Opera in "Knives"?

[DeMonk]

The opera Vir and Londo sing at the beginning of "Knives" sounded somewhat familiar but I can't place it.
Does anyone know where the music comes from?

[Jan]

The words were written in the script by Lawrence G. DiTillio including opeatic instructions (con brio and con molto brio). I'd assume that the music to go with it was written by Christopher Franke, but I can't find anything to definitely back that up.

If you're interested, I can transcribe the words from the script.

Jan

[Michael Malloy]

That is one of my favorite scenes from B5! The music sounds so very much like Italian opera of the 19th century. Londo's quote is "opera seria" - in dramatic style, while Vir's is "opera comic". My best guess is Londo's is most like Puccini or Verdi, while Vir's is simply delightful.

Both actors seemed to enjoy singing, and both are very good singers. Londo's snip was very well done with just the right drama, excellent intonation, and great phrasing! Vir's was joy expressed in sound.

Too bad "Locator Javo" had to interrupt that happy moment.

[DeMonk]

If you're interested, I can transcribe the words from the script.
Jan

That may not be much use. I thought they used a piece of music that was no longer copyrighted and put "Centauri" words to it.

[Towelmaster]

Wouldn't this be a fantastic question to actually ask jms himself?

[Lensman]

The words were written in the script by Lawrence G. DiTillio including opeatic instructions (con brio and con molto brio). I'd assume that the music to go with it was written by Christopher Franke, but I can't find anything to definitely back that up.

If you're interested, I can transcribe the words from the script.

Jan

Hi Jan.
I'm new to this group, but found this while looking around. I wanted to ask if you still have the transcription of the 2 songs used from Knives. I really loved your insight here, but would love to have the actual lyrics if you are still able to transcribe them

Hope to hear from you soon,
Lensman

[Jan]

Hi Lensman,

Welcome aboard! Here's what's in the shooting script:

And with that Londo pauses and launches into a robust
rendition of a Centauri Opera tune.

LONDO
(song, con brio)
Kora, tiyano, tiyano di trova,
carpa andari, mestata di vool

After a few brief bars, Vir interrupts him.

VIR
Yes, yes, it's very commendable.
But can it stand beside
Trantaro's 11Mi Gri Vitaro"?
And Vir launches into a rousing rendition.

VIR
(song, con brio)
Mela crosa vi sarma, ti var yama
gri, solay dar mi tay il parra gri
vita

And after a few brief bars, Londo joins in and they sing the
finale together in grand Centauri style.

LONDO/VIR
(together, con molto
brio)
Ay vita, lestaro, lestaro mi
gri ! ! ! !

They end, happy. Londo claps Vir on the shoulders.

I've never compared the script to the actual singing but it looks about right.

[Looney]

Welcome LENSMAN . . . .

. . . . . . Now where do I know you from? Your User ID choice seems very familiar to me. Is it ISN News Forums or Gateworld? . . . . Or am I insane?! I don't think it is the "insane" option, but then again I wouldn't would I and you may be counting on that.

[Lensman]

thanks for the warm welcome. i'm afraid i haven't been on the isn network that i remember, and gateworld is something I've never heard of. but if you play elite dangerous, you've seen me there....

[Looney]

thanks for the warm welcome. i'm afraid i haven't been on the isn network that i remember, and gateworld is something I've never heard of. but if you play elite dangerous, you've seen me there....

I do not play "elite dangerous" so I guess "insane" was the answer after all.

Gateworld is a Stargate Fan community. I try to stop in there from time to time and at a minimum goose their Babylon 5 Forum a little bit.

[Jan]

Wouldn't this be a fantastic question to actually ask jms himself?

It's a Larry DiTillio script so JMS might not know. LDT didn't mention the music but said this in his introduction:

The first of these was Stephen Furst’s abiding love of opera. I’d learned about this during one of our lunch conversations and it immediately attached itself to my brain. I had this vision of Londo and Vir belting out an aria from a Centauri opera together and it sent waves of delight through me. So strong was this delight I actually made a promise to them to get this scene into a script.

I don't see any questions to JMS in the archives that touch on the music.

[Lensman]

Hi Lensman,

Welcome aboard! Here's what's in the shooting script:



I've never compared the script to the actual singing but it looks about right.

it is very VERY close - i think there are 2 parts that are off by 1-2 words or seconds, but this is close enough for me to see if a few friends with musical ambitions can re-create the song. - getting the music will be a battle for another day.....

[Triple F]

Yeah. Apparently Chris Franke did put together the music for the scene, and the whole thing came from DiTillio interviewing the cast so he could work special little character moments into various episodes – this one was down to Furst being a big opera fan.

Stephen Furst said he was a huge opera fan and that he would love to do opera. It stuck in my head and I kept looking for a place to have Londo and Vir sing Centauri opera. I never had a story to fit it in until I needed a first scene in ‘Knives’ before Ursa jumps on Londo. I said, ‘I’m going to have these characters sing opera. This is going to be funny, it’s going to be wonderful and charming.’ Stephen loved it because it was going to be opera. But Peter, well, Peter can’t really sing! It was a real stretch for him.

.