GENERAL MEETING APRIL 21ST 2008

 

Comic Characters from Opera

 

We all enjoyed an unusual talk at our April general meeting as we were treated

to some singing too.  Mr Jeff Woods was telling us about comic characters in

opera and he started by singing a piece from the "Magic Flute" by Mozart -  the

character Papageno singing about catching birds.  When dressed for the opera

Papageno is costumed in bird-like clothing, Jeff had a very fetching duck shower- cap with a soft toy duck stuck on the top! Also very comical! Having proven his singing skills Jeff went on to tell us about Mozart's life and his works.  We listened to Bryn Terfel performing in the Marriage of Figaro.

 

From Mozart we went to Rossini.  A prodigious composer of opera, producing

some 18 works by the time he was 38 years old.  We were treated to the singing of Laurence Tibbet in "The Barber of Seville", set in a time when the barber was also the local surgeon!

 

Mario Lanza, better known for his film roles, epitomised the tragic element of

comedy in Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci", a story about a Harlequin and his

Columbine, which all ends in tears.

 

The afternoon was rounded off by a brief trip into Gilbert and Sullivan, and Jeff

treated us to a serenade of "A Little Tom Tit" from the "Mikado" - complete with

a very fetching japanese-style hat.

 

Our next meeting is on Monday 19th May at 2.30pm, when we shall be listening

to three speakers, telling us about their work in Ross.  Representatives of Age

Concern, Shopmobility and WRVS will let us know how we can all benefit from

their efforts. If you would like to join us, why not ring 567789 or 562884 about

membership, or just come along to our meeting at the Larruperz Centre where

you will be made very welcome.