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Familial Prospectives
November 5, 2021 in Blogs
This screenshot motivational poster is dedicated to all of the wonderful Inuyasha x Ayame, Ginta x Shunran, and Kohaku x Rin shippers from all over the world. Sit back, relax, and soak in InuAya’s fortitude, GinShun’s beauty, and KohaRin’s lovability. This is also my entry for this year’s Red Ribbon Reviewers’ submissions as well as this year’s Inuvember and my thank you gift to anilovespeace for creating fan-kids for InuAya, GinShun, and KohaRin for me to own and develop in my Inuyasha AU. 
It is often said that relationships based on unconditional love, reciprocity, compassion, perseverance, and grace shall flourish into holy matrimony and commencing a wonderful family. Inuyasha x Ayame, Ginta x Shunran, and Kohaku x Rin are no exceptions to the rule, as they are the couples who do have all the possibility in the world to start wonderfully healthy families thanks to their tight relationships. Having Sesshoumaru, Shuran, and Hakkaku support their siblings’ and their children’s endeavours certainly heightens the love these three couples have for each other. In fact, the future for Inuyasha’s and Ayame’s, Ginta’s and Shunran’s, and Kohaku’s and Rin’s offspring is not only bright but also phenomenal in terms of prosperity and inheriting their parents’ excellent genes.
There is no doubt that Inuyasha and Ayame are the strongest couple in not only the Northern Yoro Tribe but also all of Japan. Inuyasha’s mighty muscles, super strength, and pulsating physical prowess is superbly matched with Ayame’s skyrocketing stamina, deep determination, and fabulous fierceness. Strength, determination, high self-esteem, courage, and perseverance are the main attributes of what makes Inuyasha’s and Ayame’s family really strong, and those traits are reflected on their children. With Inuyasha approaching 39 in a month and Ayame at age 36, they are certainly proud to see how much their seven sons and seven daughters have grown up to be super strong and super powerful warriors who can make their enemies shake at the sight of their awesome power. 24-year-old triplet sons Masataka, Masaya, and Masaru implement their muscles, fists, and steely personalities to stop their enemies from ever disrupting their home. 23-year-old twin sons Kenta and Keita are known as The Muscle Twins because of their toughness, magnificent muscles, ferocious fierceness, and their charisma towards the ladies, especially when they put their muscles to great use to stop various monsters. 22-year-old twin sons Kazuhiko and Kaito may be nature-loving gentlemen, but mess with them, and they will implement their super strength and peerless physical prowess to beat their enemies to a pulp. 21-year-old daughter Kiriko is the rough-and-tumble tomboy who loves to spar with her big brothers, make sure that her little sisters are safe and well, and is a complete fighter, thus using her fists and various weapons at her disposal to take down any enemy. 20-year-old triplet daughters Momoko, Makoto, and Mikoto are known for their fleet feet, super strength, and absolute athleticism to the point where they can bruise their opponents to shreds. 19-year-old youngest triplet daughters Maya, Minako, and Meika may be cute and cuddly on the outside, but their fierceness is never to be underestimated. Together, Inuyasha, Ayame, and their children make up one super strong family who can protect their home from all invaders.
Ginta’s and Shunran’s reputation as the most gorgeous couple in Feudal Era Japan far precedes them. Ginta’s cute dimples, dashing personality, infectious hilarity, and adorability compliment Shunran’s feistiness, fun, fabulousness, and positivity so beautifully. Respect, allegiance, kindness, positivity, and unconditional love are the hallmarks of their happy home, thus passing down these attributes to their children. As Ginta is approaching 38 in over a month and Shunran is currently 34, their children consisting of seven sons and seven daughters have grown up to be speedy, steely, crafty, and charming warriors enemies should never dare underestimate. 23-year-old eldest twin sons Minoru and Manabu are charming strongmen whose muscles and lovability make them a truly wonderful duo of young men with a lot of strength and heart. 22-year-old triplet sons Joichiro, Junichiro, and Takeru are just as strong and loving, thus prioritising their family and friends over everybody else. 21-year-old Sentaro has inherited his father’s dimples to the point where he has become quite the noble ladies’ man. 20-year-old Jiraiya is a lovable yet fierce child of nature who implements his strength to protect his family and friends from all harm. 19-year-old triplet daughters Sakura, Sunako, and Setsuko are the elegant illusion creators who can use their powers to calm anybody down or confuse their enemies. 18-year-old triplet daughters Sawako, Sayaka, and Sora are flighty young ladies who love to use their charms to protect nature and ensure that their precious flowers grow up healthily. 17-year-old twin daughters Kokoro and Katsuho are the fun-loving little princesses who are brimming with charisma. Ginta and Shunran have always made it their duty to make sure that their children grow well and healthy, and they certainly did an impeccable job at that.
