Ex. Vlll, p. 271

P. 264

Ex. XIII, p. 260

1. The Marriage of Figaro caused a sensation in Prague. Everybody desired to meet Herr Mozart. Count Thun who prided himself on his musical taste, said to Wolfgang, "It is the most remarkable thing that has happened in Prague since I arrived here." He welcomed the Mozarts warmly and gave them rooms in his palace. There was much space and comfort in their apartment and they wanted to rest and enjoy it, but their host had many plans for his honored guests.

2. At the ball that evening Wolfgang was the centre of attention. Applause greeted his entrance.'Many beautiful young \vomen desired to dance with the celebrated composer. Everybody talked] of nothing but Figaro. Nothing else was of interest. Count Thun introduced him to Signer Bondini, the impresario of the National Theatre of Prague who had produced Figaro. Bondini cried out, "There is no opera in the world like Figaro, Herr Mozart! It has saved our theatre. And it was composed by a German, too. Fantastic!" Wolfgang bowed. He was pleased, but a little amused by his words.

3. Wherever Wolfgang went in Prague, people spoke only about Figaro. Nothing was performed, sung or whistled but tunes from his opera. He learned that Figaro had run through the winter without interruption, and had rescued the National Theatre from ruin.

One day Wolfgang sat in a city park and listened to a blind harpist playingmel-odies from Figaro. When he gave the wandering harp player a gulden, he was told, "It is too much. The beggar won't aprreciate your generosity." But Wolfgang smiled bitterly to himself: he knew only too well what it meant to be underpaid. Figaro's success had not brought him one kreutzer so far.

ВЕНЕЦИАНСКИЙ КУПЕЦ

В. Шекспир

Тот, у кого нет музыки в душе, Кого не тронут сладкие созвучья, Способен на грабеж, измену, хитрость; Темны, как ночь, души его движения..................................................... Не верь такому, -

(Перевод Т. А. Щепкиной-Куперник)

Unit Thirteen

1. The Pushkin Fine Arts Museum has extensive conbcts and exchange programmes with the largest museums in th. USA and Great Britain - the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery, etc. 2. Are you sure it is a Rembrandt? - Yes, I am. It is not the original, but a copy. The original is in the Hermitage. 3. Mozart's opera Don Giovanni was staged (performed) for the first time at the National

Theatre of Prague. 4. If you chance to come (if you should come) to Leningrad, you must certainly go to the Russian Museum. 5. Where is this film showing? - At the "Progress", I believe. 6. While Wolfgang put (was putting) down the overture, Constanze told him funny stories to keep him awake. 7. Da Ponte was interested mainly in the plot, while (whereas) Mozart stressed the characters and their emotions. 8. He didn't say a word while the orchestra played (was playing) melodies from his new opera. 9. While Auguste saarched (was searching) for an empty canvas, someone stole his box of paints. 10. While the boy was washing (washed) his hands, his sister laid (set) the table.

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