Sunday, March 31, 2013

162 Quiz Answer


The answer to this week’s quiz is the opera “Don Giovanni,” by Mozart, the colorful story of Don Juan, the legendary libertine – who gets his come-uppance at the end.


(Also for Three-Word Wednesday and ABC Wednesday: "L" is for "Lance")
This week’s Berownial quiz question has to do with – grand opera!  (I wonder how this is going to go over.  :-) )

I wrote a little scenelet loosely based on a well-known opera.  Your assignment, should you choose to accept it, is: give us the opera’s name.

Seems a famous international film star, Lance R., well seasoned in the arts of seduction, is visiting a small town in the American Midwest.  He spots a beautiful girl there, Ellie, who is getting ready to be married. 

He introduces himself and chats with her.  She is bowled over by this chance meeting with such a celebrity.  He invites her to come over to his place...

Lance: “There you’ll give me your hand.  Look, my place is not far, right over there.  Come, dear friend, let us go.”

Ellie: “Wow, this is so cool.  To be talking with a real star.  Truth is, I’d love to, but I don’t dare.  Ritchie, he’s my boyfriend – we’re engaged, after all – he’d practically kill me.”

“Don’t let's argue about Ritchie; whoever he is he’s nowhere near good enough for you.  You deserve much better.”

“I’m so nervous.   But it’s true, what you said; I often wondered if Ritchie was the right guy for me.”

“Ritchie!  You shouldn't care a lick for him.  What can he do for you?  I can change your life!”

“What’s going to happen if we do go over there?”

“Why, we’re going to be together, to share life’s pleasures.  We’ll talk, we’ll get to know each other.  We’ll experience the exquisite scintillating miracle that is the beginning of true, innocent love.”

“You talk real good.  Not like Ritchie, that’s for sure!”

“Come, let us begin what will be for both of us a wondrous new chapter of our lives.  Shall we go?”

“All right.  Okay, let’s go.”

Mozart put it this way:Là ci darem la mano,
Là mi dirai di sì:
Vedi, non è lontano,
Partiam, ben mio, da qui.

Vorrei e non vorrei,
Mi trema un poco il cor,
Felice, è ver, sarei,
Ma può burlarmi ancor!

Andiam?

Andiam!


Now have a squint at it in English: “There I'll give you my hand,
There you'll say yes:
See, it is not far,
my love, let's leave from here.”

“Should I or shouldn't I?
My heart trembles at the thought.
It's true, I might be happy;
I could anyway have fun!”

 “Let us go?”

“Let’s go!”

(Also submitted to Sunday Scribblings)

 

34 comments:

Altonian said...

Thanks Berowne, for an easier one for a change. Has to be 'Don Giovanni'.

Old Egg said...

Have you really given us such a easy clue or is it a red herring? My immediate thought is Mozart's 'Don Giovanni"

naturgesetz said...

"Don Giovanni"

Little Nell said...

It's either the Marriage of Figaro or that scoundrel Don Giovanni is up to his tricks again. I love both operas but I'm going to plump for the Don, simply because he gets his come uppance in the end.

Berowne said...

We're starting off in style; Little Nell, naturgesetz, old egg and Altonian all have provided us with the correct answer.

Strummed Words said...

I love Mozart even thought I don't read German :)

George S Batty said...

Old Grizz will Blunder a guess that it is an opera about an old friend and roommate of mine who always got the girl..Don Yuan...
"Don Giovanni"...
well, I did have a roomy named Don and he always got the girls...

Jae Rose said...

Am feeling increasingly uneducated.. And so many have it right..i will await the answer!

Berowne said...

Old Grizz - gsb - has also given us the correct answer.

Kathe W. said...

wild guess...Rigoletto???
"This one is hard" say I with flashing eyes...hahah!
Have a great week!

Roger Owen Green said...

thank goodness you mentioned Mozart. Don Giovanni.

Berowne said...

Roger Owen Green has joined the ranks of those who know the right answer.

Charleen said...

I don't know the answer, but I enjoyed reading your post.

Sharp Little Pencil said...

Is it Mozart's Don Giovanni? I'm a little rusty on opera. Amy

Berowne said...

Sharp Little Pencil has sharpened her little pencil to come up, again, with the right answer. Who's next?

kaykuala said...

Haven't the faintest idea, Berowne!

Hank

Lyn said...

You had me at "La' ci darem la mano...." Don Giovanni? Now I'll hum it the rest of the day! Thanks..

Heidi said...

Don Giovanni?

Berowne said...

We have some more winners. Lyn and Heidi coughed up the right answer. Congrats both!

Silent Otto said...

2001 A Space Odyssey

Sharp Little Pencil said...

Berowne, you do know that both Roger Green and I are from Binghamton, NY. It's not a huge city, but it has a first-class opera company, and the Met sometimes borrows its sets! Just a little trivia... and no, Roger and I went to different high schools and never met. Amy

Berowne said...

Interesting. Glad to learn about the friends who visit the blog regularly. Thanks.

Carver said...

As usual I'm clueless but I enjoyed it. Carver, ABC Wed. Team

Leslie: said...

Is it Don Giovani?

Berowne said...

All hail, Leslie! Another who has provided us with the right answer.

A Colorful World said...

Such an interesting post! Very clever.

Reader Wil said...

Good morning! It's Don Giovanni by W.A. Mozart! I love it!

Berowne said...

We start off Wednesday morning with Reader Wil submitting the correct answer; thanks.
(Quiz answer Thursday, tomorrow.)

Anonymous said...

Don Giovanni

Tumblewords: said...

I know naught. But I know the tale.

Berowne said...

One more who knows the right answer - zongrik. Congrats.

Unknown said...

I too had to look at the answers :-( Apart from not having a clue Berowne I did enjoy the read :-)

Anonymous said...

I admit I would not have guessed because I am not familiar with opera *shame* Still I enjoyed your charming story!

keiths ramblings said...

Now I really should have got that one! What is the matter with me? !!

 
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