Digital Traveler: You can post the next clue, if you want to, since you got the entire answer, not just 2/3 of it. I'm leaving for work now so can't spend much time following the thread until tonight. (If you don't want to post the next one, I'll have time tonight maybe, but I think you'll have one up here by then.)

I don't have a lot of time to come up with anything so here is an easy one.

This 20th Century thinker is a close relative of this 20th century minister and doctor. The thinkers is linked with another thinker, "Madame Z".

Thinker: 3 words, 1st word is 4 letters. 2nd word is 4 letters. 3 word is 6 letters, the 2nd of which is an "A" from Mara.

Minister: 2 words, 1st word is 6 letters. 2nd word is 10 letters, the 5th of which is an "E" from Panflute.

Madame Z: 3 words, 1st word is 6 letters, the 4th of which is an "O" from Arosa. 2nd words is 2 letters. 3rd word is 8 letters.

I guess this is very much on my mind these days.

Jean-Paul Sartre
Albert Schweitzer (I do need to look him up -- who's he?)
Simone de Beauvoir

Right you are! I figured you would be all over this, being as you are on your way. Here is a link on Albert Schweitzer. FWIW, I really enjoyed Kaysersberg. There were some seriously good genes in that family.

http://www.lucidcafe.com/library/96jan/schweitzer.html

Interesting, thanks!

Clue: A recent French feature (this one is pretty well-acclaimed and not terribly obscure) by (first name = 7 letters, 4th = "a" and last name = 6 letters) spoofed this eccentric, famous, controversial but *non*-European pianist.

To make the clue a little more challenging, I'm omitting the number of letters for the name of the pianist (whom you don't need to identify).

Hint: French feature is an animated feature. Now, I don't think that you even need to figure out who the pianist is to know the answer.

I'm really not sure. Is it really that obvious?
I'm thinking Triplets of Belleville? (that's the only animated French movie that I know of). But the director name doesn't fit (Sylvain Chomet). ???

My counting problem this time. Sorry. Distracted today with the superthreads.

Yes, it's the Triplets of Belville. Opening ten minutes spoof a lot of people -- Django Rheinhart (sp?), Josephine Baker, and of course, Glenn Gould (slouched over the piano -- a really classic pose) playing Bach's C minor Prelude.

For those who don't know GG, he's a Canadian pianist who sprung to fame with a classic recording of Bach's "Goldberg Variations" (in 1955). An eccentric and a film was made about him about ten years ago (called "Thirty-Two Short Films about Glenn Gould&quot.

Well, I guess even a mathematician like you succumb to miscounting once in a while!
I saw "Thirty-Two Short Films about Glenn Gould" when it came out, but really have no recollection of it at this point.

BTW, today will the last day that I can play this game for hours on end. After a 9-month semi-retirement (I wish), I'm rejoining the work force next week.

Next clue:
This age-old love story (3 words, 5,3,6) written by him (11 letters) was the story behind 2 operas & a musical piece (which was comissioned for a ballet).
The 2 operas are of different titles and by different composers, as well as the other musical piece.
Opera #1 (title 3 words, 3,2,8) written by (person last name 6 letters, "o" in 2nd position)
Opera #2 (title 5 words, 1,8,1,1,9) written by (person last name 7 letters)
The other musical piece written by (person last name 9 letters, "o" in 3rd position)

I think that you're having some counting problems here.

Obviously it's Romeo and Juliet, by Shakespeare.

"I Capuletti ed i Montecchi" by Bellini

Are you thinking of Gounod? He wrote Romeo et Juliette.

There's one other thing I need to research.

The other composer seems to be Prokofiev. That would be my guess. I can't research the clue now.

Oh, never mind. I misread the clue. You just need Prokofiev. He wrote the ballet, which is also called "Romeo and Juliet." I was thinking that I need to find some other piece with some other name. But the numbers for the two pieces seem slightly off.

I guess the counting problem is contagious.
You got it all right. I did miscount one of the Romeos.
Bellini's opera is I Capuleti e i Montecchi. I guess some spells it "ed" instead of "e".
And yes, Prokofiev wrote the ballet music.

Of course, when I first read the clue, my immediate reaction was "oh, it's Tristan und Isolde." Then I realized that the number of letters didn't fit.

More later -- I really should work for a couple of minutes.

Well, sorry to hear about the job. What sort of job is it anyway?

Actually my boss will be returning from vacation, so I guess my days with the game are numbered as well.

Well, it's alright. Esp now that I've visited www.deathclock.com and learnt that I'm going to live until 104 years-old, I need to earn some $ to support myself for the next 70+ years to come...
I work in the health care field, which requires one to keep up with the current news. 9 months is a very long hiatus, so I really have to get back into the game or I'll be "unmarketable" soon!

Clue: First name = 6 letters, 4th = "i", last name = 7 letters, 4th = "i"

(Note: I've seen this name spelled a number of different ways, so I'm using one spelling for the clue, obviously.)

He was a (title/position: 4 letters) of (city: 6 letters) whose commemorative portrait does not show his face.

If this is somewhat obscure, you'll find it useful to know that there was actually an opera based on his story (along with other literary works). One composer who wrote an opera based on his story (I'm not sure if there're multiple operas) also wrote an opera which is much better known and much more frequently performed today. The title role of the better known opera is also one of the signature roles of a very famous (but perhaps also controversial) soprano who led a colorful and yet tragic life.

Was the 9-month break voluntary? Did you travel to Europe?

Well, think about marrying a rich husband. I wish that I had that option. Just joking.

I won't be checking this thread again today. Maybe I'll try to check in tomorrow to see if I need to provide a clue. I think that it's doable because of the pretty obvious information I've included regarding the soprano, but we'll see.

Oh, obviously whoever gets it can just supply the next clue. Have a nice weekend everyone.