Opera Chic

"Il Papa non veste Prada ma Cristo": "The Pope Doesn't Wear Prada, He Wears Christ", Dammit!

"The Pope doesn't wear Prada; He wears Christ".

At first everyone thought it was a prank. Earlier this week, one of the official newspaper of the Vatican, L'Osservatore Romano, made a statement addressing the rapidly-spreading rumor that Pope Benedict XVI wears vestments and shoes designed by Miuccia Prada's house.

Representatives from the Holy See absolutely denied that the pope's distinctive red shoes were made by Prada, apparently an urban legend that had spread like wildfire since Pope Benedict XVI visited the United States last April. They are peeved that such misappropriations are floating around, and are p^ssed that the Pope is surrounded by such claims.

The Pope's trademark red shoes are actually made by a Novarese artisan, Adriano Stefanelli, who has been making shoes for both Benedict XVI and the late Pope John Paul II from his boutique in Novara. The Pope's shoes are made from sheep leather in the summer, and baby calf or baby goat in the winter. omg that kinda makes me sad, but at least those baby barn animals died doing what they loved: being slaughtered to encase the Pope's feet.

We can't help but wonder how Frengo Zeffirelli is taking the news, since he's so tapped into the Pope's style. The Vatican has yet to deny the other circulating rumor that the Pope is a huge fan of Emporio Armani's mens underwear. Ew. TMI.

PS In the photo above, check out the insane 3-wheel moped, the Ape ("Bee", in Italian) that Piaggio has donated to the Pontiff for the Lord knows what -- we somehow cannot imagine the heavily-guarded Pope Ratzinger joyriding the streets of Rome late at night, blasting some Haydn on the moped's stereo system and going for those famous Roman slurpees at his favorite grattacheccaro.

Italian Advertisments: Because U Know U <3 Them.

ok serious business guys...it's the weekend, which means it's time to kick back, loosen the tie, and take opera down a few pegs. Opera Lite.

The first ad below we found when we went last April to Teatro Comunale di Bologna to hear Daniela Dessì and Fabio Armiliato in Norma. La Scuola dell'Opera Italiana, based in Bologna, put out this edgy advertisement, resplendent with suggestive nudity and tattoos. You receive the same tattoo upon graduation. They won us over with their anti-establishment rebellion.

The ad below looks normal enough, but seriously annoying, like o hai just me & my clarinet in the tub how random. Upon closer inspection, the bathing genius is magically playing the clarinet backwards, with the headpiece screwed on the wrong way. Look below for a close-up...

FAIL! GIANT FAIL!

Even this 6-year-old kid knows how to play it right...

~^~ ~^~ ~^~

(Above: omg pervy panty-sniffer. New Bold formula: The most irresistible smell on earth.)

(Above: this was found in a French sports magazine [not Italian]. omg wtf omg wtf. How did this one ever get past the censors? KKK humor FTW! F-wording F!)

Milan's Xmas Cultural Outreach

The city of Milan is currently running an open air installation thingy (in the kitschy spirit of Cow Parade) and has erected, about a month ago, loads of die-cut Christmas trees that have been decorated by local artists and sponsored by compliant organizations. Until January 6, 2008, you can catch the ensuing lameness throughout the city in various piazze and vie.

Titled Christmas City Park, (???) the trees form unavoidable obstacles and display bootleg canvases, although two found in Piazza della Scala have been given a musical flavor, and OC wanted to share them with you.

L’albero dei Ricordi is sponsored by Italian music giant Archivio Ricordi, and is decorated with music notes. Real Show, sponsored by Samsung, is homage to La Scala [see below].

Truth be told...OC also made an xmas tree for Ambiente Milano, but I used a special paint that only awesome people can see,,,so....sucks 4u that you'lllllll never be able to see it! Make 'em h8 in 2008!

Speaking of kitsch, Teatro alla Scala has decided on an ethereal facade projection this xmas season vvvvvvvvvvvv

Not Another Fashion Post

Since OC readers were so receptive to the Milan fashion that was offered in the last post, OC had found herself out-&-about this past month, with camera at the ready to snap more of the Milan street-style that makes this city so righteous. Righteously stylish.

Above: Stylist and customer at one of Milan's famous salons Coppola, where models and wannabe-models converge. And yeah, that cute stylist was smiling at me...so what of it?

Above: this is really casual, ubiquitous Milan street-style for the summer: ballet flats and capris...like the nyc equivalent of flip-flops, shorts, and a t-shirt.

Above: afghan throw as sweater-jacket, and an 80s, pink satin rollersk8ing jacket come together for one big hot mess.

Above: We like the mix of street (athletic kicks + sporty jeans) and elegance...and of course, the Vuitton Speedles bag makes almost anything look sweet (unless it's a grody knock-off).

Above: flood-warning!

Above: omg it's the year 1997 and the nokia brick phone is *da bomb*. He's so old-skool it hurts.

Above: we're a fan of every kind of trench.

Above: Prada gardening kit from Corso Como 10. Flipping insane. Like those who can splurge on this accessory would do something as bourgeois as their own gardening...

