The unmistakable voice of Pavarotti flair pomp and circumstance rolled into one big male voice. I went looking for the English translation of the book by Murgers called: 'Scenes de las vie de Boheme' which is the novella that informed the writing of the libretto for this opera. The book is written in autobiographical episdodes, as it were, that inspired the opera that I have been milling on for three days now. I have listened to it on vinyl two times and I am going to go for a third time. I really want to buy a papasan chair for my analog opera listening experiences...Maybe this weekend it will happen.  An artistic bohemian struggle is an ongoing theme and one that is fascinating to me and is revered in the this opera. Living for art. This version is conducted by Herbert Von Karajan in 1973 some seventy seven years after its debut. So I found one copy of the book as a beat up paperback and I just couldn't bring myself to make the purchase as I own far too many books. Yes, one can have too many. This opera makes me feel like life is perfect. Another true vinyl experience.

​

The Vienna Opera produced Don Pasquale and I am studying it currently. The composer wrote this opera in less than three weeks late in his life just after having deep loss.  His wife, whom he adored passed from cholera and their two children died young. It was Donizetti's sixty-ninth opera. I am listening now as I write. One of the things I am enjoying is how there is far more music than talking although the libretto I have here in my hand suggests otherwise...in Italian and English translation. I never knew opera was so sexy. It is such deep and off the cuff romance. It is a comedy but I fear I will not know where to laugh.  The soprano's voice is time stompingly beautiful. This version of the opera was conducted by Istvan Kertesz and was recorded in 1965. I am having a vinyl experience here.