Robert Peter's wrote:

>Well, after all the Wagner wars let us also honour all the other kingbees
>of opera.  So, what is the greatest aria of them all? Here is my choice:
>Donna Elvira's "Ah chi mi dice mai" from Mozart's "Don Giovanni".
>For me this is the greatest aria of them all in the greatest opera of
>them all (yes, Satoshi, to ME greater than the whole Ring) by the
>greatest opera composer of them all.

Of course I couldn't help but reply to this!  About Wagner I will say
little more as I have already said way too much.  About Mozart too I
have written too much that is bitterly critical and have offended the
sensibility of too many a Mozartian in the process.  So I choose instead
to throw the cat amongst the pigeons by saying I would prefer Schoenberg's
Moses und Aaron to Mozart's Don Giovanni any day.  I especially like the
acceptance of the Wagnerian abolition of the whole silly aria-recitative
thing.  I demand visionary depth and profundity from art.  Light and love
are just not enough for me I am afraid!

And with that I have done my evil deed for the day and will doubtless
sleep well tonight.:)

Satoshi Akima
Sydney, Australia
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