蜜芽传媒

Hi Graciela

Your topic is very interesting. It鈥檚 a pity that as a non-native speaker I can鈥檛 read Shakespeare in the original. For me it鈥檚 an arduous task to cope with poetry. Fortunately we have good translations Shakespearian drama into Russian.
I鈥檝e watched good screen versions shot in Russia as 鈥淗amlet鈥�, Othello鈥�, 鈥淎ntony and Cleopatra鈥�, 鈥淭he Taming of the Shrew鈥�. My experience at theatre wasn鈥檛 lucky. I was very young and maybe wasn鈥檛 ready to conceive a long serious drama.
As I鈥檓 a musician opera and ballet are very important for me. I mean 鈥淥thello鈥� by Verdi and 鈥淩omeo and Juliet鈥� by Prokofiev. The premiere of the ballet was in 1940. Its screen version appeared in 1955. Owing to a musical genius of Prokofiev and a brilliant ballerina Ulanova it鈥檚 an unforgettable phenomenon in Russian culture. Undoubtedly Shakespeare belongs to the whole world!
Best wishes
Tatiana

Hi, Graciela: Lucky you with the celebrations to come next days! I麓m very keen on Shakespeare麓s work. I麓ve read and seen several of his plays and watched several films based on them. I remember specially the "Hamlet" directed by Kenneth Branagh. I think the Bard belongs to Humanity and it麓s an universal treassure and you can be very proud of that. All the human feelings and passions, the fight for power and possesions, treachery, everything is expressed in his stories in a way that makes them timeless, eternal. Here in Buenos Aires we always have plays and films in exhibition, Shakespeare麓spirit is always in season.
The best for you!
Beatriz.

Hi, Graciela,

Nice to meet you again, or I should say nice to read your post again. I'm totally agree with you that about life-long learning. Sometimes, it comes weak and powerless. Especially, when you get no achievement after you striving a lot on studying. So, how do I encourage myself in my long term learning. That's to apply English qualify examinations to test my English level. Also, it's to get interact with people, as such talking with foreigners or joining activities with expats. The other, if you do love something, you only want to fall in love with that. You don't even think to get a result or a payback because you only want to enjoy it. You don't count on it.

As a non-native speaker, it's difficult for me to read the original Shakespeare's works. But I've read his sonnets with simplifying explanations. I could feel the power of his English with deep meaning behind.

I think there must be more about Shakespeare information coming in 蜜芽传媒. Look forward to reading more about it. Graciela, Thank you for kicking it off.

Blessings,
Sai-fung (Hong Kong)

hello, Graciela.
It' s my first time comment on 蜜芽传媒. as a non-native speaker, The capality of my writting is not good.

In my opioin, Shakespeare's work is ver classic and great. His work plays very important role in the hisroty of literature in UK. Frankly. I haven't read his work in original. just done a part of chinese version. Romeo and Juliet's love story touch every reader'heart. The hero and heroine death shows the great power of love. meanwhile, death does not end their love. By the way, there is some simliar tardegy love sotry, one of most famous story is The Butterfly Lovers. It's interesting that Korea, Japan, Europe other west countries regards the "Butterfly Lovers" as eastern "Romeo and Juliet".

your article make me to be keen on shakespeare's works. As the improvement of my english. I will read the original Romeo and juliet as soon as i can.

looking forward to more report about shakespear from 蜜芽传媒

Best regrards
Ronnnie( china)

Hi Graciela,

It's nice to see you again. Hope you're doing great.

I have not read much about Shakespeare, I did not have the opportunity to read him. You know, I have been a student of science, and Newton or Einstein are more familiar to me than Shakespeare. Sometime I wish, if I had read him much, how well my English would have been! I guess he's one of the most frequently quoted writer of all times.

@ Tatiana - I am amazed to learn that you're a musician. Do you play any particular instrument? Once I started to learn guitar, I played it for a year or so. However, I was frustrated by my failure in doing significant progress in it. Then my work kept me moving here and there and I had to leave my guitar at home. But I still have the regret that I could not learn it well when I had enough time.

