tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630356600537382212.post1915626579042555018..comments2024-03-26T04:25:27.186-07:00Comments on Seattle Opera Blog: New Scholarship Revises MAGIC FLUTE LibrettoSeattle Operahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04003665787231048819noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630356600537382212.post-79596365054029748112011-05-02T17:05:22.784-07:002011-05-02T17:05:22.784-07:00As author of Seattle Opera's English captions,...As author of Seattle Opera's English captions, I'm not sure what you're after when you ask for titles that "match the libretto." Any phrase in any language can be translated dozens of ways into a target language. Writing English captions mixes the job of translator and interpreter. Yes, like a translator we work with a fixed text; but, like an interpreter, my goal is to facilitate communication between people, in this case performers and audience--thus the comic and/or dramatic effect of any phrase is taken into consideration. <br /><br />For instance, at last night's rehearsal we discussed Papageno's line in the Act 1 Quintet, "Daß doch der Prinz beim Teufel wäre!" Which is the best way to title this line?<br />a) Literally: "If only the prince were with the devil!"<br />b) Maintaining cognates: "The devil take the prince!"<br />c) Idiomatically: "The prince can go to hell!" <br /><br />Given that you must read while listening to music and watching stage action, which approach is best? Which is closest to what Papageno would say, in your imagination?<br /><br />Jonathan Dean<br />Seattle OperaJonathan Deanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11655629660579464336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630356600537382212.post-70779400472851467462011-05-02T14:54:56.110-07:002011-05-02T14:54:56.110-07:00I hope the English captions match the libretto bet...I hope the English captions match the libretto better in this production. Usually the English supertitles are changed for a more comedic or dramatic effect.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com