In an attempt to raise The Corner on to a higher plane, I should like to offer some truly toe-curling lines from operas. There are many, many such

– opera librettists don’t get paid a whole lot. Here are a couple of my favorites.

Turandot: You have to know that the plot hinges on Princess Turandot, daughter of the Chinese Emperor, being able to discover the name of a mysterious stranger before sun-up. If she can discover it, she can chop off his head; if not, she’ll have to marry him. Of course, the stranger woos and wins her icy heart during the night. The Emperor shows up at dawn for the result. Turandot: “Padre augusto, conosco il nome dello straniero. Il suo nome e … Amor!” [Noble father, I know the stranger’s name. His name is … Love!]

Then there is the great comprimario exchange across the lagoon of Venice in the last act of La gioconda:

[Distant voice]: Ahoy there! You in the gondola, any news?

[Another distant voice]: There are corpses in the Orfano Canal!