Best Wishes,
Rajeeb

@Hi Rajeeb

I play the piano. I鈥檓 a piano teacher at school. From time to time I take part in concerts playing solo. I wish it happened more often but teaching absorbs all my time. But as accompanist I play frequently and I love it.
You know studying English has made me revise my view on teaching children. I was a very strict teacher demanding from pupils to be completely devoted to their study even they were not very gifted. Because only if you鈥檙e hard-working you can play well. And I always recollected my own experience as a pupil. Since I had an aptitude for music schooling was not a nuisance or great difficulty for me. But now when I鈥檓 a student again (I attend an English class once a week) I began to understand my pupils better. Struggling with difficulties myself I鈥檓 more sympathetic about children鈥檚 problems.
It鈥檚 great that you played the guitar. I think that you shouldn鈥檛 be so worried about failure. To my mind the pleasure of process is a main thing if you鈥檙e not going to be a professional musician. And it鈥檚 never too late to resume your lessons. Maybe sometime you鈥檒l have enough time for it.

The best for you!
Tatiana

@ Tatiana,

Hi !! Hope you're doing well. Thank you for your kind mail. You're right, the process of learning is more engaging and joyous compared to doing nothing and sitting idle. I wish I could take up my guitar learning very soon.

It's good to know that you have turned to a softer teacher now, after going through the English learning classes that you're taking once a week. Seems, it has opened your eyes! By the way, your English is way too good and my amateur eyes could not find a single flaw in your entire reply.

I wish you happiness and success in your life and wish someday I might be able to listen to one of your solo concert. I forgot to ask; where are you from? Your name suggests me, you might be somewhere from the former Soviet Union, right? I had great exposure to Soviet literature in my childhood. I had read extensively the works of Maxim Gorky, Leo Tolstoy, Pushkin etc. translated in to my language by Raduga Publication in Russia who used to translate the famous Russian literature in many languages and the prices were kept so cheap that being a student of school, I could afford to buy those big hard bound books made of the finest paper from the tiny savings of my pocket money at that time. Later, sadly after the break down of USSR, that publication house was also shut down and the door for learning Russian literature got almost closed for many like me. That's how your name sounded familiar to me!

Best Wishes,
Rajeeb

Dear Graciela

It was a great pleasure for me to read your blog about Shakespeare.
To be honest learning Shakespeare is a compulsory subject in our grammar schools, but I didn鈥檛 have time to study his work more deeply in the last decades.
But reading other writings of English literature I often bump into him when others refer to his works.
I hope one day I will be familiar with reading his writings and beyond knowing of his teaching I will be able to enjoy the perfect way of his English.

Have a nice day for all of you who follow this useful blog.

Krisztina from Hungary

@Hi Rajeeb,

Thank you for your warm greetings and praising my English. Obviously I have a lot of problems with it. E.g. it seems that I鈥檒l be struggling with articles for ever in spite of the clear explanation of our teachers here in 蜜芽传媒 LE and my lessons at home. But I鈥檓 not going to give it up. I like studying.
You鈥檙e right I鈥檓 from Russia. I was pleased to learn that you鈥檙e acquainted with Russian literature. Yes, Tatiana is one of the main heroines of Pushkin. That is why my name is familiar to you. As for me I haven鈥檛 read Indian literature yet. Several years ago I bought 鈥淏hagavad Gita鈥� but I still wait when I鈥檒l summon up my courage to read it because I know it鈥檒l take much attention and time. Anyway I hope that some day I鈥檒l visit India so I want to be well prepared for a visit.
Look where we drifted from Shakespeare! ;-)

Kind regards from Russia
Tatiana

Hi Graciela,
So there's the World Shakespeare Festival coming up! My husband and I are going to visit London in mid-May and were a little surprised to find a Shakespeare play in Georgian(!) language scheduled at the Globe Theatre. But we'll have to take a look at the Globe anyway.

Shakespeare is hugely popular in my country, and he is definitely so with me. I've read some of his plays in German translations, but I've seen more of them on stage, which in my opinion is the best way to "consume" Shakespeare.
I vividly remember seeing "McBeth" in one of the Vienna theatres - it was thrilling and moving, nightmarish at times and left me really impressed.