Above: Britney Spears and Paris Hilton? Lets hope that Paris bought something good at 10 Corso Como so she can discard those *denim hot-pant overalls* eeeewww.  (disclaimer: it's not really Paris or Britney, you lamers.)

Above: Tough love. We'll leave you with a "fashion-don't" for inspiration. Denim jodhpurs? With suspenders? And flip-flops? Yahoo Serious reincarnated as Huckleberry Finn. On crack.   

L'uomo Vogue With Bolle and Flórez

The luglio/agusto issue of L'uomo Vogue -- Italy only...with the quirky Schnabel Family in pajamas -- by Julian's hawt wife Olatz (may I introduce you to my hawt wife?) -- on the cover -- gave us early inspiration for the Fall fashions of Prada, Jil Sander, Acquascutum, and Lanvin, as well as a glimpse of two of our opera and ballet sweet<3s.

In the feature "Private People and Their Own Style" we’re treated to some of the most kicka$$ fashion photographer portraits of a random assortment of international trendsetters. Two of the profiles, Juan Diego Flórez and Roberto Bolle, caught our attention. Well, at least visual attention – because that font. just. that font.

Juan Diego Flórez is photographed by Bryan Adams lol (yes *that* Bryan "Summer of '69" Adams) caught in the act of seducing, well…his wife? Who is decidedly *not* looking remarkably like his wife (don’t get us wrong: we love it).

Roberto Bolle appears alone, an elegantly fit vampire, dressed in Armani and Valentino, photographed by the awesome Deborah Turbeville. We like how she downplayed his, um, assets and dressed him so elegantly instead of playing the 'you look better in a thong' card.

Leftovers from 1990

We've expressed our <3 of Corso Magenta's Buscemi Dischi before, especially the beyond-snarky classical music staff that can tear apart benchmark performances with a wave of the hand, a roll of the eyes, or a fantastically-facetious sobriquet.

Well, today while browsing the stacks at Buscemi for some obscure, Italian-only releases, Opera Chic uncovered -- not one, but two -- audio cassette tape "listening bricks" of The Three Amigos. Still marked for sale. Like...still there, waiting...to be bought. Priced and everything. An a steal at 11 euro.

//Sometimes Milan feels like a parallel (bootleg) universe...soooo then I went home, played some Mortal Kombat on Sega Genesis while I listened to Tupac and Biggie Smalls, and then watched some Beverly Hills 90210 until bedtime. Peace in the Middle East. Free OJ. Talk to the hand. Word to your mother.

Ikea Cashes In On Milan Landmarks

YOU KNOW THOSE oops capslawk. You know those free (albeit viral marketing) postcards they have in bars and restaurants advertising mobiles, candy, autos, and toothpaste? One of those promotional cards caught our eye as we were downing our morning cappuccino.

Ikea appeals to the Milanese not only with their cheap (& practical & disposable) furniture, but with a marketing strategy that gives back 18 postcards to celebrate their 18-year anniversary. Each postcard touches on a personal level by combining a Milan location wrapped in a marketing pitch.

In one of those cards, Ikea gives a nod to OC's unrequited love & ex-lover, Teatro alla Scala, with a quip pushing a certain chair as: "The best seat in the house at loggione prices." Because you know, seats in Galleria II are pretty cheap (compared to palchi at least).

We just wish the loggione seats at La Scala were even half as comfy as the most bootleg Ikea chairs...even the ones in the depressing 'as is' room.

Italian Stereotype Extraordinaire

Yesterday's piece on signore Andrea Mosconi (wait. wait. i thought he was a guy), fingerer of priceless Stradivari violins in the NYTimes is kind of sweet. (//however the map of Italy on the sidebar is pretty insulting for those of us past 4th grade).

Mosconi is Cremona’s official musical conservationist, and for the past 30 years, six days a week, he tunes and exercises the priceless violin collection that stays behind humidified glass cases at the city hall violin museum.

The NYTimes couldn’t have perpetuated a more perfect stereotype of a good ol’ traditional Italian to wax poetic about the superiority of Italians and their rooted, tenacious hold on the past. Describing the rote job duties of Mosconi, they write:

“It was the kind of exercise, at once heroic and the slightest bit melancholy, repeated endlessly around Italy: driven by zeal to keep the nation’s superlative past alive, and dogged by worry that the past may overshadow a less glorious future.”

The snobbery, the sartorial pride (mentioning that Mosconi tunes in a jacket & tie), we wonder why the NYTimes didn't go ahead and write something more like this: “As Mosconi reached for the 1715 Stradivari, he issued forth a handkerchief and wiped-off splashes of sugo rosso that he had prepared at the crack of dawn that morning while humming La donna è mobile; his aged, powered hands were jittery and trembling from the 16 buon caffè he had already imbibed, all while his pet monkey danced on his shoulders hurling tiny shotglass of limoncello and screeching towards his 106-year-old mother who watched silently him from a chair.” weeeeeee! that was fun! now here's a mspaint of it:

//wondering how my life has come to this ;___;

Milan and Her Bevy of Booty

Following in the footsteps of a successful Milan fashion post (another exciting one coming tomororw), OC thought she'd present to our readers another dimension of the cobbled streets.

