The Saturday poem: Anon ( but inspired by Eglantine's recent pics)

[nodbear]

Several firsts today on TSP - the launch of number one in a series of new icons - this is due to amaraal who asked last week if I had a logo for TSP

Comments

[amaraal]

That's a beautiful icon and a nice (short) poem :)

So - now we all want to hear your Wagner joke :) Please!^^

[nodbear]

Ok - well its not really a Wagner joke but a WAgner anecdote- so some people may have heard it - for you and other German readers this is the anecdote and your challenge for the day is to translate it

[amaraal]

Heehee. Poor swan though! 150kg is heavy for a tenor, or?

Here is the google translation. But I think 'When does the next swan?' is missing a 'go' or 'depart' or something. But not bad for a programm:

"When does the next swan?"

One of the most famous performer of "Lohengrin" was Leo Slezak (1873-1946), a "mammoth tenor antediluvian size" as a contemporary journalist wrote. With a height of 195 cm and a weight of about 150 kg, it was also a visually striking appearance. Just as legendary as his voice was his comedy and his quick wit. Several Slezak anecdotes are still in circulation. For example, the story of the "Lohengrin" performance, in which a stage technician the swan began to move before the tenor had risen. Slezak shall thereupon have launched into the audience: "Excuse me, when does the next swan?"

Now I feel almost tempted to search for vids with Mr Slezak and how he performed on stage :) Nice anecdote!

[esmerelda_t]

I had no idea that's where swansong came from, how sad. I also saw cygnets last weekend, they were adorable.

[nodbear]

great aren't they ? Grey and fluffy and such little mini versions of their parents - but with softer edges

[amaraal]

If you really want to cry (and to laugh) watch Disney's 'The Ugly Duckling' :) Adorable!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qafXdmFsTbE

[anteros_lmc]

Very cute! It's ages since I've read that but I remember it well from when I was a kid.

[nodbear]

I remember the song - and the very distinctive voice on the recording -but not the singers name.

[eglantine_br]

This makes me very happy.

[nodbear]

and a happy Eglantine is always good- hope you are feeling a bit better

have a story for you and Archie has half a sonnet - for some reason though he has got distracted partway through ...