The gardenIrish philosopher
QUESTION
There is a plaque in the Botanic Gardens noting that Ludwig Wittgenstein liked to visit. Was the philosopher a regular visitor to Dublin? LUDWIG Wittgenstein, the great Austrian philosopher, came to Ireland on several occasions between 1934 and 1951. Between November 1948 and June 1949, he lived in Dublin.
He came to Ireland because of his friendship with Maurice O’Connor Drury. Before he took up medicine, Drury had been a philosophy student of Wittgenstein’s at Cambridge University. Later, Drury became a psychiatrist, who worked at both St Patrick’s Hospital in Dublin and St Edmondsbury’s Hospital in Lucan.
There’s also an indirect connection with the Irish Daily Mail, because Drury’s son, the late Paul Drury, was a former editor and feature writer at the Mail.
Wittgenstein first visited Ireland in 1934, at the behest of Drury, and made several visits to the Drury family house near Killary Harbour on the borders of counties Galway and Mayo.
The house was converted into an An Óige youth hostel in the late 1950s. Sadly, when the house was being converted, the half-dozen tea chests found in the attic, full of notes, written by Wittgenstein, were turned into a bonfire.
The Vienna-born philosopher was regarded as one of the great minds of his time, but in 1947, at the height of his career, he surprised all his colleagues by resigning his professorship at Cambridge and going to settle in Ireland.
He had made various short visits to Dublin before this, but in 1947, he made his definitive decision to stay in Dublin. From November, 1948 until June 1949, he lived in a small, dingy room at what is now the Ashling Hotel, close to Heuston station. There is a plaque on the front which notes that Wittengenstein stayed there.
Often in the company of Drury, he visited many of the well-known sights of Dublin – including the Phoenix Park. Sometimes, he had lunch in the members’ dining room at Dublin Zoo, while on other occasions, he dined at Bewleys at its now defunct branch on Westmoreland Street as well as in the still thriving Bewleys on Grafton Street. On other occasions, he wandered off by himself, and he was often to be seen sitting in the Palm House at the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, writing.
On one occasion, the two friends bought a couple of cheap cameras in Woolworths in Henry Street, climbed to the top of Nelson’s Pillar and photographed the city from the top of the monument.
Just before he came to live in Dublin, Wittgenstein was still making trips to the Drury house in the west of Ireland, with his last trip there being in 1948.
But in the end, Wittgenstein decided not to stay in Dublin, but to return to Cambridge, where he died in April 1951.
Through his friendship with Drury, Wittgenstein had got to know both the west of Ireland and Dublin well.
Oisín O’Connor, Donegal.
QUESTION
What is the most technically challenging operatic aria? ANY answer to this question is, of course, subjective. Arias make different demands: Do they have the fastest notes? Greatest vocal range? Most complex structure?
The iconic difficult role is Mozart’s extraordinary Der Holle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen (Hell’s Vengeance Boils In My Heart), the Queen of the Night’s aria from The Magic Flute.
It depicts a fit of vengeful rage in which the Queen of the Night places a knife into the hand of her daughter Pamina and exhorts her to assassinate her rival.
Mozart wrote the role for his sister-in-law Josepha Hofer, famous for her technique and range. The aria features a challenging coloratura – an elaborate ornamentation of a melody featuring runs, trills and vocal leaps.
The genius of Mozart is encapsulated in the piece in that it is melodic and instantly recognisable while being fiendishly difficult. I urge you to listen to Diana Damrau’s extraordinary 2003 performance at the Royal Opera House, one of the great performances of recent years.
Less well known, but equally stunning, is Il Dolce Suono, from Lucia di Lammermoor by Gaetano Donizetti.
The coloratura soprano role of Lucia is a remarkable duel with a flute in the orchestra. It takes place during a scene near the end of the opera in which Lucia has descended into madness, having stabbed her husband.
Caro Nome, from Verdi’s Rigoletto, is sung by Gilda, Rigoletto’s daughter. After the Duke, in the guise of a poor student, seduces her, Gilda sings of her new-found love. Some consider this the hardest aria as it must be delivered in a light, almost ethereal way.
The words must be articulate and the breath control impeccable.
Mozart delighted in creating difficult parts for his soloist singers and musicians. O, Wie Will Ich Triumphieren is an aria for low bass from Mozart’s singspiel (part spoken) Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail (The Abduction From The Seraglio).
He wrote it for his friend Ludwig Fischer, who had an expansive basso profondo range. The aria goes down to a low D, two octaves below middle C. After holding this note for several measures, the very next note is an octave jump. Kurt Moll does a fine version.
Finally, I must give a nod to Gilbert and Sullivan. The Modern Major General from The Pirates Of Penzance is a tongue-twister delivered at breakneck speed. Adrienne Brown, Oxford.
QUESTION
How many League of Ireland clubs have had players who also played for the Republic of Ireland while at that club, and which of them has provided the greatest number of players to the international side? FURTHER to the previous answer, there was a glaring omission in failing to include Limerick’s Al Finucane, who was capped 11 times for the Republic’s senior team between 1966 and 1971.
I have the suspicion that he actually captained Ireland in a game against Austria. Tom Burke, via email. AS far as I remember, Joe Haverty won all of his Republic of Ireland caps while playing with a crosschannel club, probably Arsenal.
As far as I remember, Shay Brennan didn’t win any of his international caps while playing with Waterford.
And there was no mention of Bohemians, whose outstanding centre-half Willie Browne won a few caps in the Sixties. Noel Horgan, via email.
IS THERE a question to which you have always wanted to know the answer? Or do you know the answer to a question raised here? Send your questions and answers to: Charles Legge, Answers To Correspondents, Irish Daily Mail, Embassy House, Herbert Park Lane, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. You can also fax them to 0044 1952 510906 or you can email them to charles.legge@dailymail.ie. A selection will be published but we are not able to enter into individual correspondence.