I love music, from the sounds of Motown and funk of the seventies, eighties girl
groups like The GoGos and Bangles, through country and bluegrass to modern music
like Bruno Mars, Rumer and light jazz artists like Stacey Kent and Karen Souza.
I love classical music, too… Rachmaninoff, Mendelssohn, Copland and lots of others.
But I would never have imagined getting hooked on… opera.
OPERA??
Well, yeah, opera. I started researching some opera just to reference pieces for
Pish Lincoln to listen to for my Merry Muffin Mysteries. And I
listened on YouTube, to some of the greats. And a funny thing happened; I was
listening and watching Pavarotti signing Nessun Dorma, and realized… tears were
streaming down my face. It was like my very own Pretty Woman moment (except I do
NOT look like Julia Roberts); remember when Julia’s character is watching the
opera with tears in her eyes?
I got it… I finally got it. Opera done right is an extremely emotional
experience, a revelation, really. I went from doing research to get Pish’s picks
correct, to becoming more interested, and watching opera videos for
entertainment. But it is important to watch quality singers. I’ve found that
opera done badly is worse than any other kind of performance done badly. It
could put you off opera for life, and I can believe that is why so many folks
think of opera as singers screeching high notes.
Only one thing remains for my complete conversion; maybe someday I’ll get to see
a live performance by a quality singer. Let’s just say… it’s on my bucket list.
But in the meantime the internet is a fabulous place to find audio and videos of
the greats. I recommend – of course – Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma, but also…
Diana Damrau singing the Queen of the Night aria from The Magic Flute, Jonas
Kaufmann singing just about anything, and the luminous late Maria Callas
singing… anything she darn well pleased.
It may seem like it’s highbrow or artsy, but opera started as the music of the
masses, and in my case, it still is.
Victoria Hamilton is the national bestselling author of three bestselling
series, the Vintage Kitchen Mysteries and Merry Muffin Mysteries as Victoria,
and the Teapot Collector Mysteries as Amanda Cooper. She is
also the bestselling author of Regency and historical romance as Donna Lea
Simpson.
Victoria loves to cook and collects vintage kitchen
paraphernalia, teacups and teapots, and almost anything that catches her fancy!
She loves to read, especially mystery novels, and enjoys good tea and cheap
wine, the company of friends, and has a newfound appreciation for opera. She
enjoys crocheting and beading, but a good book can tempt her away from almost
anything… except writing!
Merry Muffin
Mystery
In this fresh mystery from the national bestselling author of
Death of an English Muffin, baker Merry Wynter comes to the aid of an
innocent woman accused of murder.
When muffin baker Merry Wynter sees an innocent woman accused of murder,
it’s dough or die...
Opera singer Roma Toscano may have a crippling case of stage fright, but she
certainly is stirring up drama in Autumn Vale, New York, as she prepares for an
upcoming performance at Merry’s Wynter Castle. With her flamboyant style and
flirtatious personality, Roma attracts fans as well as critics, including the
town’s postmistress—and Merry’s bitter foe—Minnie Urquhart.
But Roma and Minnie’s heated rivalry goes cold after Merry discovers Minnie dead
at the post office. While every clue seems to be another ingredient in the
investigation of Roma, Merry thinks the case is half-baked, and she’s eager to
get her mitts on the real killer...
Mystery Cozy [Berkley
Prime Crime, On Sale: August 2, 2016, Mass Market
Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9780425282588 / eISBN: 9780698406070]
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