You see, for the traveler, Milan is more than the Dan Brown painting, the Dan Brown church, smog, and bad plastic surgery. If you happen to find yourself in centro (in town center) this summer, OC's highlighted just a tiny smattering of her favorite stores, all extremely accessible (a few blocks away) from il duomo. Without mentioning the obvious (Peck, anything on via della Spiga/Via Montenapoleone/Corso & Galleria Vittorio Emanuele) here are a few of the underdogs that are frequented by the hardcore Milanese:

 

Giovanni Galli, Via Victor Hugo 2. They make the freshest, (and most $$$) marron glacé: candied chestnuts, oozing wtih sugary goodness that explode when you bite into their juicy, soft goodness. el oh el. Served with a side of edible, candied violets. omg. You can also find like every gourmet sweet and chocolate native to Italy littering the small shelves. In addition to boxes of marron glacé, bars of Dolfin Green Tea chocolate bars, OC always stuffs her suitcase to NYC with Bi. Biel canestrelli, ipod-sized chocolate wafers with a dark chocolate layer in between. But don't try to whip-out the AmEx, as it's cash only in this old-skool establishment. From the display window at Galli, see the image below of marron glacé:

(Below are the canestrelli Bi. Biel, specialita' di Biella)

The next place that OC likes to drop into is the awesome Rosticceria Leoni on Corso Venezia 7. Plopped between Diesel, Prada, and D&G in a tiny little slice of a store, this rosticceria is invaluable to Sunday lunches (don't even bother showing-up Sunday after 11am & take--out only). The entire back wall is a gigantic, beautiful open pit of fire, with dozens of whole chicken roasting over the flames. You go here, of course, for the fresh roasted chicken, but also for the taste bud-blowing roasted potatoes and vegetables (all sautéed  in loads of tasty, sweet butter). Also the hand-made potato chips in white waxed bags. Also the gnocchi alla romana. Also the panna cotta served in plastic cups. Holy crap, you've never tasted anything as good as Leoni's panna cotta. The caramel has been caramelized by the smoke from the pit, which infuses the entire dessert in a delicate, smoked flavor. 

Another place is Panarello, which is on the super-shady via Speronari (laden with homeless and scammers), but they make the freshest cannoncini: thumbsized flaky, sugary baked pastry tubes that come plain or with cream. Also the panarello loaf (with loads of dried fruit and nuts) is a good hold-over for in between panettone season. 

Then we have the irreplaceable cartoleria Pettinaroli next to Piazza San Fedele (entrance via C. Marino) for everything stationary. It's beyond elegant, with the same hushed interior of a library. OC goes here for cards, which rotate as the seasons turn (if you come here xmas time, you are in for a treat). But they always keep stocked antique Italian cards (see below), which are especially great for souvenirs, about 3 € each. Of course, for more selection there is the supurb  Carteria Tassotti, a chain of Italian stationary store that displays some of the sweetest cards ever (ours is in Corso Garibaldi, stocked with such beautiful things). There is also the insanely old-skool Pineider on Corso Europa, which is off tha hook.   

You can find beautiful sketched cards at Pettinaroli of Teatro alla Scala, found here below:

 

Another Teatro alla Scala card from Pettinaroli (omg whare r teh roads??!!):

Lastly, we love this little watch-shop because they do the work on-the-spot and only charge you for the parts (yah, in Milan unfortunately it's not like the NYC cobblers who replace your high-heel caps in 5 minutes for $5). And it's just soooo kewl! Set into the side of the huge Piazza Marconi facade (facing Duomo), it's Laboratorio Orologeria Duomo, right next to the new Super Duomo Mondadori. Sometimes Milan can be so bootleg it hurts. But we <3 it.

//btw, none of you tourist guides better try to steal my sh*t...ya heard?

///and per the usual, all images and photographs above are protected by copyright and intellectual property rights, which are controlled by Opera Chic. tia tia k bi

Milan: More Than Just Opera? YES INDEED!

Since it's an incredibly s l o o o o o o o w news day, I thought I'd post something a little different. If it's not your thang, just scroll past it...and OC promises an Opera-related post later today.

ok ok when you think of Milan and you think of like fashion, food, soccer, and music...and of course, <*~Opera Chic~*> (but not necessarily in that order of importance) am i rite?

So in my daily sojourns around the city, I'm assaulted by equal amounts of good/bad style, and was thinking recently that it would be kewl to share some of the offerings; of course, OC would <3 to share photos of her kickin, killer outfits with you, but to do so would compromise too many variables. Instead, while I was running around recently, I snapped a few shots of daily fashion typical of Milan style. So here it is:

(below):vvvvvvv The woman below is unlocking her bike in a Burberry trench, ballet flats, and perfectly-hemmed black pants. The tailoring is equisite. This is quintessential Milan style: elegant, understated, $$$, but well-made clothing that lasts forever (well...except for Burberry now that it has started production to China. a$$h*les)

(below):vvvvvvv I love this photo because of the miniature cola can he's holding. omg look at little the baby can omg how do you even drink from that? is there like a tiny little baby straw? This guy was making a funny face, thusly eviscerating his overall hawtness, but it still works.

