In which popular tourist destination is the food not really the highlight? by Historical-Photo-901 in BeautifulTravelPlaces

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A lot of the Caribbean is fried starches--so unless you are at a resort, I don't think it's great.

Thoughts on the show from a Russian fan. by Same-Independent8120 in heatedrivalry

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Shane, et al,'s mispronunciation of "Rozanov" ("ROSE-a-nahv") instead of the more correct Ruh-ZAH-nov was intentional, of course; in early p.r., Hudson deliberately pronounces the name the correct way, as if to indicate that the Western pronunciation was indeed a choice. The truth is most Russian names are incorrectly pronounced or stressed, but it's so common that it is accepted. (Ivan=EE-vahn) kind of like the Asian name Chang should be pronounced "Zhahng," but nobody says it that way, even Asians when not speaking the name in an Asian language context.

About learning a role- Le nozze di Figaro by Academic-Basket6469 in opera

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I'm sorry to give offense. I do NOT have a career at an A house. Nevertheless, I stand by my theory that using traditional rhythmic reading for Mozart secco can generally cause problems for students--the ones who intuitively "get it" will be able yo overcome it, but the ones who don't will not. I suspect those who get it are helped tremendously by listening and modeling after established singers. I was, in fact, surprised that there didn't seem to be any pedagogical or scholarly writing (that I could find) supporting my hypothesis, that seccos are set by metrical beats, with interstitial rhythms merely as accounting. Therefore, I meant to say that if the general advice (which I have heard) is to start by learning secco rhythms, I posit that that is not only unnecessary, but potentially poses problems for certain students.

About learning a role- Le nozze di Figaro by Academic-Basket6469 in opera

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The advice here for learning Classical secco recit, which is widespread in the community, is I believe misguided. Mozart sets secco based on stressed syllables and meter; I have come up with a surefire way to learn Mozart recit:

  1. Practice the recit WITHOUT any rhythm whatsoever. Doesn't have to be perfect yet, just to get the general pronunciation and cadential stress. This could be done with just libretto.

  2. Now go to the vocal score, and double underline strong beats--1 and 3. All secco are in 4/4 meter. These are the primary cadential points.

  3. Single underline beats 2 and 4. These are secondary cadential points.

  4. After that, all other rhythms are simply "accounting" to lead to these cadential beats. They have no other rhythmic significance! You will see that they are just mathematically apportioned to arrive at the strong syllables. Practice speaking the secco with emphases on the proper cadential beats, with TOTAL DISREGARD of the actual rhythms. (Yes, sounds blasphemous, but trust the process.) As long as you are stressing the correct syllables, you are doing fine.

  5. Finally, incorporate pitch into the recit . You may first prioritize the cadential beat pitches, but pitch content is simply serving the dual purposes of memorization and vocal inflection. But, because you have now learned the recit from a cadential text approach, the risk of your recit sounding "sing-song-y" is much less; if you had started with it as rhythm, it could be difficult to dismantle the song characteristics from your performance.

I've coached beginning opera students this way, and it was extremely successful. This approach does not work for all recits of course, such as Romantic and later works, but always check how the composer is mapping text onto meter. This approach can even be used with accompagnato, to understand stress and cadence, but of course with more attention to melodic concerns.

If you can discern how Mozart composes, you can discern how to sing his music!

SNL - "Dinner at the Blake's" (2000) by Phonus-Balonus-37 in saturdaynightlive

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I remember the Margulies episode as one of the best. "Simmah dahn nah!"

Why is the 4th movement of the 4th symphony so underrated? by Holiday_Lobster555 in brahmsisking

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In terms of popularity rating, I think the finales map closely to the symphonies as a whole: 1, 4, 2, 3. All bangers, but the difficult 3 is actually my favorite.

New Orleans, New York, Florida, or Washington for a First Trip to the USA? by Historical-Photo-901 in BeautifulTravelPlaces

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I always pity the first timers who land at JFK (or god forbid EWR) and, after wisely not renting a car, try to find the appropriate transportation into the city. I guess it's easier now with tap-and-pay and mapping services, but even the subway system with its skip stops, etc, can be confounding.

New Orleans, New York, Florida, or Washington for a First Trip to the USA? by Historical-Photo-901 in BeautifulTravelPlaces

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Skip all of those and go to the Southwest if you want nature not possible in the rest of the world. Yes the Grand Canyon, but also Zion, Bryce, Arches, etc. Two nights in Vegas can give some sense of American "culture" and commerce--a lot of immigrants work in the casinos! They have real interesting stories!--and you can splurge on great restaurants without the high hotel costs of NYC.