Kohaku and Rin may be absolutely lovely together, but they have a dignity, nobility, and decorum which could put many lords, ladies, princes, and princesses to shame. Kohaku’s courage, stamina, steely ambition, and willingness to tackle any challenge coming his way mesh superbly with Rin’s compassion, kindness, ability to see the best in everybody, and capability to show unconditional love. In fact, compassion, responsibility, citizenship, respect, and honesty define Kohaku’s and Rin’s sturdy family home. Therefore, they have ensured that their children grow up in grace and dignity for many years to come. Kohaku and Rin are respectively 32 and 29 as of this year. Despite their still young age, they have done a fantastic job in raising their seven sons and seven daughters to be strong, dignified, loving, compassionate warriors. 15-year-old eldest son Rikiya is a gallant, steadfast, noble gentleman who never wants anybody to get hurt, thus using his martial arts skills combined with his strength and skill to defeat any invader. 14-year-old triplet sons Matsuo, Mikio, and Mutsuro are talented martial artists who are a fantastic combination of stealth and strength. 13-year-old triplet sons Eijiro, Eikichi, and Eiriho are dedicated yoga practitioners who know the importance of meditation before tackling any new challenge. 12-year-old daughter Tomoko loves to collect flowers and make crowns out of them while knowing a thing or two about medicine and kicking enemies’ butts when she has to. 11-year-old daughter Kaoruko is the healer of the family whose medical expertise means that she knows what herbs can heal wounds and diseases. 10-year-old twin daughters Kazuko and Kairiko are aspiring poets and bards who love entertaining their family. 9-year-old triplet daughters Mitsuko, Natsuko, and Eriko appreciate the simpler things in life like flower arrangement and poetry to the highest degree, thus being the light of the family. Kohaku’s and Rin’s family life could not get better than this, considering how their children are going to grow as compassionate, loving souls who can be the light of this dreary world.
Inuyasha, Ginta, and Kohaku are more than grateful to have Ayame, Shunran, and Rin in their lives because of how much unconditional love there is in their lives as couples. That unconditional love is additionally passed down to their children who can grow up to be their best possible selves.
I hope you all enjoyed this, and I will see you in the next Inuvember submission. Take care, stay safe, and keep on spreading that InuAya, GinShun, and KohaRin love, everybody.
Inuyasha, Ayame, Ginta, Shunran, Kohaku, and Rin from Inuyasha belong to Rumiko Takahahsi and Sunrise.
My Thoughts on Vincenzo Bellini’s I Capuleti e I Montecchi at the Deutsche Oper Berlin
November 5, 2021 in Uncategorized
How top tier is this concert version of a Bellini cult classic? Let’s find out! Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.
It’s Great to be in that Splendid Seven Family
November 4, 2021 in Blogs, The Splendid Seven
This screenshot motivational poster is highly and utterly Pro-Sesshoumaru, Pro-Inuyasha, Pro-Ayame, Pro-Shuran, Pro-Hakkaku, Pro-Ginta, Pro-Shunran, Pro-SessShuHak in the BroT3 sense, Pro-InuGin in the BroTP sense, Pro-AyaShun in the BroTP sense, Pro-SessAya in the loved pairing sense, Pro-InuAya in the OTP sense, Pro-ShuShun in the strictly BroTP sense, Pro-HakShun in the liked pairing sense, and Pro-GinShun in the OTP sense. Sit back, relax, and let Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Hakkaku, Inuyasha, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran show you what their brand of familial love really is. This is also my entry for this year’s Red Ribbon Reviewers’ submissions as well as this year’s Inuvember.
I will say this once, and I will say this again. When you combine Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha being the strong dog yokai warrior brothers that they are with Hakkaku, Ginta, and Ayame being the courageous wolf yokai warrior siblings they can be and Shuran’s and Shunran’s super tight sibling bond as panther yokai warriors, you get a family who will stick by each others’ sides, never give up on each other, and constantly grow and learn from each other every single time. Their differences are what make Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Ayame, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, and Shunran truly strong, thus forming this unbeatably unbreakable bond. If you want a definition of collective strength, you can definitely consult The Splendid Seven.
Sesshoumaru’s stealth, Inuyasha’s super strength, Ayame’s stamina, Shuran’s brutishness, Hakkaku’s endurance, Ginta’s speed, and Shunran’s flexibility can make their enemies heads’ spin to no end. Moreover, there are even occasions when these amazing yokai warriors can leave more than a gash and a bruise, but they can leave their enemies gashed, bruised, and running all the way home either to the grave or to whence they came from. Stopping these seven yokai warriors is an impossible task because of how they put their skills to phenomenal use as well as the hard work each and every one of them has been committed to. Therefore, there is no copping out and no giving up, for they tackle each and every challenge with a brave face.
Overlooking their amazing battle skills, Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Ayame, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, and Shunran are still family through and through. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha may not always know it, but they are really fortunate to have Ayame stick by their side, give them moral support, and believe in them with all of her heart, Shuran, Hakkaku, and Ginta as their greatest guy friends and bodacious brothers for life who can help them keep their feet planted to the ground as well as see the best in them, and Shunran as their surrogate youngest sister who can remind them that there is more to life than seeking for strength and power. Ayame would always put her trust in Sesshoumaru in an admirable fashion and in Inuyasha in a romantic, genuine, and untainted manner to the point where she feels safe with them, enjoy Shuran’s, Hakkaku’s, and Ginta’s brotherly warmth, and treasure the sisterhood she has with Shunran. Although Shuran is big, brutish, and intimidating on the outside, he is so welcoming, warm, and loving to Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Ayame, Hakkaku, Ginta, and his little sister Shunran to the point where he greets them with huge hugs galore. Hakkaku and Ginta are truly happy to have Sesshoumaru, Shuran, and Inuyasha as their big brothers from other mothers because they can confide in them without shame, while they are just as happy to have Ayame and Shunran as sisters from other misters. Finally, Shunran just loves to bask in the warmth of this family whether she attempts to cheer both Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha up, looks up to Shuran as her big brother for life, finds Hakkaku lovingly hilarious, loves Ginta body and soul, and aspires to be just as strong and courageous as Ayame. Together, Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran have a familial bond that would make even biological families green with envy.
