Toadfish Monastery

Have I told you about the girls in the opera?

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Well, an opera needs at least one fat lady or it will never end.

Last _{That's an axiom} Post

Does the Fat Lady sing the
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?

Maybe sink it
la si ta do si ta

Interestingly enough I haven't seen full figured women cast as principals in a while.

Last _{chorus ladies OTHO...} Post

Going to the opera has become a bit of a rarity for me. Either I have seen the work in case often enough already or the production is so 'modern' that I can very well do without, thank you. I don't oppose a setting transfer to modern times per se but too many 'star' directors of both opera and theatre show not the least respect for the intentions of the original author. I have no need for Hansel and Gretel eating babies or the soldiers of Nabucco being disguised as wasps (including extended abdomen). It also has become a fashion to change the endings like the villain coming back killing the young lovers (or, if he is supposed to win, to do an 180° turn and join in).
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There was a rather massive second (the witch) in the Rusalka production I watched the week before last.

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Ahh, Europe... Do you know that there is a little bit of scandal because the current production of Don Giovanni has some suggestive staging with a lady on a table just before the Comendatore comes to dinner? Nothing explicit mind you.

Last _{an Englishman staging is scandalizing the puritans they dumped here a while back} Post

Their heads would explode should they witness the average German opera production these days. Full frontal nudity on a regular base and orgies every other day.

Last _{and not all of it hetero} Post

Must be like singing in the bath.

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As sexist as it may sound I think it makes sense. From my perspective, part of the success of things like classic ballet was the opportunity to watch the bodies of the dancers (and wealthy patrons had frequent access to more than that).

Last _{we like to think we are better than that but in reality we're not} Post

Look at classical paintings. Nudity was allowed as long as the topic was mythical (e.g. Venus) or biblical (e.g. Adam and Eve). But without that excuse it was scandalous. For example Manet's 'Olympia' caused a scandal although it was essentially a copy of Tizian's 'Venus of Urbino'.

Last notgeile Heuchler Post

In many periods those mythical paintings were hidden from public view.

Last _{morals are for commoners} Post

On the other hand they put statues of nuns having orgasms in churches
http://www.avl.uzh.ch/research/projects/chosen/berniniecstasy.jpg

Last _{just read what those female mystics wrote. pure sacroporn} Post

Ever heard about the treatment for female hysteria?

Last _{OTOH (male) masturbation was (and still is) immoral} Post

Yeah. But the cure had to be applied by a qualified medical expert

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