+++
author = ["authors/jenna.md"]
categories = "Humour"
date = "2015-04-10T22:23:00-04:00"
lastmod = "2015-04-12T19:10:00-04:00"
primary_image = "https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/v1545409169/media/webhook-uploads/1428718691249/FourLeafClover.jpg.jpg"
publishDate = "2015-03-17T10:23:00-04:00"
related_people = ["scene/people/aprile-millo.md"]
short_description = "​Happy St. Patrick&#039;s Day, everyone! To give an operatic nod to the patron saint of Ireland, here are some appropriately-themed clips via YouTube."
slug = "st-patricks-day-potpourri"
title = "St. Patrick&#039;s Day Potpourri"
+++

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone! To give an operatic nod to the patron saint of Ireland, here are some appropriately-themed clips via YouTube. First up is Irish tenor [John McCormack](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCormack_(tenor)) (1884-1945), who had a pretty enviable career; he sang at Covent Garden, Royal Albert Hall, made tons of recordings. He [apparently](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCormack_(tenor)) had such great breath control that he could sing 64 notes in a row of Mozart's "Il mio tesoro" without taking a breath (that's a weird way of putting it, but that's [Wiki](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCormack_(tenor)) for you). So, here's John McCormack singing "Il mio tesoro".

<figure data-type="video">
	<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wSHnxlf2DPs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</figure>

Irish mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught made [headlines last summe](http://schmopera.com/when-critics-are-jerks/)r during her run as Octavian in _Der Rosenkavalier_ at Glyndebourne, when critics (mostly male) made some pretty awful and unnecessary comments about her physique, and her credibility as a male love interest. Mean critics aside, Tara sounds _fantastic_ in this rendition of "Una voce poco fa" from _Il barbiere di Siviglia_. Big round sound, lots of agility, personality to boot. Enjoy.</p>

<figure data-type="video">
	<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XPquOVVEwws" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</figure>

For a more vague nod to St. Patrick, here's a clip from Robert Carsen's production of _A Midsummer Night's Dream_ by Britten. It's Oberon's fantastic Act I scene, "I know a bank". This clip is not only beautiful, but it's also _particularly_ _green_.

<figure data-type="video">
	<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r7m-mmnV4VQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</figure>

Finally, because sometimes alcohol is involved with St. Paddy's day, I figured a drinking song is in order. Here's a clip from [Otto Schenk's production of _Die Fledermaus_](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0260906/), filmed as a TV movie in 1972\. It's pretty hilarious and the cast is stellar; I beg you all, watch until the 2:30 mark, and you won't be sorry. Watch the whole thing [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY2Mw0LMz-E), because it includes a cameo by Schenk as Frosch. Pretty great.

<figure data-type="video">
	<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V3mVm_saMyA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</figure>

Bonus, because it's beautiful: Aprile Millo singing "Danny Boy."

<figure data-type="video">
	<iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2WSDedhvCKY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</figure>

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Be safe and have fun!
