Skip Navigational Links
LISTSERV email list manager
LISTSERV - COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM
LISTSERV Menu
Log In
Log In
LISTSERV 17.5 Help - CLASSICAL Archives
LISTSERV Archives
LISTSERV Archives
Search Archives
Search Archives
Register
Register
Log In
Log In

CLASSICAL Archives

Moderated Classical Music List

CLASSICAL@COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM

Menu
LISTSERV Archives LISTSERV Archives
CLASSICAL Home CLASSICAL Home

Log In Log In
Register Register

Subscribe or Unsubscribe Subscribe or Unsubscribe

Search Archives Search Archives
Options: Use Forum View

Use Monospaced Font
Show Text Part by Default
Show All Mail Headers

Message: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Topic: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]
Author: [<< First] [< Prev] [Next >] [Last >>]

Print Reply
Subject:
Wagner's Fowl
From:
Janos Gereben <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Sat, 12 Apr 2003 11:08:37 -0700
Content-Type:
text/plain
Parts/Attachments:
text/plain (30 lines)
For a nanosecond, when I turned on the Met broadcast today, I wondered
what "Lohengrin" is doing on KUSF-FM.  Immediately recognizing "Parsifal,"
although still humming "Mein lieber Schwann," my thoughts turned to the
swan connection between the two operas.

Why would the son of one opera's swan-killer's use the same bird (the
same species, not the specific creature, unless we are dealing with
resurrection...  but let's not go there) as a transportation/transformation
device in another opera?

Why would Gurnemanz tell the young fool to switch birds: "In the future,
leave our swans in peace, go seek - you gander - for geese!" What do
the swan-goose differences signify?  What is the role of Mrs.  Parsifal,
Lohengrin's mom - Condwiramurs - in these ornithological manipulations?

Apparently, Mathilde Wesendonk had the same concerns, but her thoughts
went to the Indian roots of "Parzival" - "[Devadatta, cousin to the
future Buddha,] with an arrow shoots a goose (Sanskrit: hamsa), which
falls down in the vicinity of the future Buddha.  The latter sharply
reproaches Devadatta, heals the goose and refuses to accept Devadatta's
demand that it should be given up to him, on the argument that he has a
better claim to the goose than Devadatta could have, on account of the
merit he had acquired in countless incarnations."

Well, I *tried* not to go there...

Janos Gereben/SF
www.sfcv.org
[log in to unmask]

ATOM RSS1 RSS2

COMMUNITY.LSOFT.COM CataList Email List Search Powered by LISTSERV