Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Coven Chooses Opera Over Jazz On American Horror Story

Based on an historical figure, a murderous musician who hides an axe inside his saxophone case declares to the citizens of New Orleans that he will spare their life if they are playing jazz music loudly in their homes on a particular evening. The resident ladies of the coven in 1919 refer to themselves as suffragettes and they decide they have nothing to fear. So rather than play jazz, they opt for the more logical choice of Bellini's "Casta
Diva" from Norma, who happens to be opera's most famous Druidess. As the phonograph blares upstairs, the head witch (played by Meryl Streep's daughter Mamie Gummer) slowly turns the tarot cards waiting for a potential slaughter. The tables are quickly turned and the serial killer meets his ultimate fate. The synopsis for the opera of Norma: Act 1: The grove. A secret love unites the seer Norma with Pollione, the Roman proconsul, father of her two children. But Pollione has grown tired of the aging druid and has fallen in love with Adalgisa, a young temple virgin. Despite Adalgisa's piety and virtue, she agrees to flee to Rome with Pollione. Adalgisa innocently tells Norma of her love, and Norma curses Pollione for his treachery. Act 2: Norma’s apartment. Norma is about to kill her children,
but her love for them finally consigns them to the care of Adalgisa. When Pollione comes to take Adalgisa from the temple, Norma denounces him; after he refuses to give up Adalgisa, he is seized by the Druids. Norma proclaims herself equally guilty with him. The pyre is lighted and Norma ascends it to die with her lover.