(below):vvvvvvv There is so much I love about this woman I can't even start. So I won't. This lady is so Milan eclectic/elegance, I don't even care if those are knock-off Pradas...

(below):vvvvvvv This is what every. single. teenager. in Milan looks like. fo'reals.

(below):vvvvvvv red platform stiletto shoes...when the rest of Milan swaps stilettos for ballet flats the minute it gets above 15 degrees celcius, this woman was all like aw heyll naw.

those shoes belonged to this vvvvvvvv

(below):vvvvvvv black leggings, khaki shorts, and a hawaiian-print dress thrown over. This is such a mess that it actually works. Council of Elrond, tho'.

 

(below):vvvvvvv biano/nero.

Love it? Hate it? HSUT UP U KNOW U LUV IT!!!! 

Hahn Represents At Teatro Dal Verme

Opera Chic -- and about 400 Milanese senior citizens -- filled the immense Teatro dal Verme (pictured above, the omghistoric opera house where many masterpieces, among them Pagliacci, were staged for the first time) late yesterday afternoon to hear Maestro Francesco Maria Colombo lead the Orchestra I Pomeriggi Musicali in Reynaldo Hahn's operetta "Mozart, Commedia Musicale"...and to witness Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart personified as a young, Black, American soprano. RAWK! It flipping rawked...I mean, how cool is that?! 

Casual was mosdef in order, so I threw on an Alexander McQueen black silk ruffled blouse tucked into a pair of super-str8 legged khaki pants from Salvatore Ferragamo, a pair of platform burnt-orange espadrille wedges from Paul Smith, and a beige knit and leather trimmed Ferragamo bag. Frerrargarmo. heh.   

Reynaldo Hahn had a kewl life: Venezuelan by birth, but relocated to Franzz, and accepted at an early age to the Paris Conservatoire, where he was taught by Massenet, Gounod and Saint-Saëns; he also developed an affinity for Marcel Proust (who didn't?), and they became bf4e&E&E w/benefits ifyouknowhatimsayin. A bit obscure to a fan of meatier opera, OC's first impression of Hahn came from the gorgeous aria (Si mes vers avaient des ailes) sung by Bidú Sayão, so I was eager to know more of Hahn's quintessentially Belle Epoque work.

Maestro Colombo greeted the audience, but stepped-out in solemn spirit to announce that the afternoon performance would be dedicated to the memory of Mstislav Rostropovich, (bravo maestro), and then the auditorium rose to observe a moment of silence. On with the show:

The orchestra was arranged in front of a small, raised stage with three porticos where the action took place (photo above) among Mozart, Madame d'Epinay, a ballerina, and another voce recitante. There were a few ariettas, but most of the action was relayed as recitative. Throughout three acts, the score is full of Mozart melodies taken from Don Giovanni and Le Nozze di Figaro, thus the story weaves around fictitious portions of Mozart’s life in Paris. Hahn's operetta, evocative of La Bella Epoca style, tells the invented story of a young virgin Mozart's visit to Paris, and to the estate of la Madame d'Epinay where he thrills the host with music, and is determined to get laid amid a flutter of jealousy, secretive letters, and then a revolt that finally sends him away. Think: Dangerous Liaisons.

Because you know what you are in for with the performance, it's pretty hard to hold the show up to the standards of an opera. Sooo, we’ll leave it at this: Colombo conducted deftly (we've heard the same piece conducted by somebody else and Colombo's style -- light, elegant, tight -- really flew). The overture was rounded, quicksilver, and gorgeous. Colombo was in high spirits, and playfully conducted his corps. Aside from the overture, there is only a smattering of orchestra solos, but Colombo carried the entire performance swiftly. Lauren Michelle Criddle, the young American soprano in the role of Mozart, was lively, genuine, and sang well enough, but carries a small voice. But she made an awesome Mozart.

There’s another performance scheduled for Thursday, May 3 at 9pm if you’re inclined to get your Hahn on. Bonus: While you're killing time for the show to start (tkts available 1 hour before the show), you can check out Centro Estetico a block away, which has some of the most beautiful floors in all of Meelan. check it out vvvvvvv

Designer Heaven in Milan

 

The invitations have been collected (way too many), the agenda studied (too little hours in the day), and my white Prada flats have been fastened to my feet (too cute). Salone Internazionale del Mobile has flooded Milan with those quirky design types (think LA American real estate agents on crack and wrapped in hit & miss Italian labels). Cabs are impossible to find, everywhere you look in the city dwells open-air design displays and exhibition spaces, and there are dozens of cocktails to choose from every night. Unfortunately, tonight's festivities have been cut short, as our beloved i nerazzuri took their first loss of the entire season from Roma earlier at San Siro. But lucky for Opera Chic readers, now I’m able to blast y'all with an update.

