Trying to write a paper on the English translation of Erismena. Right now the paper should progress through 4 sections: description of contents; historical context of Italian opera in England; strategies of the translator (especially compared to Camilla and Arsinoe?); literary analysis. Must write the 'historical context' section tonight. It's not that hard-- mostly a selective summation of existing research, with a focus on English attitudes towards recitative and the suitability of the English language for opera.
Somehow I've been dawdling. It looks like a straightforward project and yet sometimes I feel completely overwhelmed. One problem is that English opera "after the Italian manner" seems to encounter several false starts throughout the 17th and 18th centuries: Davenant tries his hand at Italian-style operas, with recitative, but the preface to Arsinoe still says that Italian opera has "never been attempted before in England."
Sleeping has completely fallen off from the normal human 24-hour day. Woke up at 3 today, must labor earnestly until 2am at least, having lost the morning and afternoon.
Computer is also dying. Making strange sputtering noises. Was never so great to begin with.
Monday, April 27, 2009
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