It is one thing to perceive Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Ayame, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, and Shunran as a septet of mighty yokai warriors who can kick all sorts of demon butt and emerge victorious. However, it is another thing to look beyond the guts and glory and see a family bonding together and realise that they have so much more in common than they actually think. Their familial bond will never be broken, for they stand together, make up one big family, and are a strong yokai kin by virtue of their
I hope you all enjoyed this, and I will see you in the next Inuvember submission. Take care, stay safe, and keep on spreading that Splendid Seven family love, everybody.
Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Ayame, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, and Shunran from Inuyasha belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Sunrise.
My Thoughts on Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor from RAI Roma 1990
November 4, 2021 in Uncategorized
One of the finest recordings of Lucia di Lammermoor that certainly made history!
The Strongest Family of Seven
November 3, 2021 in Blogs, The Splendid Seven
This screenshot motivational poster is highly and utterly Pro-Sesshoumaru, Pro-Inuyasha, Pro-Ayame, Pro-Shuran, Pro-Hakkaku, Pro-Ginta, Pro-Shunran, Pro-SessShuHak in the BroT3 sense, Pro-InuGin in the BroTP sense, Pro-AyaShun in the BroTP sense, Pro-SessAya in the loved pairing sense, Pro-InuAya in the OTP sense, Pro-ShuShun in the strictly BroTP sense, Pro-HakShun in the liked pairing sense, and Pro-GinShun in the OTP sense. Sit back, relax, and revel in this mighty yokai family of seven. This is also my entry for this year’s Red Ribbon Reviewers’ submissions as well as this year’s Inuvember.
What happens when you combine two strong dog yokai warrior gentlemen, three wolf yokai warriors with one being a queen among the two princes, and two panther yokai warriors who may be vastly different in size but united by blood? You obtain a super powerful family of seven who may be different but are united in courage, valour, stamina, and perseverance. Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha are truly fortunate to have a brave, beautiful, and potent warrior queen like Ayame, really great guy friends and brothers from other mothers like Shuran, Hakkaku, and Ginta, and a little sister from another mother like Shunran in their lives, thus solidifying an amazing unit that can rival any family, tribe, and/or clan. Overlooking their collectively awesome physical strength, peerless combat prowess, and the heaps of stamina, determination, and endurance they have in battle, these seven yokai warriors have a familial closeness which can keep them together forever and help them grow as individuals as well as a family.
Trust me when I say that Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran as a family, known in my AU head canon as The Splendid Seven, can put The Cosby Show’s Huxtables, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’s Banks, Diff’rent Strokes’ Drummonds, One Day at a Time’s Coopers, Family Matters’ Winslows, and many other television sitcom families to absolute shame. The Huxtables, The Banks, and The Drummonds may be affluent, especially considering that the Huxtables and the Banks are television’s finest examples of Black American excellence, familial closeness, and aspirational role models galore. I am also certain that other television sitcom families have their own brands of closeness and togetherness, for better or for worse. However, anything these families can do, The Splendid Seven could either surpass them or even learn from them and, therefore, be in a class of their own, thus garnering every sitcom family’s approval of respect. Whether it is Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha as brothers accepting Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, Ayame, and Shunran as part of their family, Sesshoumaru being an aloof and tough older brother figure to Shuran and Hakkaku, Inuyasha being the rowdy yet caring older brother figure to Ginta, Ayame being the lovingly supportive older sister figure to Shunran, Sesshoumaru acknowledging Ayame as a strong individual, Shuran and Hakkaku being lovingly encouraging to Shunran, Inuyasha and Ayame loving each other unconditionally, and Ginta and Shunran loving each other in harmony, there is no shadow of a doubt that they can stick together through thick and thin, despite the turbulence and the trials. This unity and interpersonal strength could even be passed down to their children, including Kohaku, Kai, Souta, Rin, Shiori, Kanna, and Shinta, for they aspire to be just as strong, brave, and determined as their seven role models.
I also lovingly compared The Splendid Seven to the likes of the Justice League, the X-Men, and the Avengers, with that comparison continuing to hold up well. Their strength is not only greatly considered, but it is also how wonderfully Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Ayame, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, and Shunran could join forces and find strength in numbers. Sesshoumaru has the stealth and smarts to rival those of Batman’s, Professor X’s, and Ironman’s. Inuyasha’s super strength can make Superman, Beast, and Thor absolutely jealous. Ayame’s brand of stamina and valour are sufficient to make Wonder Woman, Jean Grey, and Captain America salute her. Shuran has the strength and ferocity to make Martian Manhunter, Wolverine, and the Hulk want to compete with him. Hakkaku can be just as determined as The Green Lantern, Gambit, and Hawkeye. Ginta’s speed is a flash of brilliance in The Flash’s, Cyclops’, and Falcon’s eyes. Shunran’s craftiness and vivacity can be laudably praised by Hawkgirl, Rogue, and Black Widow. Therefore, these super yokai are strong both physically and mentally. Nothing can ever stop them dead in their tracks. Whatever the Splendid Seven’s enemies have to offer, they will boot them quickly and easily.
