Talk:Madamina, il catalogo è questo

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[edit] "Nella bianca la dolcezza"

Are we certain that when Leporello mentions, among the women seduced by Don Giovanni, the "bianca" (literally, "the white one") he means "the very blond"? It is far more simple to suppose that he refers to old, white-haired women. In any case, simply translating "white" leaves the ambiguity untouched and the reader may choose for himself. If no one objects, I'll change "very blond" to "white" (no matter what NYC Opera Project says). Goochelaar (talk) 22:23, 21 January 2008 (UTC)

Given the contiguous contrast with blondes and brunettes, I think he's referring to white hair too (or grey hair as it's usually expressed in English). Why not translate it as "white-haired". Just "white" would, I think, call up to an English reader "white skin", which I don't think is what was intended. It's all a moot point anyway. This aria shouldn't be here, it should be in Wikisource. Best, Voceditenore (talk) 07:59, 22 January 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for confirming my view. I have added some material to the article itself, and shall try to add some more. In my opinion, if the article is long and rich enough, the text of the aria might stay. Goochelaar (talk) 13:53, 22 January 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for your additions! It's an interesting article now. I'm just wondering if there ought to be a footnote with an English translation of the lines quoted from Il convitato di pietra. Best, Voceditenore (talk) 06:15, 23 January 2008 (UTC)

Thanks, it is nice to see one's work appreciated! I have added the translation. Would you mind checking it? In particular, I don't like the repetitions like "artisan women, peasant women" and the like. In Italian those are simply feminine nouns ("artigiane, contadine..."). Happy editing, Goochelaar (talk) 09:56, 23 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Gazzaniga's version

I agree about the repetitions. I changed it to simply "artisans, peasants". It's clear from the context that they refer to women. I have another question though. Most sources I've seen list Gazzaniga's opera as Don Giovanni, o sia Il convitato di pietra (usually shortened to simply Don Giovanni rather than Il convitato di pietra). I added the full title to the article. Is that OK? Best, Voceditenore (talk) 11:22, 23 January 2008 (UTC)

Macchia's book always calls the opera Il convitato di pietra, but I see that other sources do not do so. For me it is ok either way. Bye, Goochelaar (talk) 13:28, 23 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Musical form

I would describe this as a backwards cabaletta form rather than what I think of as binary form- it is possibly unique in having the cantabile follow the cabaletta. How does Gazzaniga set his aria? Sparafucil (talk) 10:27, 25 January 2008 (UTC)