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{{a|otto|{{image|The Chasm to America|png|''O! Great Yawning Chasm To The New World'' {{vsr|1886}}}}}}{{br| | {{a|otto|{{image|The Chasm to America|png|''O! Great Yawning Chasm To The New World'' {{vsr|1886}}}}}}{{br|Talentdämmerung}} (lit., “[[twilight of the subject matter experts]]” and subtitled “Der Kampf um Talente” or “[[The Struggle To Attract Talent]]”), is an unfinished opera by winsome Austrian librettist and amateur composer Otto {{buchstein}} intended to be the culminating work in his {{br|Form und Substanz}} cycle. | ||
Never performed in his lifetime, nor for that matter since, a fully-formed script was recovered from his belongings in the opium den in Mandalay where he spent his last, fevered months. | |||
There is some controversy about its provenance: some point to the self-interested work of {{Buchstein}}’s life-long antagonist {{jerrold}}, anxious to boost his consultancy fees. | There is some controversy about its provenance: some point to the self-interested work of {{Buchstein}}’s life-long antagonist {{jerrold}}, anxious to boost his consultancy fees. | ||
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==== Act I ==== | ==== Act I ==== | ||
It is Venice in the 1890s. The mercantile markets are in disarray: there are brigands on the Silk Road, pirates around the Barbary Coast, and the arrival of venal bankers from the New World is threatening the profitability of the Venetian families. | It is Venice in the 1890s. A [[Crisp-packet blowing across St Mark’s square|crisp packet]] blows across St Mark’s Square. Complicatio and Regolamento hurry to the reception room of the Presuntuosa family having been summonsed by its head, [[Provocatoria Presuntuosa|Provocatoria]], a minor Venetian noble. Complicatio and Regolamento are part of her [[council of counsel]] — a kind of star chamber of her closest advisors — to plan the firm’s survival. | ||
{{quote|{{Dkt complicatio introduction}}}} | |||
The mercantile markets are in disarray: there are brigands on the Silk Road, pirates around the Barbary Coast, and the arrival of venal bankers from the New World is threatening the profitability of the Venetian families. | |||
Following an embarrassing upset with the firm’s major client, Archewellgos, the Queen calls in her head banker, Infernalio. | |||
{{Quote|{{dkt nothing from nothing}} }} | |||
“Our supply of gold ducats, once the envy of the world, is dwindling. I shall hand it over to those of you who can demonstrate their strategy for adapting to the new environment.” | “Our supply of gold ducats, once the envy of the world, is dwindling. I shall hand it over to those of you who can demonstrate their strategy for adapting to the new environment.” | ||
The Queen’s [[counsel council]] comprises: [[Complicatio]], who is responsible for [[Operations|workings of the firm]]; [[Ingraziatoro]], who looks after the firm’s best [[senior relationship manager|clients]], [[Regolamento]], who is in charge of [[compliance]], and the hapless [[Triago]], who is [[general counsel]]. Also present is [[Jeremiah Nuncle|Nuncle]], the Queen Provocatoria ’s diminutive special advisor — a sort of roving minister without portfolio, and [[Inclusivia]] from the [[personnel]] department. | The Queen’s [[counsel council]] comprises: [[Complicatio]], who is responsible for [[Operations|workings of the firm]]; [[Ingraziatoro]], who looks after the firm’s best [[senior relationship manager|clients]], [[Regolamento]], who is in charge of [[compliance]], and the hapless [[Triago]], who is [[general counsel]]. Also present is [[Jeremiah Nuncle|Nuncle]], the Queen Provocatoria ’s diminutive special advisor — a sort of roving minister without portfolio, and [[Inclusivia Liberatardia]] from the [[personnel]] department. | ||
{{quote| | {{quote| | ||
{{dkt division of funds}}}} | {{dkt division of funds}}}} | ||
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{{Quote| | {{Quote| | ||
{{Dkt outsourcing plan}}}} | {{Dkt outsourcing plan}}}} | ||
It transpires that [[Pillochio]], former functionary from Complicatio’s division has defected to a new-fangled competitor deploying homunculi | |||
{{Dkt pillochio plot}} | |||
[[Regolamento]] has acquired a “[[Legaltech|homunculus]]” machine to surveil and ensure compliance with rules and procedures at a fraction of the cost, and with far greater speed and accuracy than humans can do. <ref>There are many aspects of the plot that, in passing, borrow from {{Buchstein}}’s other works, notably ''[[La Vittoria della Forma sulla Sostanza]]'', which featured a similar “Homunculus”.</ref> Queen Provocatoria asks [[Regolamento]] where he got the idea from was it McKinsey, by any chance? No! protests Regolamento. It was from a Conflittio, a secondee in his department — who on further enquiry turns out to have been seconded from McKinsey. | [[Regolamento]] has acquired a “[[Legaltech|homunculus]]” machine to surveil and ensure compliance with rules and procedures at a fraction of the cost, and with far greater speed and accuracy than humans can do. <ref>There are many aspects of the plot that, in passing, borrow from {{Buchstein}}’s other works, notably ''[[La Vittoria della Forma sulla Sostanza]]'', which featured a similar “Homunculus”.</ref> Queen Provocatoria asks [[Regolamento]] where he got the idea from was it McKinsey, by any chance? No! protests Regolamento. It was from a Conflittio, a secondee in his department — who on further enquiry turns out to have been seconded from McKinsey. | ||
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{{ref}} | {{ref}} | ||
{{c| | {{c|Form und Substanz cycle}} |