Aside from Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Ayame, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, and Shunran being a super strong family who can stick together while kicking demon butt, one can never forget that these seven yokai were teenagers during the period Inuyasha debuted back in 2000, with Sesshoumaru being 19, Inuyasha being between 17 and 18, Ayame being 15, Shuran being between 18 and 19, Hakkaku being 17, Ginta being between 16 and 17, and Shunran being 13. Therefore, these seven yokai warriors were teenagers who were volatile, unpredictable, yet indubitably headstrong individuals who always know what they want while appropriating what grown-ups do, thus adapting to certain new situations. Even with all the strength, speed, stamina, and endurance Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Ayame, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, and Shunran have, they were young individuals doing their absolute best to survive in a ruthless world. In fact, they could give the casts of A Different World, Felicity, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, My So-Called Life, and Freaks and Geeks a run for their money because of how formidably versatile Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Ayame, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, and Shunran can be. Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Ayame, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, and Shunran would grow from volatile teenagers to independent young adults to fully driven and responsible adults who have shaped their children and grandchildren to be the warriors they ought to be. These days, The Splendid Seven would be full-fledged adults, with Sesshoumaru at 40, Inuyasha approaching 39, Ayame at 36, Shuran at 39, Hakkaku at 38, Ginta approaching 38, and Shunran at 34, thus growing from being impassioned youths to older, wiser adults.
Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Ayame, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, and Shunran may be mighty in their own special ways complete with all the strength to move mountains, but their true strength is in being a familial unit based on valour, courage, and perseverance. Whatever obstacle they face either individually or together, they can always put a brave face on to face each and every one of them.
I hope you all enjoyed this, and I will see you in the next Inuvember submission. Take care, stay safe, and remember that blood is not always thicker than water, but what you make of your family and the people you love is most important, everybody.
Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha, Ayame, Shuran, Hakkaku, Ginta, and Shunran from Inuyasha belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Sunrise.
My Thoughts on Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor Live from the Bayerische Staatsoper 2015
November 3, 2021 in Uncategorized
Diana Damrau and Pavol Breslik lead this stunning cast of Lucia di Lammermoor with finesse and awesomeness! Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.
The Strongest Couples in all of Feudal Era Japan
November 2, 2021 in Blogs
This screenshot motivational poster is dedicated to all of the wonderful Inuyasha x Ayame, Ginta x Shunran, and Kohaku x Rin shippers from all over the world. Sit back, relax, and soak in InuAya’s fortitude, GinShun’s beauty, and KohaRin’s lovability. This is also my entry for this year’s Red Ribbon Reviewers’ submissions as well as this year’s Inuvember.Â
Strength in a loving relationship can come in surprising forms, and my three most eternally beloved Inuyasha OTPs of all time, Inuyasha x Ayame, Ginta x Shunran, and Kohaku x Rin prove just that. As a super proud InuAya, GinShun, and KohaRin partisan, I contend that they are the living definition of being a trio of relentless couples who are not going to permit anybody or anything to break their respective relationships. Even with the varying qualities found in InuAya’s super strength, GinShun’s hearty harmony, and KohaRin’s gentle genuineness, three attributes unite these three couples to truly thrive. Those three attributes are trust, acknowledgment of each others’ strengths and weaknesses, and unconditional love.
Inuyasha and Ayame may be known as the strongest couple in the world by virtue of Inuyasha’s mighty muscles and Ayame’s sturdy stamina, but their sheer physical prowess, which can make any Olympic weightlifter green with envy, is only a part of what makes them truly formidable. Overlooking the fact that Inuyasha has the strength of ten-thousand elephants and Ayame has the stamina of a huge pride of lions, their trust in each other is what makes their relationship function to a high degree. Inuyasha respects Ayame for being a determined, strong-minded, and independent warrior, thus validating her as an individual and encouraging her to never give up. Speaking of encouragement, Ayame always has that in store for Inuyasha because of how his physical strength matches his valour, stamina, and perseverance. She does not care that he is a hanyou and can easily overlook it, for his merit is found in his willingness to never surrender and aim for the higher ground. In fact, Inuyasha’s and Ayame’s motto is to always aim for the higher ground, thus proving their detractors wrong, always fighting the greatest fight of their lives, and consistently being open to new challenges to help them grow as individuals and as a couple.
Ginta and Shunran are strong in terms of their physical flexibility and speed, for nothing is ever going to slow them down. With Ginta’s speed, strength, and stamina pairing up nicely with Shunran’s grace, elegance, and penchant for creating illusions, they prove that they can never be underestimated. Therefore, they may be adorable together, but, should anybody dare disrupt them let alone hurt them, both Ginta and Shunran would strike back with a vengeance that cannot be quelled. What makes Ginta and Shunran truly potent as a couple is how greatly they radiate with positivity. Should a bad day occur, they do not ignore it, but they always find a silver lining beyond that dark cloud. They also help each other lift each others’ spirits whenever they are down. Ginta’s charming hilarity always lifts Shunran’s moods, especially in courtesy of his trademark dimples. Shunran’s feistiness and love for life are the tonics Ginta needs whenever he is stuck in doubt and despair. Therefore, Ginta and Shunran can never go wrong with each other in their respective lives.
