Today is the obit of Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, one of the finest sopranos of the last century. Click on her name to find out more.
We kept Santa Feria at mass this lunchtime, although The Times's "Saint of the Day" is given as S. Waltheof of Melrose. I wonder which calendar they use? The Catholic General Calendar of 1954 had 3rd August as "The Invention (ie the Finding of the Relics of) S. Stephen, Protomartyr. Being "House-trained", the clergy of this parish naturally have a great devotion to S. Stephen, and perhaps we should campaign for its restoration as a landmark in the life of the Universal Church. Alas, by 1962, the day had gone, and 3rd August was a Feria.
Neither Common Worship [sic] nor the Calendar of The Episcopal Church (tm) provides anything for today, although the former does offer Mary Sumner (Matron, Founder of the Mothers' Union, Niece-in-law of the last Archbishop of Canterbury to wear a wig) and William Booth (Confessor, Founder, The Salvation Army) later in the month.
Anyhow, back to Dame Elisabeth. Here is a recording of her:
She is singing an excerpt from Johann Strauss II's Casanova. As the title suggests, this is an operetta about love, intrigue and whatnot; here, Laura is trapped in a convent against her will. In the background, the nuns are asking Our Lady's prayers and, eventually, Laura and the nuns are united in their prayer. It is a musical account of wise discernment by the proper religious authority, and concludes with the offering of roses to Our Lord's Mother. What's not to like, as they say?
Translation below:
Nun's chorus:
Oh Madonna, hear our plea,
Guard our path with heaven's protection.
We in prayer now bend our knee,
Grant us mercy, Holy Marie !
Laura:
O Marie, set me free
From these cloistered walls and veil.
Pity me, let me see
Him who'll come to rescue me.
To our altar high
Roses I bring nigh,
Thanks and greetings there for you.
Make my plea come true.
Nuns and Laura together:
Laura:
You, O loved one, come, help me,
From here save me, I ask of thee.
Hear my prayer, before too late,
Oh, help me, Maria !
Nuns:
O Marie, blessed be,
Lift away her convent veil
Your mercy show, on her bestow
Her wish with pious prayer to you.
Laura:
Look to our altar high
Roses I bring nigh
Grateful thanks I give to you
Make my plea come true.
We kept Santa Feria at mass this lunchtime, although The Times's "Saint of the Day" is given as S. Waltheof of Melrose. I wonder which calendar they use? The Catholic General Calendar of 1954 had 3rd August as "The Invention (ie the Finding of the Relics of) S. Stephen, Protomartyr. Being "House-trained", the clergy of this parish naturally have a great devotion to S. Stephen, and perhaps we should campaign for its restoration as a landmark in the life of the Universal Church. Alas, by 1962, the day had gone, and 3rd August was a Feria.
Neither Common Worship [sic] nor the Calendar of The Episcopal Church (tm) provides anything for today, although the former does offer Mary Sumner (Matron, Founder of the Mothers' Union, Niece-in-law of the last Archbishop of Canterbury to wear a wig) and William Booth (Confessor, Founder, The Salvation Army) later in the month.
Anyhow, back to Dame Elisabeth. Here is a recording of her:
She is singing an excerpt from Johann Strauss II's Casanova. As the title suggests, this is an operetta about love, intrigue and whatnot; here, Laura is trapped in a convent against her will. In the background, the nuns are asking Our Lady's prayers and, eventually, Laura and the nuns are united in their prayer. It is a musical account of wise discernment by the proper religious authority, and concludes with the offering of roses to Our Lord's Mother. What's not to like, as they say?
Translation below:
Nun's chorus:
Oh Madonna, hear our plea,
Guard our path with heaven's protection.
We in prayer now bend our knee,
Grant us mercy, Holy Marie !
Laura:
O Marie, set me free
From these cloistered walls and veil.
Pity me, let me see
Him who'll come to rescue me.
To our altar high
Roses I bring nigh,
Thanks and greetings there for you.
Make my plea come true.
Nuns and Laura together:
Laura:
You, O loved one, come, help me,
From here save me, I ask of thee.
Hear my prayer, before too late,
Oh, help me, Maria !
Nuns:
O Marie, blessed be,
Lift away her convent veil
Your mercy show, on her bestow
Her wish with pious prayer to you.
Laura:
Look to our altar high
Roses I bring nigh
Grateful thanks I give to you
Make my plea come true.
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