Another cherished memory is the staging of "A Summernight's Dream" in the middle of the gardens of "Rosenburg" palace in a forested region of Lower Austria. The seats were arranged in circle sectors and the acting took place in the centre of this circle and between the sectors - plus - it was a lovely mild evening, and the scents and sounds of nature around complemented this very Shakespeare play perfectly.

I don't remember how many different stage versions of "Hamlet" I have seen, but I do remember my husband playing one of the gravediggers when he was a member of an ambitious amateur theatre group in his young days...

And as to "Romeo and Juliet" - the epitome of tragic love - I have the impression this play is around all the time - the theme turns up in so many other works of literature and music.

I might also mention that my eldest daughter's first name is Cordelia ...
That reminds me, when we went to see "King Lear" at Vienna's Burgtheater some time ago, the play was cancelled because the actor playing Lear had become ill - it's about time I got tickets for a Shakespeare play again!

See you around - and forgive me for being so wordy,
Elisabeth from Austria

@ Tatiana,

You're right. We've drifted away from Shakespeare. I know so little about him. Sometime I feel, instead of science, I should have studied English literature in my college days, it appears so fascinating to me.

I welcome you to India with a warm heart. When you plan to travel, let me know, I'll let you know the places you must visit and monuments you must see and the foods you must try while in India. India is incredible, we're not rich though!

I'll ask you a musical question (just for fun) - in what context do we use the phrase 'Every Bride Goes Dancing After Engagement'? I am sure you know it.

Keep well and have a great day!

Regards,
Rajeeb

Hello Graciela,

To read Shakespeare in native language was one of the reasons that inspiring me to learn English and not only Shakespeare. All English writers are very interesting to be red in their native language. As, for an instance, you never can reach the whole gist of Georgian or Russian famous books translation in English. We have (Georgians) very good literature, but the language is so difficult to translate into English, that there are few books translated in English and I am sure they are not absolutely understandable, because of our peculiar culture and difficult language.In addition I reckon that book must be red in native language if you want to comprehend It fully.I am happy that I can read Russian books in native language and it's a big gladness for me.
I like mostly Shakespeare in cinematography. He inspired many producers to create unforgettable films forever. Truly say the Georgian classical theater likes very much him and every season they play his works, I think not badly.


Sofiko

Hi Graciela and all friends

Please excuse me for being so talkative. I just wanted to say that two days ago I saw 鈥淩omeo and Juliet鈥�. My friend from another city visited me and we decided to spend Saturday evening at theatre. Having chosen Shakespeare we anticipated a performance of good quality with traditional costumes. Unfortunately we didn鈥檛 notice the word 鈥渢ragicomedy鈥� in the playbill. I can鈥檛 express how disappointed and puzzled we were. Actors pronounced a very strange text. It was a medley of familiar Shakespearean lines with quotations from some Russian writers and it seems to me there was something from Freud. It鈥檚 impossible to describe all strange things. Only some details: all costumes were modern and Juliet鈥檚 father wore a pink one. Romeo and Tybald used empty plastic bottles instead of swords. Add here a very strange stage design that looks like a joiner鈥檚 shop and you鈥檒l get approximate idea of that wild performance.
I think it was dishonest to write 鈥淪hakespeare鈥� in the playbill. To my mind they were obliged to write stage director鈥檚 name as the author because there was absolutely different play. Later in the evening we talked about this performance for a long time but failed to guess what an idea made the director rewrite the text and what she meant.
Every time when I see such a queer performance I think maybe I鈥檓 too old-fashioned for it and can鈥檛 understand modern tendency in theatre. I can see that the young audience is clearly delightful with it. But every time I鈥檓 interested if the author had been in the auditorium what he鈥檇 have said.

Have a nice day
Tatiana

Hallo Graciela,

Myself Mohammed. sofar i did not get a good opportunity to learn this language . To improve my week side i gone to this web pages for getting some help from experienced hands like you. My boss annoying me about my lacking in English professionalism as well as literary side also. Frequently he is mentally harassing me with this. I shall be thankful if you suggest some tips to over come this. The people surrounding me is using only regional language .