Kohaku and Rin have sufficient strength, speed, and stealth to demonstrate that they are never to be underestimated by any stretch of the imagination. Their potential can never be undermined, for they can grow wonderfully as warriors thanks to Kohaku’s strength and stealth as well as Rin’s determination, strong will, and perseverance. Together, they can always help each other grow in beneficial ways that will help them move forward and never backward with a lot of courage and valour. Aside from their skills as vibrantly potent and stealthy warriors, Kohaku and Rin are decorum and classiness incarnate. Kohaku’s gallantry is enough to make enough the bravest of knights, the noblest of cavaliers, and the most dashing of princes absolutely envious of him because of how much of a wonderful suitor he is towards Rin. Rin’s graciousness may always be a treat, but her true strength is in her compassion, kindness, and unconditional love. Her unconditional love can heal any open wound from the inside, and she has definitely done Kohaku a world of good. In turn, Kohaku has made it his solemn vow to never let anything nor anybody hurt Rin. Kohaku’s and Rin’s unconditional love for each other knows no end.
InuAya’s Herculean strength, GinShun’s Mercurian speed, and KohaRin’s Persean courage are the indubitable hallmarks of these three couples and are, therefore, defined by these trademarks. However, these three couples are truly defined by their unconditional love, undying trust in each other, and perseverance to stay potent for each other. Where all these three couples are concerned, there is nobody else in this world they would trust than each other.
I hope you all enjoyed this, and I will see you in the next Inuvember submission. Take care, stay safe, and keep on showing your love for Inuyasha x Ayame, Ginta x Shunran, and Kohaku x Rin, everybody.
Inuyasha, Ayame, Ginta, Shunran, Kohaku, and Rin from Inuyasha belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Sunrise.
My Thoughts on Benjamin Britten’s The Turn of the Screw at the Staatsoper im Schiller Theater
November 2, 2021 in Uncategorized
I take a look at Britten’s chilling horror opera as imagined by Claus Guth. Also, a huge thanks to Ms. Maria Bengtsson who sang the taxing role of the Governess for the free ticket. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.
I Ship Them Hard: The Main Inuyasha OTP Edition
November 1, 2021 in Blogs
This edited screenshot collage is dedicated to all of the wonderful Inuyasha x Ayame, Ginta x Shunran, and Kohaku x Rin shippers from all over the world. Sit back, relax, and soak in InuAya’s fortitude, GinShun’s beauty, and KohaRin’s lovability. This is also my first entry for this year’s Red Ribbon Reviewers’ submissions.
Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, Inuyasha viewers of all ages, happy All Saints’ Day. This is my way of commencing Inuvember by featuring three of my most eternally beloved Inuyasha OTPs that I have been cherishing so much ever since I was a tween and teen. I contend that no other pairing can ever compare to the grandiosity of InuAya, GinShun, and KohaRin because of how much formidable staying power these three couples have. The romantic pairings between a dog hanyou warrior king and a wolf yokai warrior queen, a wolf yokai warrior gentleman and a panther yokai warrior lady, and a human Taijiya cavalier with the potential to grow into a formidable warrior prince and a young human lady who shows promising growth as a future warrior princess are my ideas of paradise and relationships based on unconditional love, respect, allegiance, courage, hope, fortitude, and perseverance. Furthermore, Kohaku and Rin, being the lovable couple they are, are fortunate to be inspired by Inuyasha’s and Ayame’s super strength, formidability, and courage as well as Ginta’s and Shunran’s craftiness, speed, and gregariousness even to the point where Kohaku respects Inuyasha and Ginta as if though they were his surrogate father and surrogate uncle and Rin admires Ayame and Shunran as her mother and aunt. Therefore, I am never ever going to abandon these three awesome power couples.
Inuyasha x Ayame: Super Strength, Fierceness, and Perseverance Indubitably Incarnate
Inuyasha and Ayame are the couple enemies would have to endeavour to run away from because of the fantastic amount of physical damage this dog hanyou warrior king and his wolf yokai warrior queen can do. Inuyasha’s magnificent muscles, Herculean strength, and relentless fierceness plus Ayame’s furious fists, fleet feet, and demanding determination have garnered them a multitude of respect and reverence from the Northern Yoro Tribe and all of their friends and family. Therefore, Inuyasha’s prodigious strength is enough to make elephants, lions, tigers, bears, and gorillas blush with so much envy, and Ayame’s fierce combat prowess can make jaguars, panthers, leopards, eagles, and hawks just as envious because of fantastically she is able to combine strength and speed. Making their enemies quake and flee with fear is only a part of what makes Inuyasha and Ayame super strong and super courageous, for their strength as a couple is also found in their equally fierce loyalty towards each other and the high amount of libido they have when all the curtains and doors are closed. In fact, Inuyasha and Ayame are the most intimate couple to ever grace Japan because of the high amount of mojo is present when they make sweet, spicy, and hot love to each other. Overlooking the fierceness, bravado, and determination, Inuyasha and Ayame truly care for each other, understand each other inside and out, and only want what is best from each other. Both of them do not have to pretend and can see each other for who they really are warts and all. This sense of compassion demonstrates that strength is not always measured in the number of enemies defeated and how many heavy objects Inuyasha and Ayame can lift, but it is measured in how durable Inuyasha’s and Ayame’s relationship is amidst all cruel odds and the many occasions where the world may not always be at their side. Therefore, Inuyasha and Ayame are absolutely inseparable.
