formulation is, which is to be first, the words
or the music. Strauss's answer, which I agree
with, was "Primo la musica, dopo le parole" -
i.e., the music first, then the words.

I prefer the music over the words, generally... A now long-gone morning announcer on WXXI used to play "opera without words" regularly... most
of it was quite listenable to... ;) I'll admit, though, that I do
enjoy opera a little better if I see it in person on stage, so that the
story isn't lost in the screeching... ;)

Usually the story is negligible to laughable,
and the words fake meaningful commentary or
self-consciously witty, with frequent breaking
of the fourth wall. Clearly Mr. Hoffmannsthal
was a bit big for his britches.

+

Ok. I'm sure I've enjoyed them both.... :) And you didn't answer about the Flag.... ;)

Oh, yeah, I thought that was an offhand question.
Yeah, it's a real thing, rather cheesy (at times
laughable even) and fully deserving of its oblivion.

Then I don't feel bad about not being aware of it... :)

Hardly.

I'm reminded also of the "Columbian" Te Deum and the
"Indian" (as in woo-woo) violin sonata.

I guess even the best composers have their less than stellar moments...
as you've mentioned before, actually.. ;)

Some people work well under deadline or
on commission; some don't.

One can do the gedanken, bearing in mind
the easily compared regular Coke and
Mexican regular Coke.

I suppose.

Yeah, it's not so fun as being fully
authentic, but that's sometimes not
possible.

That's weird (those are weird).

Granted. :)

Did you hear how the stone mason came to
grief from a slab of rock? He took it for
granite. It wasn't gneiss.

Groan..

Everyone should know what to do with gray
leftover potatoes and sprouted onions.

I suppose.... also sprouted potatoes.... (G)

Though those are mildly toxic.

Haven't killed us yet... ;)

Nature does try, sometimes.

---------- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.00

Title: Almond Syrup
Categories: Beverages, Ethnic
Yield: 1 bottle

4 1/2 c -Water 3 tb Bitter almond extract
20 oz Almonds, ground 2 Oranges; juice of
6 c Sugar; up to 7 cups

--------------------------ALMOND COOLER, 1
SERVING--------------------------
2 tb Almond syrup 6 oz -Cold water; 3/4 c
2 tb Yogurt

To serve, put a few tablespoons in a glass and add cold or sparkling
water
and ice.

Bring water to a boil; add almonds and return to a boil. Remove from heat
and allow to cool thoroughly. Squeeze the ground almonds in several
layers
of rinsed cheesecloth. Pour almond extract into a saucepan; add sugar,
bitter almond extract, and orange juice. Stir well and bring to a boil;
cook to a thick syrup consistency. Let cool completely. If syrup if not
thick enough, boil again for 5 minutes. Pour into sterile bottles, seal
and
refrigerate. Can be used immediately Serve with ice water or with club
soda.

FOR 1 SERVING ALMOND COOLER: Combine 2 tb almond syrup, 2 tb yogurt and 6
oz (3/4 cup) cold water.

MAKES: 1 QUART SOURCE: _From My Grandmother's Kitchen: A Sephardic
Cookbook_ by Viviane Bicheck Miner

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