Antiquities wishing you a Merry Christmas

From a great Museum to you all. Best Wishes!

Adeste Fideles

One of Italy great tenor Beniamino Gigli (1890-1957) whose statue stands in the Foyer of the Teatro del'Opera di Roma and whose name graces the piazza in front of the Opera House, sings here this Christmas favourite Adeste Fideles.
It is an old way of singing but I find it very satisfying, probably recorded around 1934. He was considered the generation of new opera singers after the great Caruso. Gigli retired from the stage in 1954. He came from humble origins in a small village of Italy. His voice was noticed by the Choir Master of his parish church and his parents sent him for tutoring with the great masters of his time. He did odd jobs to pay for his tutoring. He rose in fame and made his debut at the San Carlo Opera House of Naples.

Pietro Perugino, 1446-1523, Nativity

Christmas Island 1947

This morning I had to go fairly early in -40C weather to the grocery store to get some things for
a luncheon we were giving.

So I was listening to the radio in the car and this song from 1947 came on. Just thinking with snow filled streets and very few people walking given the cold wind and the ice on the sidewalks how nice it would be to be in the South Pacific right now.
This song Christmas Island was one of the Andrews Sister album of '47. To me often this was like yesterday.

Lots of fun to hear again after so many years.