Ginta x Shunran: Gracious Gregariousness, Charm, and Gorgeousness Fully Realised
Ginta and Shunran are defined by their willingness to never let anything get them down and are never going to permit pessimism destroy the proverbial house they have built together. Ginta’s chivalry, masculine charm, and lovable hilarity compliment Shunran’s mischievousness, feistiness, and boundless optimism fascinatingly well to the point where they can always see a silver lining amidst the dark clouds, thus making their collective optimism very infectious towards everybody they meet. However, just because Ginta and Shunran are a sweet couple does not mean that they cannot be formidable, as Ginta has sufficient strength, speed, and stamina to overcome any felon and Shunran’s speed and mastery over illusions can make their enemies’ heads spin round and round. Intimacy is a hallmark to Ginta’s and Shunran’s ever loving relationship because this is where they obtain the opportunity to be liberated from any false pretences and let themselves be open towards each other without any filters whatsoever. Their idea of reaching paradise in an intimate manner is making love to each other in a chamber incensed with roses, gardenias, cherry blossoms, and lavenders, for tension has no access to disrupt Ginta’s and Shunran’s boundless intimacy. Unconditional love is just as vital in Ginta’s and Shunran’s ever blossoming relationship because this helps them acknowledge each other as individuals and not what everybody else thinks. They support each other through thick and thin, they encourage each other in positive ways, and they will never abandon each other. Whether Ginta grows as a gallant warrior always their to protect Shunran or Shunran implements her illusions to protect Ginta from all harm, they will never surrender to any form of temptation and will consistently persevere through every trial and tribulation they encounter in their lives.
Kohaku x Rin: Gallant Genuineness, Lovability, and Adorability Completely Defined
Kohaku and Rin are capable of blossoming into maturity as a couple and as individuals because of how much they can understand each other and how much purity their relationship has as they grow in beauty, harmony, strength, perseverance, unconditional love, charisma, respect, and allegiance. They would commence as childhood friends who enjoy each others’ company and would grow into a fine couple whose inseparable relationship can never be questioned. Despite their young age, Kohaku does display sufficient nobility, chivalry, and dignity to ensure that his beloved Rin does not get injured or abandoned just like a real knight defending his lady, while Rin bears a plentiful amount of grace, decorum, and respect which can make any noblewoman or princess green with envy. The possibilities of Kohaku and Rin growing up to be super strong fighters are absolutely endless because of the wonderful role models they have in their lives. Kohaku has Sesshoumaru, Shuran, Inuyasha, Hakkaku, and Ginta helping him reach his peak physical strength and full potential in the endurance department in order to become the formidable warrior he can be as well as demonstrate that he can overcome all of the obstacles by never surrendering. Rin has Ayame and Shunran to aid her into becoming a fighter whose strength is not always measured in muscle but in character and determination. Their enemies may underestimate Kohaku and Rin, but they would prove them wrong with their amazing physical prowess thanks to what they were taught by their role models, with Kohaku using his martial arts skills to give enemies a good bruising and Rin implementing quick reflexes to get the job done. As Kohaku and Rin grow as fighters and as individuals, their romantic relationship will increase in intimacy as well as the possibility of building a strong family with principles based on decorum, respect, and love becoming far more fully realised than ever before. Whatever ill may come Kohaku’s and Rin’s way will never destroy the happy home they have created, thus making them flourish in copious amounts of grace, love, and prosperity.
I have been a loyal Inuyasha x Ayame, Ginta x Shunran, and Kohaku x Rin partisan when I was a child, and I am still so proud to show my everlasting support and love to my three main Inuyasha pairings because of how much they brim with strength, courage, and unconditional love. Their inseparability can never be challenged.
I hope you all enjoyed my first Inuvember entry. I would also love to know if you love all these three couples as well as your experiences with InuAya, GinShun, and KohaRin. Take care, stay safe, have a blessed All Saints’ Day, and keep on showing your love for InuAya, GinShun, and KohaRin, everybody.
Inuyasha, Ayame, Ginta, Shunran, Kohaku, and Rin from Inuyasha belong to Rumiko Takahashi and Sunrise.
My Thoughts on Mord an Mozart at the Staatsoper im Schiller Theater
November 1, 2021 in Uncategorized
One of the finest psychological pieces of musical theater to come alive at the Staatsoper im Schiller Theater especially involving the mythical relationship between Mozart and Salieri. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.
Il dolce suono mi colpi di sua voce
October 31, 2021 in Blogs
LUCIA ASHTON
“Il dolce suono mi colpì di sua voce!…Ah, quella voce m’è qui nel cor discesa! Edgardo, io ti son resa, Edgardo, ah, Edgardo mio! Sì, ti son resa, fuggita io son da’ tuoi nemici. Un gelo mi serpeggia nel sen! Trema ogni fibra!…Vacilla il piè! Presso la fonte meco t’assidi alquanto. Ohimè! Sorge il tremendo fantasma, e ne separa! Ohimè! Ohimè! Edgardo! Edgardo! Ah! Il fantasma ne separa! Qui ricovriamo, Edgardo, a piè dell’ara. Sparsa è di rose!…Un’armonia celeste, di’, non ascolti? Ah! L’inno suona di nozze! Il rito per noi s’appresta!…Oh me felice! Edgardo, Edgardo, oh me felice! Oh, gioia che si sente e non si dice! Ardon gli incensi…splendon le sacre faci, splendon intorno! Ecco il Ministro! Porgimi la destra…Oh, lieto giorno! Alfin son tua, alfin sei mio, a me ti dona un Dio. Ogni piacer più grato, mi fia con te diviso, Del ciel clemente un riso la vita a noi sarà ! Spargi d’amaro pianto il mio terrestre velo, mentre lassù nel cielo io pregherò per te. Al giunger tuo soltanto, fia bello il ciel per me, ah sì, per me.”
