Fritillaria-2008

[Jim McKenney]

The gender of soprano...
My friends and I have often had serious discussions about this at the opera: does one properly bellow bravo or brava for the soprano?  Four of us got into a heated discussion about this recently. One of our party was of the opinion that gentlemen don't show their appreciation of the performance by bellowing at the performer. Another of our party, of Latin ancestry, assured us that the custom in the countries where the music we had just heard had been composed was indeed to display one's enthusiasm vociferously. A third member of our party was uncertain about just what to bellow: bravo or brava? Most of the audience seemed to be shouting bravo! when Tosca took her bows. Our Latin friend sniffed at this and revved up the volume on his calls of brava!
I said nothing at the time, but over after theater drinks I pointed out that the word soprano is masculine in gender: it's just as in botanical nomenclature where an adjectival specific epithet must agree in gender with its genus, so bravo! it is from me.    

By the way, an old tradition is for the role of Gabriel and the role of Eve to be sung by the same person. It's formidable music: not the stuff for a boy soprano (although ideal for a castrato, although I don't think that was the practice for this piece).

[Boyed]

Gerry,

I haven't done a special treatment to  fr. hermonis ssp. amana. I just planted it in leafy soil in a big pot. It is from a very large bulb.

[Maggi Young]

More off topic, sorry.... was Haydn not writing at the time of the greatest fame of the castrati?

[Gerry Webster]

In the first performance of 'The Creation' (1798) the part of Gabriel (& Eve) was sung by the soprano Christine Gerardi. So it seems angels can be female.

[ranunculus]

Perhaps we could re-enact a performance at the SRGC weekend?  Now....down to the casting...?
Suggestions please to Maggi....

[Paul T]

Luc,

The F. michailovskyi mightn't be anything special to you, but it certainly is to me.  Beautiful flower, and beautiful picture.  Mine went to the great garden in the sky years ago and I've never replaced it.  I really must do so one of these years, as I've commented before when someone else said it was nothing special.  I think it is a stunning Frit..... and I'm jealous as anything of you who are flowering it!! 

[Diane Clement]

More off topic, sorry.... was Haydn not writing at the time of the greatest fame of the castrati

Perhaps we could re-enact a performance at the SRGC weekend?  Now....down to the casting...?
Suggestions please to Maggi....

 

Are you volunteering Cliff?  Who's bringing the knife??    

[ranunculus]

What a cutting comment Diane!

Can't see to type....my eyes are watering so much.......

[Lesley Cox]

Would love to chime in there but nothing springs to mind right now.

Paul, I have some seed still of F. michailovskyi if you'd like to try it. Usually flowers in 3-4 years.

[Michael J Campbell]

A few Frits today. Feel free to correct names as they are all from seed.
Fritillaria lusitanica.?
Fritillaria sibthorpiana.?
fritillaris involucrata ?

[hadacekf]

Here are some shots of Fritillaria hermonis in meadow and bulb bed.

[Gerry Webster]

A few Frits today. Feel free to correct names as they are all from seed.

Michael - I think frits can be quite difficult to identify from photos (& in the flesh) & I would hesitate to make definite pronouncements. However, F.sibthorpiana  usually has yellow flowers. Your plant looks more like F.acmopetala in terms of flower shape though F.acmopetala usually has a variety of brown markings on the tepals. Your F. involucrata seems to have the whorl of three bracts above the flower which is characteristic of this species  - but also of some other species. We really need to see the nectaries. As far as I can judge from a photo, your F.lusitanica looks as though it might be correct.

[Tony Willis]

A picture of frit kotschyanus i got from Dieter Zschummel.The seed came from Kiev Botanic garden.

Also frit meleagris which is growing in the garden.

[art600]

It is purely coincidence Tony that I should post this picture of a Fritillaria meleagris in the garden today.  I have never seen 3 flowers on a single stem before this - and they are big.

In the greenhouse is Frit epirotica and Frit gussichae?

[Lesley Cox]

Have to agree with Gerry re F. sibthorpiana. Yellow and relatively small.

Why did I think (assume?) F. epirotica is yellow or yellowish green?