Opera in Mercato Sant'Ambrogio Florence

This post isn't about photography but about my other love, Italy! I spent the last week in Italy and the minute I crossed over the border something magic happened, as it always does for me. I know mother Italy isn't perfect and prim as mother France but oh she is so full of fun and emotion. I go from the invisible to the visible and I love it. I adore the daily conversations exchanged with strangers that happen in cafes, bars, train stations and the local latteria.

I want to share this video with you because it says everything about the Italy I love, not the one ruled by Berlusconi. The Italy of culture and sense of humour, the Italy of spirit and emotion and the Italy of surprise. This opera was performed in my former local market, Sant Ambrogio. Amongst the legs of prosciutto and slabs of parmeggiano, these talented performers created an opera with a difference. Bravo, bravo and Bravo. I hope you enjoy the video. Carla

The Art on Their Sleeves: Vintage 45s

I’m just crazy about these Czechoslovakian 45 record sleeves. These first four, by Opus, manage to be fresh and mod, but also sophisticated in use of color and restraint of design. I particularly like them as a set.


The Opus set, along with the next six sleeves, are from a site devoted the musical career of Slovakian singer Tatiana Hubinska (1944-1999). She was popular during the 1960s and 70s was best know for the Slovak version of ‘Puppet on a String,’ and for her hits ‘Casanova’ and ‘Halo Baby, Halo Boy.’



Halo baby, haló boy (1965)
Puppet on a String (Ako malý psík,1967)

Curious to see what else was out there in foreign 45 record sleeves, I quickly came to a site called Record Envelope: The Little Library of Factory Sleeves. It is maintained by illustrator Kavel Rafferty, and folks from all over the world send her sleeves. She has them nicely categorized by music type, visual motif, etc. Plus there are a ton on flickr. Here is a tiny selection from other countries …

Poland

Sweden

Germany
Belgium
Britain
Netherlands