– “Il Dolce Suono…Ardon gli Incensi…Spargi d’amaro Pianto” Miss Lucia Ashton from Gaetano Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Libretto by Salvatore Cammarano, based on the Sir Walter Scott’s historical novel The Bride of Lammermoor, first performance on September 26, 1835 at Naples’ Teatro di San Carlo.
English Translation LUCY ASHTON I was stirred by the sweet sound of his voice! Ah, that voice won this heart of mine! Edgardo, I am yours again, Edgardo, ah, my Edgardo! Yes, I am yours again, I escaped from your enemies. An icy shiver creeps in my bosom. Every nerve quivers! My step falters! Sit with me a while near the fountain. Alas! The terrible spectre rises and parts us! Alas! Alas! Edgardo! Edgardo! Ah! The spectre…parts us! Here let us hide, Edgardo, at the foot of the altar. it is strewn with roses! Celestial harmony, do you not hear it? Ah, strains of our wedding-hymn! The ceremony awaits us. Oh, how happy I am! Edgardo, Edgardo, how happy I am! Oh, joy that I feel but cannot express! The incense is burning – the sacred torches are glowing all around! Here is the minister! Give me your hand…Oh, happy day! At last I am yours, at last you are mine, God has given you to me. Every rare pleasure I shall share with you. Life for us will be a gentle smile from heaven. Shed bitter tears on my earthly garment, while in Heaven above I will pray for you. Only when you join me, will Heaven be blissful for me, ah yes, for me.
This piece of Mina fan art, which is my submission for That-RepliQueen-Kyo’s Fantastic Frights Art Contest, is dedicated to TetraModal, petiteantoinette, OperaticAnimeNimue, RCBlazer, NoeltheFireRabbit, KingofSupremeChaos, KessieLou, InuKa-RR-Hijinkessou, senyphine, Rayryan90, xong, Lumazaco, Nikki1975, V0NAX, TheRandomCat88, Smol-Marshmallow, Petunia43, SoDrawnOut, Lizally, Catspirasi, syahilla, marreeps, bubbles213, ChickTristen94, Thescarletsail, rocioam7, Betty-M, AdeHughesArt, YamTheMan, YohLah, Gamerrobloxian1195, TheGentlemanCupcake, Silent-Sid, surrenderdammit, Beshflorin, LevyRasputin, JuPMod, FanasY, Mikireikai, Aiiga, nigrum-ferro, bleedman, li-jean, RosalinasSoulmate, Arcadia714, Yona-Hime, amane-yugi, VioletTrinity, drankspikes, Claret821021, gabzillaz, PhillLord, keijipeiji, MoostarGazer, Bluunachronicles, lucianogiordano, kokamugithu, PinkuNoHato, PookieArt, SithVampireMaster27, GiuAto, Kokistarr, CristianoReina, venntris, ErinPtah, JekyllAndHydeChannel, guardian-angel15, RavenHeartStudios, VanillaBerp123, EyeBeast, adamhatson, SonicClone, LoveEmerald, Cinnamon-Swirls, blameshiori, G-Crepin, PinkHyrulePrincess, Shvestko, Ryoko-368, ilovepoop97, Towers-of-Obscure, Tigerlover1993, CartoonSweeties, zorenaandcoya, peachiphobiax, and RedSmilaSmiles who celebrated their birthdays ranging from several weeks ago all the way up to today. I would also love to dedicate this to my wonderful mother who celebrated her birthday ten days ago and who I continue to be so thankful for her endless support, relentless encouragement, and unconditional love, the very components which have made me the person I am today. Furthermore, this is dedicated to those who are celebrating their birthday today in this Halloween season. Therefore, I hope you all had wonderful birthdays, and I wish you a lot of love, grace, beauty, strength, perseverance, abundance, prosperity, and joy in everything you do in your lives as artists and as people. Happy Halloween, everybody! I am really excited to partake in this art contest because I am completely inspired and compelled to get my creative powers up and running.
Coming in to this art contest, I got myself acquainted with That-RepliQueen-Kyo’s OCs when I stumbled upon Mina. I figured that she would be the perfect model for one of my most favourite Donizetti opera heroines of all time as well as one of my most treasured heroines from Sir Walter Scott’s literary oeuvre, Miss Lucia Ashton known in English as Miss Lucy Ashton. Mina’s hair and overall girlishness compelled me to match it up nicely with Lucia in her famous mad scene. For those of you not in the know of the opera based on Scott’s historical novel, Lucia Ashton, sung by either a lyric coloratura soprano or a dramatic coloratura soprano, is in love with Sir Edgardo Ravenswood, sung by either a lyric tenor or a spinto tenor, and they intend to elope and get married in secret because the Ashtons and the Ravenswoods have been in a long feud against each other due to Edgardo’s father being stripped of his title as lord for supporting King James VII, thus having the Ashton’s purchase the Ravenswood estate. Enrico Ashton, Lucia’s brother sung by a Kavalierbariton, detests Edgardo so much to the point where he wants to destroy his romantic relationship with Lucia by setting her up with the Ashtons’ political ally, Sir Arturo Bucklaw sung by a light lyric tenor, with the family retainer and Calvinist chaplain, Raimondo Bidebent sung by a basso cant ante, being hesitant about the recent developments. The situation comes to a head when Enrico forges a letter stating that Edgardo has found another lover, Raimondo persuades Lucia to forget about Edgardo, Edgardo crashing Lucia’s and Arturo’s wedding to curse her, Enrico and Edgardo arranging for a duel at the Wolf’s Crag, and poor Lucia going insane to the point of murdering Arturo and imagining her supposed marriage to Edgardo before doing herself in.
