Something approaching a blog about musicology.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
General reading room of the National Library in Prague.
National Library ID! Covering up my last name, but I will tell you my middle name is Phillip.
I found a little cafe near the National Theater for lunch, but I’m always really nervous ordering in Czech because I don’t want to look like an idiot.
I needn’t have worried, because the waiter understood me just fine. I still look like an idiot, however, because in my nervous state I accidentally poured sparkling water into my espresso for an Americano instead of the hot water.
It doesn’t taste very good.
Day the First
Today was a very long day. I have tons of trouble sleeping on planes, so I think I only managed about four hours on the flight to London, and then it was go go go all day. Made the connection to Prague and then managed to figure out the public transit again. I definitely understand more of what’s happening around me than I did last summer language-wise, but I’m still not very good at hearing spoken Czech and understanding what people are saying.
Found my apartment without too much trouble, but I waited outside for almost an hour for the leasing agent to come, as I was early and he was late; fortunately he showed up right before I really started to panic. I managed to negotiate the supermarket, though I was really confused by the fact that they put spices in bags over here? Weird.
I then walked around the city a little bit, got my monthly tram pass, and figured out the best way to the Czech Museum of Music.
Tomorrow: possibly either the Antonín Dvořák Museum or the National Library, maybe both, and probably some used bookstores. Wheee!
Made it to Prague! My adorable (slash borderline unaffordable) studio and the view. St. Vitus’s Cathedral is off to the far right in the third picture. Now for some exploring and attempting to combat jetlag.
Off to Prague
Let the adventure begin! Reallllly hoping that apartment in Holešovice is going to happen when I get there.
Expect the pictures to start soon!
Today, 22 May 2013, marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of German operatist Richard Wagner (1813 - 1883). Wagner was a contentious figure in his own time, and musicians and enthusiasts remain divided even today over his musical and personal legacies.
What is relatively certain is that few composers have had such far-reaching influence on the development of the musical language of our culture, and it is in the operas of Richard Wagner that musical theater as an art form reached its zenith in terms of grandeur, dramatic intensity, and artistic integration.
No wonder today seems like it’s dragging on forever and not really getting anywhere.
Zing!
Apparently the National Theater is showing both The Devil and Kateand The Bartered Bride on June 22nd. Guess’s who’s got two thumbs and will be hitting up a Czech opera double feature?
This Snake Juice is basically rat poison. Everybody’s wasted.
I am recently addicted to this show. It’s the best.
