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The War Machine

Let's hope the uber super committee does not find common ground. The requirement being that 50% of the trillion plus dollar in cuts comes from ... Defense. We can only hope. Meanwhile that third party movement is looking better all the time. Now the idea of a constitutional convention is desperately needed to shore up the movement. Throw them all out and then move to amend the Constitution. Defend liberty and justice for all. And yes the machinations at the state level are continuing. The numbers look like more cuts. Stay tuned

Bellini: Quintessential Bel Canto Opera

Today's show features the overture to Bellini's opera, the masterpiece "Norma", as well as a duet and a trio from this same opera. Also heard on today's show are Gershwin's "An American in Paris", Spanish music for the guitar, the music from Aaron Copland's "Rodeo", and a flute sonata by J.S. Bach.

Vincenzo Bellini was born in Catania, Sicily in 1801, and was known as "the swan of Catania" because of his long-breathed, flowing, beautiful melodies. He is generally regarded as the most "bel" (beautiful) of the bel canto opera composers of the first part of the nineteenth century. "Norma", "I Capeletti e i Montechi", and "I Puritani" are still widely performed today. Along with J.S. Bach, he was one of the composers most admired by Chopin, and was inspirational for Chopin's melodic style. He passed away at the age of 34, in the year 1835.

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