La Triennale di Milano is hosting a massive exhibition space this year in recognition of Salone Internazionale, but only a few of the exhibits are worthwhile.

Super Normal (pictured above) is one of those, and has been curated by Jasper Morrison (British designer) and Naoto Fukasawa (Japanese product designer), and displays around 200 beautifully-crafted everyday objects (many can be found at Muji, which NYC'ers can purchase at the MOMA store). The objects were selected to illustrate a particular, pragmatic, yet slick design. 

Alos pretty killer was exhibition Connect Tsunagu, which celebrated Japanese living space. Most captivating was a machine that emitted tiny drops of intact water that traveled a vast highway of white tubing, and then spun around a giant white pan. It was entrancing and soothing, which I captured above.

The Zaha Hadid lecture was a total bust, as my architectural hero Hadid was sick, and was therefore stuck in bed far away from Milan. Some of the elucidated NYC crowd may remember her from last summer's kick-a$$ Guggenheim show, which took over the entire Frank Lloyd Wright building. Hadid however did make an ersatz appearance (albeit in form of a fax message). Super lame. Aperitivo afterward was more rewarding than the panel, which allowed for sugar + starch reserve before heading over to the Poltrona Frau event a few blocks away.

Sweaty, packed, and claustrophobic, and finding none of my acquaintances, the reception was kind of lame. After inspecting the new line, OC slunk away to gather her thoughts and meet friends amid the crowds at Radetzky on the way home. Tomorrow brings so much more…stay posted while opera takes a back seat to gorgeous design for a few hours.

Enuff With The Alagnas: Timeout, Let's Talk Design.

Basta with the Alagnas, at least temporarily: Opera Chic is all sick with that stuff, and she's sacrificing precious time in the Salone Internazionale del Mobile week: the world's most humongous industrial design event is taking place rite now bYotches! (and Opera Chic has a mailbox -- a real one, with paper in it -- full of invitations, and you don't).

Tomorrow's schedule is totally nuts: Zaha Hadid lecture, Jasper Morrison (OMG did I mention how much I *heart* Jasper????) meetup @ Triennale, and a totally exciting Poltrona Frau partay.

And a few hours ago Giorgio "Do Not Go To La Scala Badly Dressed Or Else" Armani introduced his new Armani/Casa line (no pictures allowed sorrie!): among his ideas,  the Amleto his/hers armoire "for indecisive couples" (huh) and a weird coffee table that is not an actual cofee table but it opens up to reveal -- a plasma hidden underneath (GA totally loves to watch TV but hates it at the same time and thinks that they're the ugliest piece of furniture ev4r so he's always trying to conceal them).

"My old Armani/Casa designs were very geometric, quadratissime, something I later regret -- our man Giorgio told the adoring crowd -- I also abandoned my old minimalism in favor of more comfortable, more mellow lines -- but they must always be clean and elegant".

Giorgio also boycotts the old lame habit of actually hanging paintings to the walls -- he wants them low, low -- lower! "Frames are better left flush to the floor; or in art galleries!", he smiled serenely. He dislikes paint, too -- Armani's walls must be delicately covered in dark , gorgeous satin.

So it's all about the bare walls you rubes!!!

More of course tomorrow, with, hopefully, pictures.

Milan Fnac Gives Juan Diego Flórez No Love

Since Milan is such a great city of symphony and opera, our music stores reflect the saturation of obscure/superb taste and sounds. No Tower or Barnes and Noble, no Best Buy. Instead, the latest releases can be found at Ricordi, La Feltrinelli, or Fnac.

Yesterday while browsing at Fnac on via Torino, it was obvious that Fnac's buyers had gone overboard on their stock preparations in anticipation of the February JDF appointment at Teatro alla Scala (in Donizetti's La Fille du Régiment) by stocking waaaaay too many JDF discs.

Lucky Milanese (who don't download files and who haven't already bought prior releases) can take advantage of the Flórez liquidation overstock until May 31, 2007!

//btw, fnac, you spelled his name wróng ón yóur prómó material. LAMERS.

 

Sachertorte Turns 175; Opera Fans Salivate

That sugary, chocolatey bomb of deliciousness that is the Sachertorte just turned 175: so give it up for the beautiful invention of then-16-year-old Franz Sacher, apprentice chef at the imperial court. In the Reuters photo here, Alfred Buxbaum, Hotel Sacher's head confectioner, pours a bukkake of liquid nuclear goodness over a juicy Sachertorte.

The connection of all this to opera is, of course, that Hotel Sacher is right across the street from Vienna's Staatsoper.

The NY Times Pick of Milan Restaurants: Spot On?

Journalist Mimi Sheraton exposes some of OC's favorite restaurants in Milan in this Sunday New York Times piece, highlighting a few of the city's most precious eateries. Sheraton glowingly reviews Milan's Trattoria Della Pesa, Trattoria Milanese, and Bebel's with an almost fetishist's love of risotto milanese and cotoletta. The impressively mouth-watering Peck is also detailed...but how can you itemize Peck without mentioning Giovanni Galli?; those juicy marrons glacées oozing sweet sugar that becon ingenuously across the street?

