http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5125499/1/La_canzone_della_Bella_Cigna
Official Description: A famous voice teacher. A mysterious piano prodigy. Backstabbing classmates. Music school is competitive, and aspiring singer Bella Swan is determined to succeed. Hard work she can handle, but who expected music school to be dangerous?
Don’t Miss Under Her Spell, the Outtake to La canzone della Bella Cigna
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ScarlettLetters says: La canzone della Bella Cigna (The song of the Beautiful Swan), aka Canzone to its fans, is an AU story written by the wonderful philadelphic. It is set in the Seattle/Tacoma area at a prestigious music conservatory. Bella, newly arrived from Forks, is an incoming freshman with a gifted voice. She has had a hell of a first day before she meets her frighteningly strict and über talented voice teacher, Dr. Emil George. Dr. George, an original character, is also who we can thank for introducing Bella to the mysterious pianist who will accompany her during lessons, one Edward Cullen.
Halfway in the door stands a breathtakingly pretty teenage boy of about 17 or 18. He seems barely old enough to be in college, let alone a doctoral student. Then I remember he’s a prodigy, so he’s probably just as young as he looks. At first he looks like he might come in, but then he narrows his eyes at me and scowls at Dr. George.“Bella Swan, this is Edward Cullen. You’ll be working with him.”
Edward is staring at me with that same gimlet eye I got from Dr. George.“Sorry, Dr. George, I need to run. Standard operating procedures for Freshmen, right?” Edward asks, glaring from me to Dr. George and back again, like elves are playing some kind of invisible tennis game in front of our faces. Maybe he’s a genius and he’s nuts.
-La canzone dell Bella Cigna, Chapter 1
Yes, we get to meet Edward in chapter one! No painful waiting for the object of our affection to show up. We get our angsty, broody piano player straightaway. God bless philadelphic! As one would expect with the setting being a music school, music plays a key role in the story. With each chapter, philadelphic has painstakingly selected songs, both classical and contemporary (such as chapter two’s selections of Debussy, Schubert, and A Fine Frenzy), that add such richness to the story that I, one who routinely skims lyrics and hardly ever listens to the songs recommended by authors, make it a point to listen…more than once. Each song chosen means something to Edward and Bella, to who they are as individuals at that point of the story and to what they are becoming to each other. The music helps place you in the heart of the chapter and makes it all the more corporeal. For example, in chapter sixteen the song “Her Beautiful Ideas” by The Guggenheim Grotto is instrumental in helping move Bella and Edward toward a new level. A level we all love them to go to, if you know what I mean and I know you do. *winks*
Readers should note that philadephic has herself gone to music school and is a trained musician. She’s an opera singer, folks. She knows what she’s talking about when she writes what Bella is going through, but does it in such a way that we are not lost in technical terms and jargon. You don’t have to have gone to music school to understand the level of excellence and the amount of hard work Bella is going to have to exhibit to make it in the cut throat world she has entered. Bella also happens to have the best pianist in the whole school working with her, but as you’ll see, that leads to some interesting things for her as well.
Canzone is an AU fic, and yes, Edward Cullen is a vampire, but he’s not exactly Twilight Edward. So, who the hell is he? Due to a few situational changes in the story we are left with an end result that is vastly different than canon, yet easily believable. For those who love canon Edward, you won’t be unhappy with this Edward and for those of us who like our vamp Edward a little more randy, you won’t be disappointed either. Why Edward is this way is something I would consider a spoiler, so I’m going to hold off from spilling the beans. I will tell you that Canzone’s Edward is still the vegetarian, tortured soul we love, but he’s a more relaxed version of canon. Google the lyrics to “Her Beautiful Ideas” and you’ll see what I’m talking about.
So if Edward is more relaxed, what does that make Bella? I personally find her hilarious. Yes, you read that right. Bella is actually really funny in this fic. Our heroine’s self-deprecating humor laced internal monologues are said with a voice I wish we would have heard in Twilight. Like Edward, Bella is close to canon, but is a more self-secure version. I’m chalking that up to the fact that she had the time in Forks to finish high school without all the drama of having a sexy vampire wanting to drain you and a deranged vampire wanting to kill you for sport. This change to the story has made for a much stronger, more grown-up Bella and one that I actually like. Throw in a dash of Grandma Swan and you have a Bella that you want to root for instead of counsel about co-dependent relationships.
So, why should you read Canzone?
It is a beautifully written love story that incorporates amazing music and has the promise of some really tasty suspense and adventure coming your way. Not only do I love her characterizations of Edward and Bella, but philadelphic’s Alice and Jasper are one of the best versions of the couple I have ever read. Oh yeah, and I hear we may get sexy times soon too.
MF’er says: Can I even begin to compare to the great things Scarlett had to say about this fic? I’ve been hearing for weeks how excellent it was and as usual, with my schedule, it took me forever to start it… but once I did, oh my… I gushed and gushed and fangirled all over philadelphic’s box this week.
There are so many things I could go on and on about, but let me start with the music. I’m a big fan of music. Especially in a story. For me, it helps me identify with characters and with the writer, too – I try to picture from the music what they were thinking while writing it or what they wanted us to know the characters were saying. So, the fact that every chapter has such a beautiful music selection to go along with it is an added bonus for me.
I have no trouble admitting that philadelphic’s characters are some of my favorites ever. I will totally agree with Leiah that her Alice and Jasper are most definitely one of the best versions I have ever read. I will also say that her Renee is the funniest cougar ever and I laugh constantly at her.
Which brings me to my next point, the humor. Several spots I found myself giggling, mostly because of Renee… and Bella’s inner monologue who she lovingly refers to as Grandma Swan. That’s not all though, there’s a little jealousy (my favorite) and a whole lot of UST and sweetness between these two during their first tentative steps of the ‘getting to know each other’ phase while they experience the trials and tribulations of the competitive nature at music school.
At this point in the story, they are still kind of at the beginning of their journey together and I imagine they are moving forward into something that could potentially be dangerous for both of them… or it could turn out to the best adventure of their lives… along the way, they are learning each others limits and desires and truly falling in love… It’s just so beautiful, I could go on for like six more pages but let me just say… I, for one, cannot WAIT to find out just what the future holds for these two (and yes, the sexy times).
You are absolutely missing out on beautiful writing and lovable characters if you’re not already reading this work. I impel you, go, now!
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