Haglund's building super is kind of a Peruvian Gomer Pyle who doesn't speak a lot of English. On a day like today when the building is without heat and hot water, it's smart to pretend to understand whatever he says, agree with it, and thank him profusely - if possible with a drink and cookies.
Haglund sat around the apartment for most of Sunday listening to the clanking of hammer to metal pipes in the basement along with a mix of high-pitched Spanish and English profanity. To pass the time, he loaded his newly autographed Vittorio Grigolo CD into his laptop and began listening to the smooth, impassioned voice of his new favorite tenor.
Knock knock knock. It was the super with the bad news that even though he was working hard on the problem, the heat and hot water might not be fixed until very late tonight or even tomorrow. He stopped in mid-sentence –
Super: Is that opera I hear? Are you listening to opera on your computer?
Haglund: Yes, it's my new CD of Vittor —
Super: Turn on Juan Diego Florez!
Haglund: I don't have any of his CDs, but —
Super: Type in Juan Diego Florez into your computer! Zchjwa u a ena . . .
By now, the super had clinched his fists in excitement and was poised in front of the laptop on the floor like he was ready to stomp on it.
Super: Type in Juan Diego Florez and Granada – right there on your computer! Type!
Typing, typing, typing. Thank the Lord Jesus there was a YouTube clip of Juan Diego Florez singing Granada. Click. The music started. Then suddenly the super began loudly singing Granada along with Juan Diego Florez – the worst singing Haglund had ever heard from a sober person.
Super: Juan Diego Florez is the number one tenor - better than Domingo, better than Carreras - only Pavorotti was better. He's from my country Peru. He is the number one singer in the world. No one is better. No one is better.
We were definitely connecting over opera, but would this get Haglund any heat and hot water? The super sat his butt down on Haglund's coffee table and continued to sing while conducting with his hands. He was completely overcome by his operamania – a wild operaman having an obviously much-needed fix of Juan Diego Florez. When the YouTube clip ended Haglund continued to stare at the screen because he was afraid to look at the super. Finally Haglund found the courage to say, "Yes, he is the best in the world."
Super: Thank you. Thank you. I love opera so much. I go now.
He walked out the door still singing Granada. It's now after 11 p.m. and Haglund has neither heat nor hot water. The banging on the pipes has stopped and the super's singing has stopped. Nothing but cold peace throughout his land. But then, cold peace is better than no peace.
At least he wasn't trying to sing those high C's from La Fille du Regiment
Posted by: Andrew | November 08, 2010 at 10:59 AM
LOL! That may be next.
Posted by: Haglund | November 08, 2010 at 01:19 PM