Chapters 19-21

Even losing his job at the pharmacy does not affect Giovanni as his whole life is now pointing to the competition.

Of course, before the competition, we get an excursion to La Scala and it's museum. "Un giorno," Giovanni tells the ghosts of La Scala. I love that moment.

And then, we are at the competition. Isabella's dilemma will only add to Giovanni's nervousness and will all come cascading down on him when he takes the stage to sing "Vesti la giubba." This is one of the best known of all tenor arias, and really works well at this point in the novel, as the words fit so well to Giovanni's own feelings. Laugh clown, as your heart is breaking. Here is a wonderful version by Mario Lanza.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i_jv7Z5bMk

Of course, we know what happens at the competition. I will put it the way an Italian friend of mine did. Il sogno di Tempesta e finita.

As a writer, my hope at this point is that the reader has no clue where the novel will be going now.

"Vesti la giubba" is one of my favorite arias...lost love is what my book is about!

Sorry to say this to the author, but the novel is not that unpredictable (at least not to me). The story of Giordano's and Olga Spatz's marriage predicts the outcome for Giovanni's and Isabella's love affair.

I thought that Isabella's telling Giovanni she can't see him anymore right before the competition was very thoughtless and inconsiderate. Ok, so she was young and immature... The appearance of Toscano as one of the judges is a foreboding sign, but the fact that the author mentions the lady with the ORANGE HAT four times in the chapter seemed to acquire an unknown significance to me...maybe some hope or joy derived from the orange color???

The loss of the competition was a realistic event in the story. If he had won, it would have made the story too sweet, too romantic, unrealistic...this may be just my reaction considering how many rejections I've had to live through from juried art competitions and literary agents - LOL - way too many!!!

The New Orleans Opera Contract opens up a new life for Giovanni...the luck of the orange hat ?!

Now for some fun: Chip, don't get offended...the use of the words "...departed the bus..." People get off the bus, leave the bus, hop off the bus...
I mean, who talks like that...Oh, I forgot, bubba does. , , !

Just another comment: I notice that there are only two people besides the author participating in this discussion, so if you guys feel this is a waste of time and want to end it, it's ok with me. I'm enjoying it, but the author may feel it's a waste of his time.

I tried to delete this, but couldn't.

Thank you Chip for providing this wonderful commentary on your novel.

The words and background for Laugh Clown are at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesti_la_giubba

This aria helps to show the greatness of opera, its insight into the human condition, and how Giovanni is in a tragic situation, having to portray himself as happy and confident while facing the inner turmoil of uncertainty about love and singing.

Chapters 22-24

I have a few speeches coming up so this is a great way to gather my thoughts, so I will finish the commentary.

I do think Isabella challenging her father begins the development of her character.

The banter between Giovanni and Alfredo and their constant arguing over Puccini and Verdi comes into play when Alfredo brings him to Torre del Lago and the home of Puccini where his masterpieces were created.

Torre is a magical place, and a visit there really gives you a sense of where Puccini's melodies came from.

Here is a wonderful clip of the place. The music is the humming chorus from Madama Butterfly, which is what Franco Tempesta sang to young Giovanni in the Prologo as he went to sleep.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3DQPesTeUk