pension scandal forced the resignation of its mayor, his successor had to step down after one day following his conviction on charges of accepting illegal campaign funds, and a local congressman has decided to leave office after FBI agents raided his house as part of a probe into his ties with a defense contractor.

On Tuesday, an understandably surly electorate trooped to the polls to fill the mayor's position in a special election. The front-runner with 43% of the vote was Councilwoman Donna Frye, a self-described "surfer chick" and environmental activist who will face former Police Chief Jerry Sanders in a runoff this November. While the race is technically non-partisan, you can bet Democrats will pull out the stops for Ms. Frye and Republicans for Mr. Sanders.

San Diego also made headlines this week when the city council, its ranks decimated by convictions, elevated one of its members to be acting mayor until November. Toni Atkins, a policy analyst, becomes the first openly gay politician to run a major American city, an honor she undoubtedly would prefer to have received under different circumstances.

-- John Fund

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 2:54 pm

I'll get started tonight right after Live from Lincoln Center.

Post by **Corlyss_D** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:02 pm

I'm waiting for the cops to swoop in and arrest the entire city government somewhere. I know it's just a matter of time . . .

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:13 pm

I see an aria with a detective (tenor) singing the Miranda warnings and the suspect (bass) repeating his denials.

Post by **Corlyss_D** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 3:21 pm

Ralph wrote:I see an aria with a detective (tenor) singing the Miranda warnings and the suspect (bass) repeating his denials.

I like it! We need Nigel here to help us construct this.

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 4:15 pm

Corlyss_D wrote:
Ralph wrote:I see an aria with a detective (tenor) singing the Miranda warnings and the suspect (bass) repeating his denials.
I like it! We need Nigel here to help us construct this.

*****

Well I doubt we'll ever see him here again.

jbuck919 · Post by **jbuck919** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 4:34 pm

Ralph wrote:I see an aria with a detective (tenor) singing the Miranda warnings and the suspect (bass) repeating his denials.

Didn't Cui Bono write the concert aria "Nolo contendere" for this purpose?

operafan · Post by **operafan** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 4:42 pm

A back ground chorus of Moonies or any other religion that has not yet taken a much needed vow of silence. Sounds of the ocean heard in the background a la Simone Boccanegra. Sounds of the second rate San Diego sailors (it's an America's Cup thing) yelling at each other for color. A play within a play at the Old Globe. Possible immolation of nearby hills (fire or flood, your pick) seen as prophetic of Arrmagedon by those in the know. People speaking to each other in tongues, Spanish being the least of them. 6 Chorus septet scientists vs. pols vs. the poverty strucken vs. worker bees vs. artists vs. surfers. Toss in the suspect Rembrandt and the David Hockney sets for flavor. It could be done.

Post by **Corlyss_D** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 5:05 pm

jbuck919 wrote:
Ralph wrote:I see an aria with a detective (tenor) singing the Miranda warnings and the suspect (bass) repeating his denials.
Didn't Cui Bono write the concert aria "Nolo contendere" for this purpose?

Post by **Corlyss_D** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 5:07 pm

O, you're hired. Knock off a libretto and we'll give it to Dave Stybr when he returns from other duties as assigned.

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 5:32 pm

jbuck919 wrote:
Ralph wrote:I see an aria with a detective (tenor) singing the Miranda warnings and the suspect (bass) repeating his denials.
Didn't Cui Bono write the concert aria "Nolo contendere" for this purpose?

*****

That was for the opera, "Law and Aria."

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 5:33 pm

Corlyss_D wrote:O, you're hired. Knock off a libretto and we'll give it to Dave Stybr when he returns from other duties as assigned.

*****

Just a minute-it's MY opera and I'll decide who's on the creative team.

operafan · Post by **operafan** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 7:48 pm

Tango rythem - heavy violins
Nope, it's miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine
Though I'm sure Ralph can do one just as Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine
His will be like the Marriage of Figaro
Close but no cigarooo
Miiiiiiiiiine will be fillled with Criiiiiiiiiime

Tango appassionata

Miiiiiiiiiine will be so filled with the greeeeeeeeeeedy
No one will actually care who actually did the deeeedy
Ralph's opera will be filled with laws
His characters obcessed with the laws' flaws
Miiiiiiiine will be filled with the much more lovable seeeedy

Tango intrepedio

ole !!

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 7:52 pm

operafan wrote: Tango rythem - heavy violins
Nope, it's miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine
Though I'm sure Ralph can do one just as Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine
His will be like the Marriage of Figaro
Close but no cigarooo
Miiiiiiiiiine will be fillled with Criiiiiiiiiime

Tango appassionata

Miiiiiiiiiine will be so filled with the greeeeeeeeeeedy
No one will actually care who actually did the deeeedy
Ralph's opera will be filled with laws
His characters obcessed with the laws' flaws
Miiiiiiiine will be filled with the much more lovable seeeedy

Tango intrepedio

ole !!

*****

Not bad, not bad at all.

Post by **Corlyss_D** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:09 pm

Ralph wrote:Just a minute-it's MY opera and I'll decide who's on the creative team.

It was my idea!

Post by **Corlyss_D** » Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:10 pm

operafan wrote: Tango rythem - heavy violins
Nope, it's miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine
Though I'm sure Ralph can do one just as Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine
His will be like the Marriage of Figaro
Close but no cigarooo
Miiiiiiiiiine will be fillled with Criiiiiiiiiime

Tango appassionata

Miiiiiiiiiine will be so filled with the greeeeeeeeeeedy
No one will actually care who actually did the deeeedy
Ralph's opera will be filled with laws
His characters obcessed with the laws' flaws
Miiiiiiiine will be filled with the much more lovable seeeedy

Tango intrepedio

ole !!

Love it!!! More! more!

Is there a mezzo in it?

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 5:53 am

I have a major role for my favorite voice, a mezzanine-soprano. They're as hard to find as castrati these days (and I need four of them).

Post by **Corlyss_D** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:37 am

Ralph wrote:I have a major role for my favorite voice, a mezzanine-soprano. They're as hard to find as castrati these days (and I need four of them).

Maybe you could get John Ferrante, the bargain countertenor to sing one of them.

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 10:51 am

Corlyss_D wrote:
Ralph wrote:I have a major role for my favorite voice, a mezzanine-soprano. They're as hard to find as castrati these days (and I need four of them).
Maybe you could get John Ferrante, the bargain countertenor to sing one of them.

*****

I'm not familiar with him. As ad hoc counsel to the project perhaps you could see how much he'd charge.

Post by **Corlyss_D** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 11:17 am

Ralph wrote:
Corlyss_D wrote:
Ralph wrote:I have a major role for my favorite voice, a mezzanine-soprano. They're as hard to find as castrati these days (and I need four of them).
Maybe you could get John Ferrante, the bargain countertenor to sing one of them.
*****

I'm not familiar with him. As ad hoc counsel to the project perhaps you could see how much he'd charge.

PDQ Bach's first album 40 years ago: the cantata Iphegenia In Brooklyn

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Fri Jul 29, 2005 1:35 pm

Oh that was a great cantata. Very Dittersdorfian. I have the CD and I've heard it at Carnegie (Hall, not the deli).

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