Omitted were at least a dozen of OC favorites of excellent Milan offerings, including da Ilia, the immense da Giacomo (picture above), Fioraio Bianchi Caffè, the beyond-awesome Salumeria Laghetto, Al Girarrosto, and Rosticceria Leoni.

We can certainly vouch that her "knowledgeable friends" more or less knew what they were talking about (the warm zabaglione at both la Pesa and Trattoria Milanese is worth going to war over); save a few listings (Pasticceria Bastianello rilly rilly = teh suck). But damn, Mimi! You best get on the phone with Opera Chic next time you plan an excursion into the culinary delights of Milan. We’ll do ya right, honey...we'll do ya right.

Fourteen Minutes of Heaven: Mozart's Exsultate, jubilate

(Front exterior of San Antonio Abate on via San Antonio 5, Milan)

One of the awesome perks of living in Milan is the abundance of historic sites that hover innocuously in the background, significant in the evolution of classical music. From this essay, "The Three Versions of Mozart's Exsultate, jubilate", was inspired a quick jaunt into Milan's city center to visit la chiesa di Sant'Antonio Abate, where on Sunday, January 17, 1773, Exsultate, jubilate had its premier, an early birthday present from the barely 17-year-old Mozart.

(OMG T E H ORGAN!...San Antonio Abate, Milan)

Mozart composed the work to be sung by the famous castrato of that time, Venanzio Rauzzini, who was in Milan simultaneously to sing Mozart's Lucio Silla. Exsultate, jubilate (K. 165), the sacred vocal piece at fourteen-minutes long, has been compared to J.S. Bach's solo cantata for soprano, Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen. The first performance of Exsultate, jubilate in 1773 was in celebration of the January 17 feast day celebration of St. Anthony the Abbot, and therefore appropriately held at the St. Anthony Milan church on via San Antonio 5. Apparently, the organ that sits above the door is the same one that Mozart had pounded.

“We are informed by Professor Simonetta Coppa, who has studied the church's artwork in detail, that much of the original organ is still there, and that the former rector was wont to say that Mozart himself had played on it.”

There exists three distinct versions of Exsultate, jubilate, but only one that is most widely known and familiar to our ears: the "Milano" version. As continued in the essay linked above: "The other two versions, which we shall call 'Salzburg 1' and 'Salzburg 2', are virtually unknown. In fact they do not appear in Mozart's complete works, and in an informal survey of a dozen active American sopranos and mezzo sopranos who had frequently sung the ‘Milano’ version the authors found that none knew of the existence of the Salzburg versions." The two Salzburg versions, "were only discovered in 1978 at the Stadtpfarrkirche St. Jakob in Wasserburg am Inn, Austria, a hamlet near Salzburg. The author(s) of the Salzburg versions is (are) unknown."

There are a few outstanding recordings: under György Fischer/Vienna Chamber Orchestra with Cecilia Bartoli; frick it: the only recording worth mentioning (and the OC household favorite) is the Andrè Previn/Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with Kathy Battle. Battle Royal!

Exsultate, jubilate,
o vos animae beatae,
exsultate, jubilate,
dulcia cantica canendo;
cantui vestro respondendo
psallant aethera cum me.

Fulget amica dies,
jam fugere et nubila et procellae;
exortus est justis inexspectata quies.
Undique obscura regnabat nox,
surgite tandem laeti qui timuistis adhuc,
et jucundi aurorae fortunatae
frondes dextera plena et lilia date.

Tu virginum corona,
tu nobis pacem dona,
tu consolare affectus,
unde suspirat cor.
Alleluja.

(composite of San Antonio Abate interior, Milan)

Soccer As Fight Club: "Eccoci a terra, Dio della Guerra!"

Lat night, as Opera Chic was at la Scala for Salome, her beloved Internazionale FC boys (among them, fellow Opera fans Marco "Headbutt Me Sweetly" Materazzi and Luis "Ur So Hawt" Figo) were in Spain, where they only managed to tie a game against the barbarians down at Valencia -- and thus got promptly kicked out of the Champions League (we are on the other hand winning big in the Italian League).

After the game, Internazionale's Argentinian defender Nicolas Burdisso, had a few words to say to a Valencia guy (the ugly one in the grey windbreaker) who decided to simply bust poor Burdisso's nose.

Hilarity -- and very possibly long suspension by Euro soccer's ruling body UEFA for all involved -- ensued.

Opera Chic has a photo album here.

...and yeah, "not opera", but whatevs: Milan is soccer, opera, fashion, and food...so under the quad-fecta of all things teh awesome, soccer has validity...

Roberto Alagna: Pure Comedy Gold

Two of Opera Chic's favorite readers (la cucciola Donna Anna and il cucciolo fignaz) alerted me (sry :a few days ago: sry) to pure comic gold that has surfaced in the Italian media regarding the Roberto Alagna La Scala Aida walk-off.

