The Lovers’ Chronicle 5 March – reachin’ – premiere of Boito’s Mefistofele – art by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo

Dear Zazie, Here is today’s Lovers’ Chronicle from Mac Tag dedicated to his muse. Follow us on twitter @cowboycoleridge. Rhett

The Lovers’ Chronicle

Dear Muse,

dream reacher…
hmmm, interestin’ choice, he thinks, sounds good to me but not goin’ anywhere without the gorgeous redhead;
“After waiting so long for the right time,
After reaching so long for a star,
All at once from the long and lonely night time,
And despite time, here you are!”
Yes, here I am love, says the redhead 
hey, i will have to remember this song
if it can conjure you
Any chance to hear Ella 
her voice and the songwritin’
of Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer,
does not git better than that
Where is the dream chariot taking us
first to Milan for a performance of Boito’s
Mefistofele at La Scala, and then to a hotel,
Galleria Vik Milano inside Galleria Vittorio Emanuele
Another out of this world trip
oh, i see what you did there
Then you will like this;
after waiting so long, after reaching so long
it was all at once, there we were


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could be said that this
is what they are all about
“Something we’re all doing”
somethin’ we better be doin’
“For someone or a purpose”
absolutely, for me, the verse
and to be heard or found
“You were conjuring”
it cannot be seen
any other way
just thankful
you were listenin’
now *reachin’ to hold you*

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for ways to express, to tell the stories of the road here, the route mostly circuitous or rocky, pick your favorite adjective, takin’ deep dives into the past, how that shaped gittin’ here has been touched on frequently, it looms large so might as well grapple it to the ground and make peace with it, or alter it, fine with that, to the survivors go the right to tell it, and justification can be claimed for reachin’ this point, where purpose and you intersect

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yes, still
though now
for where i belong

here am i made manifest
by bein’ with you,
the same
steady destination,
repeatin’ the scenes
that come before us,
dancin’ in time as we
swing close in a wish
to outlast,
our paths overlappin’
creatin’ somethin’
we only dreamed of

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Pale Love, Pale Rider

what matters most
somethin’ to write on or with
we can cut through all the drama
’bout damn time
what we want, need and love
is right here, right now
we may occasionally stray
but this where we return
this is what we reach for
and for more mezcal
and chips and salsa
bring it

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a chorus plays
the familiar refrain

earlier
in Jackson Square
watchin’
sortin’ through
senses and feelin’s
within

in the study now
writin’, readin’, lost
in contemplation

recognize
the manifestations
intriguin’
reflections
culminatin’
in the remains
of the night

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“Where do you come up with this?”
books, readin’ books

tighten the cinch, and mount
books indeed
books and memories
memories that hurt and haunt
sometimes so hard…

worked in the beginnin’
not to think about them
thought my mind was lost
drank alone, drank with others
tried to forget
with pretty senoritas
but, could not have them

drank some more
then got sober enough
to start searchin’
first in Laramie, then Denver
then south, to Lac Cruces
over Raton Pass to Cimarron
then Springer, and kept goin’
Wagon Mound, Las Vegas
in Tularosa damn near
died from the mezcal
camped outside of town
where i could see
the line of blue mountains
that stretched into Mexico

knew i was a fool
perhaps, always had been
made the wrong decision
and knew it from the start
looked at those blue mountains
for two days, then headed north

in Santa Rosa, got the idea,
readin’ – from then on, whenever
thoughts became too much
to bear, reach for a book

still reachin’

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She was so offended
that she stormed off
A little later, though;
soothin’ her, listenin’,
smilin’, then laughin’
Presently she began
laughin’ too. She had forgiven;
almost fully, though for what
I could never quite figure out

Today is the birthday of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (Venice 5 March 1696 – 27 March 1770 Madrid) also known as Giambattista (or Gianbattista) Tiepolo; painter and printmaker who painted in the Rococo style, considered an important member of the 18th-century Venetian school. He was prolific, and worked not only in Italy, but also in Germany and Spain.

