Is the Rabbit a Dumb Bunny?

I know very little about opera. I know very little about a lot of things, and opera is right up there at the top. If by some mistake I was called in to audition for Jeopardy, I would have to bone up on astronomy, mythology and opera. Whenever the answer is about opera, or those other categories, I seldom get the question right.

I've only ever been to a few operas, enjoyed then, but not enough to make me close to a being a fan. I saw the movie version of 'La Traviata' with Plácido Doming and Teresa Stratas. I saw Carmen (I love the music, but it's too long with two intermissions, and I know I dozed off.)

I saw de Fledermaus at the Metropolitan Opera with Sid Cesar playing the comic role of the jailer. I saw light opera a few times, Gilbert and Sullivan, and took in the famous production of the 'Pirates of Penzance' with Linda Ronstadt and Kevin Kline. Seeing the opera scenes in the movie 'Moonstruck' shouldn't count. None of this will ever be enough to advance on Jeopardy.

I will however read obituaries about the passing of opera stars. I do this because I read almost all obituaries (seldom about dance) in the hope that I'll remember something that might get me on Jeopardy if I ever take the online test again. (Doubtful)

So it was with the NYT obituary of Stuart Burrow, a Welsh lyric tenor who was renowned for his roles in Mozart Operas. I stopped in my reading when the obiturist, Adam Nossiter reached back for a quote from a NYT review of Mr. Burrows performance in his Metropolitan Opera debt, in the role of Ottavio, in Mozart's opera 'Don Giovanni.'

The reviewer, Donal Henehan, wrote about Stuart Burrows flawless singing of the challenging 'Il Mio Tesoro' aria:

"The aria was phrased with musicianly grace., and its famous one breath endurance test was met without a hint of strangulation. Add to his musical virtues the sensible stage deportment of Mr. Burrows (he did not try to shirk the fact that Ottavio is one of the most ineffectual rabbit brains in all of opera) and you have an important Metropolitan debut."

To me the translation to this praise is that Mr. Burrows was great in a singing performance of a difficult aria from a character who is basically a dumb bunny. Dumbest bunny in all of opera no less. Wow.

I guess poor Ottavio is stupid, (timid?) but not so stupid to sing an aria flawlessly. Tough to please intellectually, I guess.

So, what does Ottavio do that makes him appear so stupid? Knowing nothing about the character, I consult ChatGPT, which I put some faith in. It answers my query of "What makes Ottavio in Mozart's 'Don Giovanni' a rabbit brain" as follows:

The phrase "rabbit brain" used in reference to Don Ottavio from Mozart's Don Giovanni is not a technical or scholarly term, but rather a colorful, critical insult—most famously attributed to the conductor and pianist Arturo Toscanini, who reportedly dismissed Ottavio as a “rabbit brain” ("testa di coniglio" in Italian). This phrase reflects a longstanding interpretive bias against the character.

And how does poor Ottavio earn the moniker?

Ottavio is often seen as weak and passive, especially when compared to other characters in the opera. Despite Donna Anna’s pleas for vengeance after her father's murder, Ottavio delays action and sings about justice more than he actually pursues it. This can make him seem spineless or overly cautious.

Example: In “Il mio tesoro,” he sings of comforting Anna and seeking justice—but it’s a gentle, elegant aria, not a war cry.

Poor guy. He's a wimp.

A question to ask, "are rabbits dumb bunnies?

They're smart enough to dig holes in my front lawn and hide from our outdoor, neutered female cat, who my wife tells once started picking off baby rabbits like popcorn when they emerged from hiding. What a mess.

According to ChatGPT, rabbits are, when asked about their intelligence: Are rabbits stupid?

Rabbits aren't stupid — they're just different from humans in how they think and respond to the world.

Here’s what rabbits are:

• Instinct-driven: They rely heavily on instinct for survival, which can sometimes make their behavior seem skittish or hard to understand.

• Social and trainable: With patience, many rabbits can learn their name, be litter trained, and even do tricks.

• Smart in their own way: They’re good at problem-solving in areas that matter to them (like escaping enclosures or finding food).

As for opera, it seems to me that you have to know the story before watching (or enduring) the opera. As for rabbits, they're a pain in the ass when they're digging holes in your lawn.

http://www.onofframp.blogspot.