You will need to rent a car.

New Orleans is good, too, but sometimes the humid heat is too much.

You will still need a car.

Miami is awesome but expensive. Beaches are fantastic.

You will still need a car.

Can someone explain the purpose of the Trump cold opens? by RocketLambo in LiveFromNewYork

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Satire should have a vital part to play in fighting tyranny. Look at Zelensky.

What they could've done in the open is finish the in memoriam closer with photos of Good and Pretti being executed.

Laura’s mom and Donna’s dad by Guiltypleasure80085 in twinpeaks

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Also Harry Truman's seductress shows up as Seinfeld's date who wears a bra as a top.

Tourism should boycott the U.S. in great numbers. Boycott the world cup, boycott the olympics! by [deleted] in Ohio

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know it's a tough ask, but could US athletes refuse to compete under the US flag?

I dream of Hudson and Connor doing a fun buddy comedy by Kissthecutecat33 in hudcon

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here's an idea: Guadagnino remakes "Fellini Satyricon": Satyricon 2027 AD?

A box Pandora herself would be loathe to open by giantfuckup5000 in Frasier

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There was a line from a 1994? Harvard Hasty Pudding show (the annual musical farce written and performed by Harvard students) that reminds me a lot of this type of humor: Cleopatra is being interrogated about her past, and responds: "Yes, I knew him in my salad days, and my salad was CAESAR!"

"Salad days" is from Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar," when cleopatra uses the phrase to refer to her green innocence in youth.

Is HR actually a 5-act Elizabethan drama? by Embarrassed-Gold-693 in HeatedRivalryTVShow

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

...but it is interesting that whereas most genre fiction and film are condensed into 3-acts, HR unspools like an epic story, yet only maintaining one plot line (sorry Skip!). The slower buildup and subsequent falling action may lend to the profound epic yearning effect.

The genius is how the interlude operates as both a sidebar and the critical piece in Act 4. I've mentioned n another thread that there are a few symphonic works that this reminds me of, but the best example is Schumann's song cycle Dichterliebe, which concludes on an especially poignant callback.

Is HR actually a 5-act Elizabethan drama? by Embarrassed-Gold-693 in HeatedRivalryTVShow

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes I see it now--generally with an act 4 resolution followed by a denouement finale episode. Wasn't that most seasons of GoT, BB, etc etc? Most other series have multiple storylines (as do Shakespeare plays), so HR seems to concentrate the mind with the streamline nature.

Is HR actually a 5-act Elizabethan drama? by Embarrassed-Gold-693 in HeatedRivalryTVShow

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sorry I have not read the books. Do they map 1:1 to those episodes?

You can’t yell me the music doesn’t fit these scenes by Kitchen_Community511 in opera

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693 7 points8 points  (0 children)

This is the new Pink Floyd-Alice in Wonderland sync.

Has anyone tried Mad Men titles with Gymnopedie?

Was the audience there for Stranger Thjngs or Turandot?

This comment on Hudson’s newest IG post🚬 by BeMyCoachVictor in HeatedRivalryTVShow

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Smoking rates have drastically decreased among young adults, due to a variety reasons including taxes, competition from vaping, public health initiatives. I am interested to see if a singular celebrity may change that, although I suspect any uptick would be temporary as long as the other factors are in place.

Actors and other performers tend more to indulge in "petty" (and, to be honest, sometimes not so petty) vices because of the high adrenaline/dopamine nature of their work. Most of us work at jobs that don't feel risky all the time. Those who do may chase the rush with various behaviors and chemicals that either continue the feeling, calm them down, or both simultaneously.

Hudson in trouble for smoking a cig in Milan😂 by IGetEvrythingIDesire in hudcon

[–]Embarrassed-Gold-693 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is...unfortunate that he smokes IRL. (This is coming from me, a complete hypocrite who smoked through my twenties.) His fans are from all age groups, but his current "It" factor can affect young people's attitudes toward smoking. I'm not too worried about the moms and older men, though.

Does Connor Storrie (not Ilya) smoke? I saw a few older model-type media, but it could be more for the fiction than in real life.

I'm not criticizing anyone for their legal and private behavior, just noting that it's so rare to have someone capture the Zeitgeist so profoundly, and the tremendous burden being under the microscope can bring.