Produced from a RAI Radio show called Viva Radio 2 Revolution, there was staged a series of six phony phone-calls [fignaz predicts nine total in this post's comments!!] to a fictitious "Casa Alagna". One of the show's personalities pretends to be our very own Tato, and is presented à la Adam Sandler's "Opera Man" from the 1990s SNL (YouTube link) "Weekend Update", singing his responses to the interviewer in a hilarious, operatic tenor.

One of the half-dozen phone calls has made it to YouTube in the form of audio, and can be found below along with Opera Chic's translation. Thanks again to fignaz and Donna Anna for the scoop!

Fiorello: We are going to call the house of Alagna to see if he is there. (phone ringing in background) I think this is the house...let's see if he's here...[blah blah blah nothing important].

Fiorello: Hello?

**The first responder is a bit character, and answers [OC isn't familiar with the format of the show] and they're all like, no way! It can't be so! Omg it's you again?! And then the bit character says he was just joking around, and he'll go find Alagna, to which are the replies from Fiorello stuff like, "Thank god, let's get on with it..."

[Update/note: reader fignaz left a comment elucidating the "bit character", and writes, "The stock character at the beginning is supposed to be the switchboard operator at the Quirinale (the residence of Italy's president, for those who don't know). This is Fiorello & Baldini's running joke on the vagaries of the state-run telecommunications system. Since fake phone calls to celebrities (whom Fiorello imitates) are their stock in trade, they often reach the Quirinale."] [thanks, fignaz!]

Roberto Alagna then gets on the line, and sings his opening greeting, which is met with much laughter from Fiorello, who begins the interview:

Fiorello [gathering strength]: I'll try to go ahead, and do this. [To Alagna]: Maestro! Hello/Good Morning. Listen, can you explain to me what happened? [Referring to the December 10, 2006 Aida walk-off.]

Alagna: Those sh*ts!

Fiorello [to the audience]: All in all, it [the interview] began well, eh?...[To Alagna]: Sorry, but do you always talk like this?!

Alagna: No, only in public.

Fiorello: There we are. Instead, [how do you do it] in private, then?

Alagna: In mezzo soprano.

Fiorello: I get it. Listen, when you go to the super-market, how do you speak?!

Alagna: Normal.

Fiorello: Okay, I get it. But can you give us an example, please?

Alagna then pretends he's at the deli counter in the super-market, and sings instructions for the deli guy to give him "un etto di prosciutto", and goes on to sing instructions, like, "I recommend you to slice it thinly, under the fat, and close to the bone. Y'ah ha ha ha ha!"

Fiorello: Let's see. Why did you leave last night? [speaking again of the La Scala Aida December 10th walk-out].

Alagna (acting all torn-up): The loggioni guys whistled at me. I sang the aria, but it wasn't my fault! h0 h0 h0 h0 h0!

Fiorello: Okay, listen, but you went [off the stage], and were substituted by a man, but he was in jeans.

Alagna: NO NO NO!

Fiorello: Okay! What, you don't know who it was?

Alagna: The substitute wasn't my replacement!

Fiorello: Who was it then?

Alagna: He was one of those guys who sells bonbonniere [candy] and coca cola. Y0 h0 h0 h0 h0.

Alagna: But I don't care. I'm going to San Remo. We'll be the three tenors. The three of us.

Fiorello: Sorry, the three of you? Who are the other two [tenors], then?

Alagna: "Zeroassoluto" [a really crappy Italian pop band]. We'll sing something like this, here's a piece of it:

Then Alagna starts singing a lame proverb, "Il buongiorno si vede dal mattino." ["You see the good day in the morning"].

***END SCENE***

I HAD TO POST IT
I JUST HAD TO

i dont know about you guys but i am lollerskating over here.

vvvvvvUPDATEvvvvvv

(fignaz [again] with teh supar sexay superfluous nfo, posts a rapidshare link...to grab six of the nine Alagna spoofs.)

OOOOOPS! Materazzi gets it again!

Opera & fashion fan, friend of Frengo's (and Coolio's) and soccer world champion Marco Materazzi, who got headbutted by Zinedine Zidane last july at the World Cup, yesterday got another head check, this time from Sampdoria midfielder Delvecchio.

Marco!

(sequence via Corriere della Sera)

Gangsta's Paradise: Milan's Fashion Shows

At last week Milan Fashion shows, an important cultural event, overlooked by most of the International press, has happened. And Opera Chic wants to share it with her readers: Opera Fan, Soccer World Champion, unabashed pacifist and generally bada$$ Marco Materazzi has been seated next to his American idol, washed-up rapper Coolio.

Zinedine Zidane was nowhere in sight, probably cowering in fear under a chair or something.

Report from Milan: Forget You, La Scala! ::Rope Burn::

Since Milan is more than just opera (let's not forget soccer, food & fashion), Opera Chic is pleased to share other cultural events that go down in the city of la madonnina from time to time.

This past week when Opera Chic left Milan, her zona was quickly replenished by hoards of fashionisti clamoring for spots at the Autumn/Winter 2007-2008 Milan fashion shows, as well as invading her favorite boutiques, bars, and restaurants. Usually predictable, the conclusion of the shows leaves us only with new information about palettes and trends.

