Tag Archives: opera

San Francisco (1936)

In the year 1906, the city of San Francisco was rocked with the worst earthquake it had ever seen, and it still holds the record for the most destructive. In 1936, Hollywood decided to memorialize that event with the movie “San Francisco,” starring Clark Gable, Jeanette MacDonald, and Spencer Tracy. The most amazing thing about the movie is the use of special effects. Today we have computers to digitally enhance the images and create spectacular effects, but in 1936 they didn’t have those luxuries. Nevertheless, the effects are quite astounding. Gable plays Blackie Norton, a casino owner with a taste … Continue reading →

HMS Pinafore (1982)

Gilbert and Sullivan are world famous for their comic operas, which many have tried to imitate but nearly always fall very short. I was quite pleased to find “HMS Pinafore” as one of the selections from which to choose on Blockbuster.com and put it into my queue. When it arrived, I sat right down to watch it. The Pinafore is a ship in Her Majesty’s fleet, one of the finest to be had. It is commanded by Captain Corcoran, a fair man who holds the respect of his men. He is also the father of Josephine, a beautiful young woman … Continue reading →

Halleluiah — J. Scott Featherstone

Handel composed many brilliant pieces in his distinguished career, but none is so famous as his masterpiece, “The Messiah.” Many people recognize the “Alleluia Chorus” from that collection, and every Christmas, sing-alongs are held where people can gather and sing the beautiful music that reminds them of Christ and His coming to the world In “Halleluiah,” author Scott Featherstone tells the story of Handel, an arrogant man who thought only of himself, his music, and his stomach. He considered himself to be the greatest composer who ever lived, and while that may have been true, his pride kept him from … Continue reading →

Andrea Bocelli: A Voice As Big As The Sea

Born in Lajatico, Italy, on September 22, 1958, Andrea Bocelli is without a doubt one of the greatest singing talents in the world today. Raised on a farm, he was exposed to opera as a child simply because it calmed him. He has been blind since the age of twelve due to congenital glaucoma and a blow to the head sustained during a soccer game. Bocelli is the personification of the power of the individual to overcome all odds. His many achievements have proven that the words “blind” and “handicapped” are truly in the mind of the beholder, and that … Continue reading →