I do not object to logic and I do know the Havanese song from dat lil ole bizett opera on transportation themes, "Car Men". In fact I'm singing the havanera in frentch as I write. But even uneducated cigar-rowin'-oars know it's "prends garde deux trois," n'est-ce pas?

Jansy, je ne comprends pas tes petites railleries, ni celles de notre Scouse. A propos -- la havanera la plus seductive et la plus "gypsy" que j'ai jamais écouté est celle de Meliza Korjus*, qui la chante en Russe!! Elle habitait a Hollywood et je l'ai vue il y a beaucoup d'années dans un petit théatre ou l'on peut voir de temps en temps son film "The Great Waltz." Elle était petite vielle en petit cap de crochet.

For opera lovers on the list, I recommend not only the Miliza Korjus Habanera in russian, but also her "Der hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen", which has never, at least in my lifetime, been equalled (Lebendige Vergangenheit, LV 72). The latter is available for 99¢ at the itunes store. Some of the gorgeous songs from The Great Waltz are available on You Tube, too.

Carmenolyn

* "Rhymes with gorgeous," her husband used to say.

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