However, this week was a bit different: Nobel literature laureate Italian Dario Fo promised something quite extraordinary for designer Gentucca Bini's first foray into Milan fashion house Romeo Gigli; and as of last night, the duo definitely succeeded.

Complaining that the fashions shows were conformist and boring, Fo invented a revolutionary presentation that concluded menswear week of the Autumn/Winter 2007-2008 Milan shows with a bang.

Last night, while Fo gave a playful lecture on Renaissance painter Andrea Mantegna's "The Triumphs of Caesar" (a series of nine tempera paintings from the end of the fifteenth century that depict soldiers carrying looted treasure, elephants, exotic animals, and Caesar on a triumphal chariot), male models worked the runway in beautiful and lush colors (the majority of designers this season revived the heavily-played black trend) taken directly from Mantegna's series of nine canvases, which hung at the venue as backdrops.

"They [the models] danced or ambled down the catwalk to Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" in oversize shoes and short wellingtons, taking delight in the paintings and the informal atmosphere. Jackets were buttoned up awry, ties were plaits of tie-ends, scarves were wrapped nonchalantly several times round the neck, and hats -- every model had a hat -- were pull-on casuals reminiscent of favourite hand-me-down trilbies."

Pretty kewl aside from that whole "Four Seasons" crap. Those violin concerti are so played, I'm surprised that Wu Tang hasn't remixed them with rhymes about chessboxing.

Sony: "Take it Like a Man!" (Opera Chic demands un intervallo)

Sony warms up the holiday cheer with some hawt man-on-man action! So, how much do we love the new Sony Italia La Cyber-shot T50 advertisement that has been turning-up on Milan billboards and tram-stops? It features Gianluigi "Gigi" Buffon, twenty-nine-year-old world-champion goalkeeper for Juventus, in his latest bid to win-over Christmas shoppers.

And after all the playa-haters up in here, we all need some (((BIG hugs))). >.<

belli freschi

I sooooooo have relinquished my coolness by admitting that I find a certain supermarket advertisment adorable. This pdf. file from Esselunga (one of our supermarket chains) displays twelve pages of cuteness, and reinstituted my favorite childhood hobby of playing with my food.

By arranging produce in the form of dogs, Esselunga created twelve new breeds. For instance, page twelve's form of a yappy chiuaua was made out of little black grapes (uva in italian) and therefore becomes: chiuaua + uva = chiuauva. How cute?!

Viva La Diva: Anna Netrebko Get Defaced!

In continuing with today's Callas theme, here is something to make you rofl: From the flagship Ricordi store in Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, where I go to buy the latest opera and symphony releases (and piano sheet-music), you can find something to brighten the dark and rainy, late-Fall days in Milan.

Upstairs among the opera selection stands a promotional cardboard cut-out of Anna Netrebko/Rolando Villazón (btw, don't ever forget to check-out Villazón's personal, hilarious sketches here), which I'm sure has been there since the DVD release of La Traviata from the Vienna State Opera.

An intrepid Netrebko-defector has made their opinion known, defacing the life-sized cardboard with whiskers and a cry of dissatisfaction of Netrebko's reading of Violetta. In addition to the whiskers, "W Callas" is scribbled in ball-point on the soprano's arm, signifying the "W" for "Viva"...as in, "Long Live Callas", and, "Callas Forever".

It always makes me loalz. What kills me is that I've been in this city for almost a year, and I have been to Ricordi over a dozen times, and the staff just doesn't care, leaving the poster in plain sight. I consider myself lucky to live in a city that is so passionate about opera…

Bocelli shows TomKat what’s what!!

SUP4R EXCLUSIVE NEWS! As Opera Chic is privy to inside gossip sources, it has been revealed to her that Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli snubbed TomKat earlier this evening during their wedding reception at Castello Odescalchi di Bracciano by absolutely refusing to sing, "Ave Maria".

Bocelli, a very devout Catholic who has performed many times for the late Pope John Paul II, backpedaled furiously upon realization that the TomKat wedding was to be conducted by a Scientology minister. Instead of singing religiously-based arias, Bocelli decided upon a medley of secular arias.

I'll bet you that Tom was all screaming at Bocelli like, "WTF SING AVE MARIA, B*TCH", and they were all like, "HAY TOM, HAY TOM, HE'S BLIND not DEAF."

News that no one cares about: TomKat Wedding

Just a quick note to all those who are curious (as every single one of my friends and family back in the US have been relentlessly asking me about the hype of the TomKat wedding here) but the answer is, unfortunately, “No!”: we in the elucidated North have better things to discuss with our free time…like omg did you see the new pix of omg omg OotP HAIRY POTT4R MAKING-OUT W/ CHOW CHANG?! +20 in my pants.

heh. j/k. but seriously, okay, the news of the wedding is on telegiornale…but if this was back in the USA, we’d be throwing like TomKat parties, and bars would be having special TomKat shots, and TomKat menus at restaurants, and someone would totally create a special breed of TomKat cats...and everything. Here we’re all like *yawn* l4merz whatevs...marriage is so passé.