Cassandra Cafarelli
"Music can noble hints impart,
Engender fury, kindle love,
With unsuspected eloquence can move,
And manage all the man with secret art."
Engender fury, kindle love,
With unsuspected eloquence can move,
And manage all the man with secret art."
"Sorprendente!"" -Lucrezia Falisci
"She is the rarest of creatures, a coloratura mezzo." -Fontaine Gazette
"Her voice is exhilarating and seamless, as vibrant at the top as it is at the bottom." -Governor, Enrico Edorardo Vestini
"She is the rarest of creatures, a coloratura mezzo." -Fontaine Gazette
"Her voice is exhilarating and seamless, as vibrant at the top as it is at the bottom." -Governor, Enrico Edorardo Vestini
 | Stage Name: Cassandra Cafarelli Birth Name: Cassandra di Villanova Profession: Opera singer (noble) Family: Mother (Victoria Villanova nee Vestini), Father (Vincenzo Villanova), Sister (Celestina di Villanova, strega) Age: 21 Eyes: Blue A natural performer on the stage or off, Cassandra has a certain je ne sais quoi in her manner and appearance that attract attention, flatter the imagination, and imperceptibly gain upon her audience's heart whether that audience is one or many. Connecting with, and engaging the hearts and minds of others, is as natural as breathing for her, as though she were born to captivate and entertain. An adventurous, quietly passionate spirit, Cassandra follows her intuition and her heart. Though both have led her astray in the past, she remains true to her innermost whim, to enjoy all of life's adventures; even the difficult ones. Confident and easy-going with an affable charm and a faint air of mystery, Cassandra's appearance is a blend of Vestini good looks and feminine Villanova wile. |
Nations of Theah: Book Six, Vodacce  | "Opera must come from the heart. If I can't feel the power of my work, then no one ever will." -Bartholomeus Corradin Vodacce does not have theater; it has opera. If a play does not tell its tale in woven music and song, it will likely be laughed out of the country long before it reaches the courts of the Seven Princes. The new styles of drama all fail miserably in this nation and any playwright who expects to make his fortune in Vodacce should have a decent sense of rhythm and tone. From martial drums to romantic operettas, Vodacce playwrights emphasize the complex weave of sound and story. The current favorite of the opera scene is Bartholomeus Corradin, a new master from a long line of composers, supported by the Villanova line. Playhouses in Vodacce are grand, elaborate designs with masterfully designed echoes. Fate Witches often participate in their production, weaving the sounds of each production into an array of Sorte threads which guide the destiny of each house. The playhouses each belong to a single theater troupe, who make it their primary establishment and jealously guard its secrets and echo effects. 'Common' music, the sounds of the peasantry of Vodacce and other countries, are popular and used to great effect in Vodacce theater, as are the sounds of rare musical instruments from the Crescent Empire and Cathay. Many modern operas incorporate these elements into their work, mixing the sounds in new and exotic ways. Certainly, the most prominent opera houses swiftly snap up any unique sound or display of musical talent they hear, always seeking to increase their prestige and reputation among the Seven Princes. Music, therefore, is also popular in Vodacce - particularly the entwined and complex ballads and compositions of early Eisen musicians. Vodacce music severely challenges the casual Thean listener, consisting of hundreds of delicately twined instruments, and as many as fifteen themes running through the length of the piece. Composers from other countries often try to arrange and perform Vodacce works - much to their own frustration. Sorte magic plays a considerable part in each piece, keeping the rhythms and themes alive throughout the performance and righting the critical timing of each note. In Avalon, the Sidhe appreciate Vodacce composition more than the nation's populace does, and Avalon nobles tell tales of Vodacce concerti performed for the Queen of the Sidhe by her own people. Such performances are said to last as long as ten days, and keep the Sidhe people in an enraptured state of wonder, unaware that time had passed at all. |