You will notice that there are sixteen Ghostfaces surrounding Mina as the bloodied Lucia. Despite this anachronism, seeing that Ghostface did not exist until the late 1990s and the entire story of The Bride of Lammermoor being set in 17th century Scotland, I see these bloodied phantoms as a representation of all the ghosts Lucia encountered during her time near the fountain recounting the tale when a young maiden died a forlorn death. They could also function as the chorus remarking how far gone Lucia is in the moment, with the opening lines being Raimondo’s “Eccola!” (Here she comes!) and the chorus remarking “Oh giusto cielo! Par dalla tomba uscita!” (Oh, merciful Heaven! She looks as if she has risen from the grave!). The uncut version of Lucia’s mad scene also witnesses Enrico arriving to see his poor sister in a pitiful state, while she remarks that she could still remember how wrathfully Edgardo cursed her and how she was set up to marry Arturo who she did not even love. Lucia’s mad scene is one of my most favourite coloratura soprano showpieces of all time. Where the original novel sees Lucy mumbling and muttering by the chimney after nearly fatally wounding Sir Francis Bucklaw before escaping his ordeal with her, the opera sees Lucia finally killing Arturo and emerging from the crime scene with an elaborate mad scene before she expires. This operatic moment, in turn, has become one of the most coveted showpieces for many a coloratura soprano. Whether it is a dramatic coloratura soprano like Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland or Cristina Deutekom or a lyric coloratura soprano like Beverly Sills, Roberta Peters or Anna Moffo singing this, listeners and viewers alike can never go wrong with any soprano taking on Lucia thanks to the technical challenges this role has to offer, vocally and theatrically, although, I am more in favour of a lyric coloratura soprano singing Lucia because she is still a young woman in love, and her coloratura work illustrates her enamoured nature in the first act and her crippling young mind in her mad scene. I do have some favourite sopranos singing Lucia’s mad scene, and, believe me, I have a ton. However, I shall limit myself to fourteen favourite exponents because I can. For your listening pleasure, here are Mercedes Capsir, Lina Pagliughi, Karola Agay, Beverly Sills, Evgeniya Miroshnichenko, Anna Moffo, Bela Rudenko, Margherita Rinaldi, Silvia Voinea, Mariella Devia, Luba Orgonasova, Annick Massis, Youngok Shin, and Klara Kolonits. Out of all these sopranos, Devia and Kolonits are the only ones singing in the original higher key of F, as the key of E-flat is the usually performed version, with the other higher key of E being just as performed. Additionally worth mentioning is the implementation of the glass harmonica as done in the original version of Lucia’s mad scene. This usually ends up being replaced by a flute. I contend that the glass harmonica heightens the insanity Lucia is in as well as the haunting atmosphere of the overall scene. I additionally contend that Lucia’s mad scene as well as the other usually transposed numbers should be performed in their original higher keys because this will help us opera listeners become more sensitised with how these arias, duets, and ensembles were performed. I hope you enjoy this selection of coloratura sopranos singing Lucia’s mad scene commencing with Il dolce suono and culminating in Spargi d’amaro pianto.
Mercedes Capsir Il dolce suono…Ardon gli incensi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBF4nkpdJ50 Spargi d’amaro pianto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaZ3HiQtg6w
Lina Pagliughi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3ixeR10Zes
Karola Agay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYskSEwbyrM
Beverly Sills (with the glass harmonica) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFxT5gimKjc
Evgeniya Miroshnichenko https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJoOYNL5bcs Anna Moffo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7PPtC5_e6s
Bela Rudenko https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQxrWwGjwJ8
Margherita Rinaldi https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPEJZvX8aCI
Silvia Voinea Il dolce suono: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZvZMIdjpPg Ardon gli incensi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL7CDT8AFPU Spargi d’amaro pianto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hiXKuIMbY0
Mariella Devia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF6SbG-8-G8
Luba Orgonasova https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6v8Ck_XwaM
Annick Massis Il dolce suono: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9sB8sRKTAY Alfin son tua: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L0mzGDRoZY Spargi d’amaro pianto: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acq73D5HVU8 Youngok Shin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0upd2gAz4s
Klara Kolonits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZpUMDTIaM8
I hope you all enjoyed this, and please let me know which performance of Lucia’s Mad Scene you love the most and which one you think accompanies this picture the best. Take care, stay safe, and have a very Happy Halloween complete with all the ghosts Lucia has in store for you, everybody. Mina belongs to That-RepliQueen-Kyo.
My Thoughts on Frank Martin’s Le Vin Erbé at the Staatsoper im Schiller Theater
October 31, 2021 in Uncategorized
I take a look at an obscure 30’s to 40’s French opera starring the magnificent and ever angelic Anna Prohaska. And this is also a chamber opera that needs to be recognized a lot more. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.
