Ending music also used in pilot episode. Why?

[FlyOnMelfisWall]

The music accompanying the wonderful dinner scene that concluded this ep was also played at a key moment in the pilot episode, specifically in the flashback to his first panic attack. As I'm sure everyone recalls, he's smiling and happy watching the ducks play in his pool while he's grilling meat for his son's birthday party. Then the ducks all of a sudden fly away, he looks panicky, then passes out.

I'm wondering if we are supposed to draw some parallel or other insight from the dual use of the music in this way? I keep thinking Chase is way too detail conscious and deliberate to use the same music coincidentally or without purpose.

The only parallel that immediately jumps out at me is that he was surrounded by members of his family at the Vesuvio dinner table, his blood family, as he was back on that day. Most significantly, he was seated next to Carmela. His prolonged look at her seemed clearly to me one of great affection, proceeding from some momentary appreciation for the sacrifices to her own dignity that she's had to make as his wife.

Is Carmela really "the" duck? After Melfi prompted him, he revealed in the pilot that he was "filled with dread" about losing his "family", yet he couldn't articulate how or move it beyond a vague sense of doom. Now in hindsight, you can say that he never "lost" his children when his marriage ended because Meadow had already left the home as a young adult and still sees him probably as often as she ever did. And AJ clearly went with Tony emotionally out of that house and eventually followed him physically. The only family member he really lost was Carm.

Is that the simple answer? That what he inarticulably, vaguely feared in episode one was the end to his marriage?

BTW, the music is an aria from the Puccini opera La Rondine called "Chi Il Bel Sogno di Doretta". The English translation is typically romantic fare, which I offer for what it's worth:

Who could guess the beautiful dream Doretta had?
Why her mystery came to an end

One day a student kissed her on the mouth
And that kiss was the revelation
It was the passion!
Mad love!
Mad happiness!
Who will ever be able again
To describe the light caress
Of a kiss so burning?

Oh! My dream!

Oh! My life!

Who cares for wealth
If at last happiness comes!
Oh golden dream
To be able to love in this way!



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[zerokarma]

Is it just me or has there been a poor selection of music this year so far?

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[mrmuddywaters]

I think the use of the same music in those two scenes had to be deliberate. Maybe the idea is that when Tony, in that first scene, is cooking on the grill and sees the ducks, he feels whole and one with the world. He has most of the people he loves surrounding him. Flash forward to the dinner at the end of the last episode, and now Tony again has most of the people he loves in the world surrounding him. But now the ducks have flown away. Now the scene is forced. You know that Carmela doesn't want to be there. You know that Christopher and Adriana don't want to be there. You know that AJ doesn't want to be there. You know that Meadow doesn't want to be there.

The only person who really wants to be at that dinner at the end of the last episode, is Tony. The premonition he had in the first episode, when he saw the ducks fly away, has happened. His family has left him, they've flown away, emotionally if not physically, and he can't change that by physically forcing them to all be in the same room with him. It was a very sad, moving scene and indicative of the idea that this series is basically a Shakespearian Tragedy.



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[ObservingEgo]

My god, this piece is moving...so beautiful. I have no doubt that its placement in the pilot and in this episode is significant in Chase's design. Do you know the broader story of this opera? I do not completely understand the translation of the aria. But, I am picking up on the theme of the power as well as evanescent quality of love. Did Doretta's love ignite with a student's kiss, only to be extinguished by the end of a dream? The fleetingness and fragility of love sadly permeates our own contemporary yet classic tragedy.

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[SofiaGiovanna]

It is a late Puccini opera, the only later one with any fame is Turandot (which gave us Nessun Dorma). It is awfully romantic.

It's about a courtesan who gives up her lifestyle and pretends to be poor in order to live a working class life with her lover...and they're happy but poor...and of course the opera ends in tragedy.

I *hope*--I don't know this, but I *hope* it's there to reflect what's in Tony's head...maybe that wealth can only go so far? That the only real permanence is love? That love is the real wealth in life?

Or maybe it's there because it's just a drop dead gorgeous aria. Puccini rules.



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[Soda drink]

Cool! I don't think its a coincidence that the music goes hand-to-hand with what's going on in the series. The lyrics, I hope, is an indication that just maybe Tony not only wants but WILL change into a much "better" person. But that's going to take a miracle.

Tony Soprano is simply one of the greatest onscreen characters I ever had the pleasure of watching. He is so complex yet rooted in reality that I only wish the best for him despite all the stupid sh-t (snorting coke) he does.

It's a stretch that Carmella would accept him back after all he's done but knowing that she's the best thing he's ever had in his entire life, I kind of wish they get back together.

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[ObservingEgo]

Okay...I have leaned that in Puccini's personal life, it was alleged that he had had an affair with a family servant. (However, she was apparently absolved from involvement per post-death investigation.) It was further suggested that the destruction, scandal, bereavement of this alleged affair eventuated in this girl's suicide. Historically, it is related that this scandal/sorrow/loss/destruction deeply disturbed Puccini, triggering his own bout with melancholia (clinical depression). He stopped composing for years. His first piece, after resuming work was La Rondine. So...oh yes...the symbolic relationship offered to us in the form of the La Rondine aria/historical Puccini data becomes more decipherable....and sadly more prophetic: Adriana's end, as well as a possible catastrophic existential crisis for T.

</p>Edited by: <A HREF=http://pub132.ezboard.com/bsopranolandforum.showUserPublicProfile?gid=observ ingego>ObservingEgo</A> at: 4/7/04 12:17 pm

[janicezany]

<blockquote>Quote:<hr>BTW, the music is an aria from the Puccini opera La Rondine called "Chi Il Bel Sogno di Doretta". The English translation is typically romantic fare, which I offer for what it's worth:<hr></blockquote>

[Snip]

Rondine means swallow (duck?) in English and the libretto of the opera apparently carries this foreword, which seems to hint of a bit more related symbolism to Tony's emotional state in the scene:

?Perhaps like a swallow,
you will migrate towards the sea,
towards a bright land of dreams?
"Child, love is in bloom!
Take care, take care of your heart!
Kisses and laughter must be paid for with teardrops!


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[SofiaGiovanna]

Another excellent post, thanks Janice! This thread is excellent...music has always played such a huge role in the series.

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[Cugine23]

The comment made by Adrianna struck me. Tony's biggest fear, as originally symobilized by the ducks, is losing his family. Since season four this is becoming more and more a reality for Tony. He and Carmella are split, Meadow is out of the picture a great deal of the time, and AJ is becoming more and more hard-headed. When Adrianna made the comment "Tony had ducks once" it hit me that the duck symbolism is (has been) developing a great deal the last 6 episodes. His family was once close, put together, and under his control. Now they are moving away from him and out from under his power and influence, much as the ducks did. His biggest fear is being realized and he is spinning out of control because of it.

Thoughts?

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