The Christmas Candle is a 2013 Christmas drama film directed by John Stephenson.
It is based on Max Lucado’s novel The Christmas Candle.
The film is an Impact and Big Book Media production presented by Pinewood Pictures and distributed by Rick Santorum’s film production company EchoLight Studios in the US and by Pinewood Pictures in the UK.
It is Susan Boyle’s debut on the big screen.
Boyle also contributes an original song to the film, “Miracle Hymn”.
It was shot in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and in the Isle of Man.
Locations included Stanway House, Tudor House in the Worcestershire village of Broadway, and the Wiltshire village of Biddestone, including the White Horse pub.
Studio work was completed on the Isle of Man in the Mountain View Media Village studios in Lezayre.
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【Himiko’s Monologue】
“Madame Butterfly” is an opera in three acts (originally two acts) by Giacomo Puccini, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa.
Puccini based his opera in part on the short story “Madame Butterfly” (1898) by John Luther Long, which was dramatized by David Belasco.
Puccini also based it on the novel Madame Chrysanthème (1887) by Pierre Loti.
According to one scholar, the opera was based on events that actually occurred in Nagasaki in the early 1890s.
The original version of the opera, in two acts, had its premiere on February 17, 1904, at La Scala in Milan.
It was very poorly received despite the presence of such notable singers as soprano Rosina Storchio, tenor Giovanni Zenatello and baritone Giuseppe De Luca in the lead roles.
This was due in large part to the late completion and inadequate time for rehearsals.
Puccini revised the opera, splitting the second act into two acts and making other changes.
On May 28, 1904, this version was performed in Brescia and was a huge success.
Between 1915 and 1920, Japan’s best-known opera singer Tamaki Miura won international fame for her performances as Cio-Cio San.
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Her statue, along with that of Puccini, can be found in the Glover Garden in Nagasaki, the city where the opera is set.
In any case, I’d like to meet my “Romeo”—a decent man in my future life.
How come I’m always a loner?
I wish I could meet a nice gentleman at the library in my town as Diane met Kato.
Well, they say, there is a way where there is a will.
I hope Kato will write another interesting article.
So please come back to see me.
The Royal Opera House, often referred to as simply “Covent Garden”, was constructed as the “Theatre Royal” in 1732 to a design by Edward Shepherd.
During the first hundred years or so of its history, the theatre was primarily a playhouse, with the Letters Patent granted by Charles II giving Covent Garden and Theatre Royal, Drury Lane exclusive rights to present spoken drama in London.
In 1734, the first ballet was presented.
A year later Handel’s first season of operas began.
Many of his operas and oratorios were specifically written for Covent Garden and had their premières here.
It has been the home of The Royal Opera since 1945, and the Royal Ballet since 1946.
The current building is the third theatre on the site following destructive fires in 1808 and 1857.
The façade, foyer and auditorium were designed by Edward Barry, and date from 1858, but almost every other element of the present complex dates from an extensive £178 million reconstruction in the 1990s.
The Royal Opera House seats 2,268 people and consists of four tiers of boxes and balconies and the amphitheatre gallery.
When you have a chance to stay in London, why don’t you visit the opera house?
ミッドウェイ海戦というのは、日本海軍が徹底的に敗北した戦闘なのやがなァ~。。。航空母艦4船を沈められて、このあと日本軍は敗戦に向けて悲惨な戦闘を繰り広げてゆく。。。つまり、アメリカが作ったこの映画は、戦いに勝ったことを謳歌する勇ましい軍歌がバックグラウンドミュージックとして流れても不思議ではないのに、敢(あ)えて《All or Nothing at all》という曲が流れる。。。この曲は、休暇中に海軍将校のベスト大尉が妻とダンスを踊る場面で演奏される他にも、映画が終わってクレジットがロールアップされる最後にも演奏される。。。
All or nothing at all
Half love never appealled to me
If your heart never could yield to me
Then I’d rather have nothing at all
All or nothing at all
If it’s love there is no in between
Why begin, then cry for something that might have been
No, I rather have nothing at all
But, please, don’t bring your lips so close to my cheek
Don’t smile or I’ll be lost beyond recall
The kiss in your eyes, the touch of your hand makes me weak
And my heart may grow dizzy and fall
And if I fell under the spell of your call
I would be caught in the undertow
So, you see, I’ve got to say
No, no
All or nothing at all
休暇中のベスト海軍大尉と妻が、クラブで《All or Nothing at all》に合わせて踊ったあとで、夫婦は家に帰ってゆく。。。また戦場に戻るベスト海軍大尉は娘が眠っている部屋に入って、もしかすると二度と戻ってこられないかもしれないという気持ちで娘の寝顔をしみじみと瞼(まぶた)に焼き付けるのやァ。。。その姿を妻が見守る。。。こういうシーンが出てくるねん。。。
All or nothing at all
Half love never appealled to me
If your heart never could yield to me
Then I’d rather have nothing at all
All or nothing at all
If it’s love there is no in between
Why begin, then cry for something that might have been
No, I rather have nothing at all
But, please, don’t bring your lips so close to my cheek
Don’t smile or I’ll be lost beyond recall
The kiss in your eyes, the touch of your hand makes me weak
And my heart may grow dizzy and fall
And if I fell under the spell of your call
I would be caught in the undertow
So, you see, I’ve got to say
No, no
All or nothing at all