Watch: Odessa Opera sing Va pensiero as they prepare to defend the house

Watch: Odessa Opera sing Va pensiero as they prepare to defend the house

News

norman lebrecht

March 12, 2022

The liberation theme from Verdi’s Nabucco, sung by Odessa’s brave defenders.

 

 

Comments

  • Larry says:

    Thank you for posting this

  • PRK says:

    The vast majority of us in the U.S. can not comprehend the the importance of opera. Sadly, why a culture would build a magnificent opera house, keep it well funded, place high priority in safeguarding it, or mourn it when destroyed simply bewilders us.

    • HG Viljoen says:

      Does not say much for American culture

    • Judith Gray says:

      Importance of culture and support of it by beautiful buildings is the difference between civilized peoples and barbarians. I rest my case

    • Ticia Miller McCloud says:

      there are opera houses
      all over the US.
      every major city in the United States has an opera company.
      and of course there is the world renowned metropolitan opera in New York City.
      the opportunities are there it’s just that many choose not to partake.
      and you have to blame the educational system for that.
      they took arts out of school’s years ago.
      they downplay the importance of true art in the life of people.
      they want to replace it with top 40 and television shows.

  • ENRIQUE SANCHEZ says:

    Fly, my thoughts, on wings of gold;
    go settle upon the slopes and the hills,
    where, soft and mild, the sweet airs
    of my native land smell fragrant!

    Greet the banks of the Jordan
    and Zion’s toppled towers.
    Oh, my homeland, so lovely and so lost!
    Oh memory, so dear and so dead!

    Golden harp of the prophets of old,
    why do you now hang silent upon the willow?
    Rekindle the memories in our hearts,
    and speak of times gone by!

    Mindful of the fate of Solomon’s temple,
    Let me cry out with sad lamentation,
    or else may the Lord strengthen me
    to bear these sufferings!

  • Greg Bottini says:

    Stirring. Simply stirring.

  • Felix says:

    Yes, but ‘Va pensiero’ has been useful as a salute to tyrants as well. See:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhlHrIIOEKA in which Pietro Mascagni conducts it in honour of Benito Mussolini. Music per se has no particular moral significance; it depends entirely into whose hands it falls and what they make of it.

    • Robin Worth says:

      “o mi patria” is pretty universal, and it is significant that the Odessa opera singers chose to sing this chorus so that the world should know which fatherland was theirs

  • Ms.Melody says:

    Beautiful, moving and, unfortunately, very topical. Except, the monster will not have a conversion at the end. Still an act that speaks unity and commitment, both precious and rare qualities these days. The theatre is a gorgeous neo- baroque building
    with excellent , unique acoustics.
    I so hope it will not be destroyed

  • Roman Zoltowski says:

    …very moving,and this from a largely Russian-speaking region. We must continue to support this beleagered Country in every way we can.

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