Gallery

Una giovane donna con un Ara

studio di una testa di donna

On this day in 1868 – Mefistofele, an opera by Arrigo Boito receives its premiere performance at La Scala.

Arrigo Boito

Mefistofele is an opera in a prologue, four acts and an epilogue, the only completed opera with music by the Italian composer-librettist Arrigo Boito.  There are several completed operas for which he was librettist only.   The opera was given its premiere under the baton of the composer, despite his lack of experience and skill as a conductor.

However, it was not a success and was immediately withdrawn after only two performances.  Revisions in 1875 resulted in success in Bologna and, with further adjustments in 1876 for Venice, the opera was performed elsewhere.

Mefistofele is one of many pieces of classical music based on the Faust legend and, like many other composers, Boito used Goethe’s version as his starting point.  He was an admirer of Richard Wagner and, like him, chose to write his own libretto, something which was virtually unheard of in Italian opera up to that time.  Much of the text is actually a literal translation from Goethe’s German to Boito’s Italian.

Synopsis

Prologue

A heavenly chorus praises God the Creator. Mefistofele scornfully declares that he can win the soul of Faust. His challenge is accepted by the Forces of Good.

Act 1

Scene 1, Easter Sunday

The aged Dr. Faust and his pupil Wagner are watching the Easter celebrations in the main square in Frankfurt. Faust senses that they are being followed by a mysterious friar, about whom he senses something evil. Wagner dismisses his master’s feelings of unease and as darkness falls they return to Faust’s home

Scene 2, The Pact

Faust is in his study, deep in contemplation. His thoughts are disturbed in dramatic fashion by the sudden appearance of the sinister friar, whom he now recognizes as a manifestation of the Devil (Mefistofele). Far from being terrified, Faust is intrigued and enters into a discussion with Mefistofele culminating in an agreement by which he will give his soul to the devil on his death in return for worldly bliss for the remainder of his life.

Act 2

Scene 1, The Garden

Restored to his youth, Faust has infatuated Margareta, an unsophisticated village girl. She is unable to resist his seductive charms and agrees to drug her mother with a sleeping draught and meet him for a night of passion. Meanwhile, Mefistofele amuses himself with Martha, another of the village girls.

Scene 2, The Witches Sabbath

Mefistofele has carried Faust away to witness a Witches’ Sabbath on the Brocken mountain. The devil mounts his throne and proclaims his contempt for the World and all its worthless inhabitants. As the orgy reaches its climax Faust sees a vision of Margherita, apparently in chains and with her throat cut. Mefistofele reassures him that the vision was a false illusion.

Act 3

Faust’s vision had been true. Margareta lies in a dismal cell, her mind in a state of confusion and despair. She has been imprisoned for poisoning her mother with the sleeping draught supplied by Faust and for drowning the baby she had borne him. Faust begs Mefistofele to help them escape together. They enter the cell and at first Margareta does not recognize her rescuers. Her joy at being reunited with Faust turns to horror when she sees Mefistofele and recognizes that he is the Devil. Refusing to succumb to further evil, Margareta begs for divine forgiveness. She collapses to the cell floor as the Celestial choir proclaims her redemption.

Act 4

Mefistofele has now transported Faust back in time to Ancient Greece. Helen of Troy and her followers are enjoying the luxurious and exotic surroundings on the banks of a magnificent river. Faust, attired more splendidly than ever, is easily able to win the heart of the beautiful princess. In a passionate outpouring they declare their undying love and devotion to each other.

Epilogue

Back in his study Faust, once more an old man, reflects that neither in the world of reality or of illusion was he able to find the perfect experience he craved. He feels that the end of his life is close, but desperate for his final victory, Mefistofele urges him to embark on more exotic adventures. For a moment Faust hesitates, but suddenly seizing his Bible he cries out for God’s forgiveness. Mefistofele has been thwarted; he disappears back into the ground as Faust dies and the Celestial choir once more sings of ultimate redemption.

thanks for stoppin’ by y’all

mac tag