Tailor-made

Today for the first time I started a course that is perfectly tailored to me. And how is this? Well, when there is a will there's a way... I myself elaborated a course, just to my liking, completely to my liking, and here is how it goes:

Once a week I listen to 2 different pieces taken from an opera. The piece lasts between 4 to 15 minutes depending on my choice. At first, I look for the libretto of the piece and a translation, this way I can follow the piece. I listen to it and then , I start the learning: 

1. Which opera is the piece taken from? What kind of piece? An overture, an aria, a duet, choruses? In which language? What is the context of the piece in the opera? Who is/are the performer/s?

2. Who is the author of the opera? The librettist? When was the opera first written and first performed? Its place in the history of opera of the author's country.

3. What is the story of the opera and the story behind its making and the first performances? 

Today, I listened to "Una Furtiva Lagrima" from "L'Elisir D'Amore" an opera from Gaetano Donizetti, featuring Luciano Pavarotti . I learned that Donizetti (1797 - 1848) was an incredibly prolific Italian composer who wrote no less than 550 musical works including 71 operas. 

Talk of delivering the goods!

I also listened to "Un Bel Di Vedreno" from Madame Butterfly of Giacomo Puccini. I learned that there are no less than 5 versions to this opera. The first version in 1904 was a flop and Puccini worked on subsequent versions up until the fifth one in 1907, which is considered the standard one, a massive success around the world. So "If at first you don't succeed try, try and try again." 

Take it from Robert the Bruce and apparently from Giacomo Puccini as well who didn't take failure as an answer.