Music – Page 2 – Politics Plus

Open Thread March 29 2026

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Holiday, Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 292026

Yesterday, the radio opera was one of my top two or three favorites – “La Traviata” by Verdi. I always tear up – not at the end, but in the middle when she says goodbye to Alfredo. That is the saddest event in it. I can get through the end when she dies without tears (or at least with a lot fewer tears), because she dies happy – for two reasons – because Alfredo has come back to her, and because of spes phthisica – a kind of euphoria experienced by pulmonary tuberculosis patients. I expect it’s a romantic fantasy that it happens only at the moment of death, but it is a real phenomenon. So the only sad people on stage when she dies are Alfredo and his father – and I don’t actually have much sympathy for either of them. It’s Violetta who is the victim. The music is exquisite throughout, and all the main characters get some to sing.

When I was in college at Stanford, and my mother worked for the University as supervisor of the Gift Processing Team (which is a story in itself), I would often go to her office building after my classes were through. A friend and colleague of hers in a totally different department but working in the same building was an art lover, and he would from time to time collaborate with the art college to mount shows in his (and Mom’s) building and maybe even sell some of the art. One grad student named Edith Bergstrom had one of these shows, and it pretty well sold out. Everyone loved her work, oils and watercolor alike, and she was only asking $30 each painting. I bought a couple and so did Mom, and I still have mine and now have hers, and still love them. After she completed her advanced degree, she didn’t exactly change her style, but she changed her subject matter, deciding to paint only palms – trees, branches, leaves and some combinations. And she was successful – Since today is Palm Sunday, I thought I would find one of her paintings on the internet and use it here. I’ve selected the focal point of a much larger piece, but it may give you an idea.

Everyone who participated in any No Kings is special – but this one is – let’s say offbeat.

This happens from time to time and it’s always good to hear. Good people exist.

This is kind of cool. We ever had anything like this when I was in school – I would have loved to participate.

This is not a big project with people going out of their way to help others, but it is definitely amusing.

This video features excerpts from CPAC. But not what you’d expect. Please don’t skip it.

Dog

Open Thread March 22 2026

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 222026

Yesterday, the radio opera was “Tristan und Isolde” by Wagner, who is known for long operas – but this may be the longest (5 hours with intermissions) – unless you count the Ring Cycle as a single work. Probably everyone knows the story (even if you don’t think you do), it’s so iconic. Almost everyone betrays just about everyone else in one way or another, and in the end the doomed lovers die together. And you may well have heard parts of it too -it’s been quoted in multiple movie scores. At least one tenor and two conductors have collapsed and died after a performance. I looked up the photos of this new production and was somewhat spooked to see that they made Tristan and Isolde look almost like twins – or almost like the same person (Garnted, the photo is of the dancers who co-represented them – but still.) It fits, certainly, but it’s a new approach – at least to me – and it catches the eye, but it also startles. Debussy is credited with making the transition from 19th century art music to 20th century with “Afternoon of a Faun” (1912) – but without Tristan (1865) I’m not sure he could have (even though he made fun of it in “Golliwog’s Cakewalk”. People tend to either love it or loathe is (and sometimes both, though not at the same time.) Also – sadly – Robert Mueller’s death Friday night became public. if you want to wait a day before reading his eulogy (by Joyce Vance), I get it Off to see Virgil now – will check in.

This from Ukrinform is a bit late, and it is more political than I usually like to use on Sundays. But it made me smile.

In case you missed Gavin Newsom‘s response to the Saffron Sauron referring to him as the President of the United States – it’s classic.

Well, SOME people understand that Ukraine is important, and deserves its independence. And are willing to put their money where their mouth is.

And SOME other people understand the importance of bison – not only to the earth, but particularly to indigenous Americans.

And still SOME other people understand the value of music with relation to medical conditions, even in surprising ways.

Open Thread March 15 2026

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 152026

Yesterday, the radio opera was Madame Butterfly by Puccini – the first opera I ever saw – I was 8 years old. It’s one of three operas for which Puccini selected the subject after seeing a play in a language he didn’t speak but was still able yo understand everything happening (the other two were Tosca and La Fanciulla del West.) He figured correctly that an operatic subject selected on that basis would make the opera more accessible. I don’t know that I would recommend it as a first opera today, though – Butterfly’s line in the first act “Oh, I am very old – I am fifteen” has taken on too much additional weight in the shadow of the Epstein files.

The work that Ray Brown is doing has never been more important than it is now. He makes me proud to be a Coloradan

I was not surprised to read that mariachi runs in the family – rather, I would have been surprised if it didn’t. Mariachi just does. And not only mariachi. Look at the Romero family of guitarists – now in its third generation.

Technically, I suppose this is not a “good news story.” But it made me smile. (And I still wouldn’t go to a Chick-Fil-A myself.)

Open Thread March 8 2026

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 082026

Yesterday, much of the snow was gone. It took longer in my back yard, which is on the west side of the house. The radio opera was the second half of Les Troyens, about the Trojans’ time in Carthage before they made it to Italy so (in the myth) their descendants could found Rome. Although the inly singer in both parts was John Vickers, as in the first half, all the solo singers were people I remember fondly, including Judith Blegen, with whom I shared a violin teacher – not at the same time, but later, after the teacher had taken a job at the college (now a university) in Alamosa, where I moved after leaving the USMC. She was as fine a violinist as she was a soprano. (I should say is, actually, since she’s still living, only four years older than I am, but she’s no longer singing in public.) Our mutual teacher is not mentioned in the Wikipedia article, but pretty much all professional musicians have more teaches and coaches than could possibly fit into a brief article. He taught her while she was in Montana. There may still be a debate as to whether or not Menotti wrote “Help, Help, The Globolinks” for her – Menotti denied it – nut there just aren’t very many operatic sopranos who can play the violin at a professional level, so his denial is a bit hard to believe. Off to see Virgil now; will check in.

https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/family-reunites-with-dog-lincoln-park/
OK, this story starts with a stupid mistake. But it gets better – and then just keeps getting better.

https://www.witn.com/2026/02/23/pactolus-global-school-principal-greets-students-daily-with-music-grooves/
This story – is a lot of fun. And about how fun can help kids learning.

https://www.cpr.org/2026/03/04/alzheimers-disease-misdiagnosed-rebecca-chopp-former-du-chancellor/
This is long for a Sunday – I try to keep them short and bright – but it is astonishing, at least to me. really though that if we knew how to diagnose anything, it would be this. Obviously I was wrong.

Open Thread March 1 2026

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 5:57 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 012026

Yesterday, the radio opera was Berlioz’s “Les Troyens” – just the first half. It was recorded in 1974, so all the stars are singers whom I remember vividly. It’s a beast to stage, and in fact was not staged in Berlioz’s lifetime. It’s in two acts, and we’ll hear the second act next week. It tells the story of the first four “books” of the Aeneid well – including Laocoon and his sons – which is probably the hardest to stage. The only character who is in both acts is Aeneas, so it’s also expensive to cast. But, if you like Berlioz, and I do, it is gorgeous. I’m not ignoring the fact that the Apricot Antichrist bombed Iran in the middle of the night Friday, and I’ll address that tomorrow. Today is a day of rest – and I’ll need time to go through multiple reports and decide what to stress and why. I did hear the Ayatollah has been confirmed to be dead, but as I type, I can’t vouch for it.

Sharing a story about the demand for tattoos rising as good news was never on my Bingo card. But I find the increasing demand for these specific tattoos both interesting – and encouraging that so many people care that much. Also, I’m impressed at how the owner of the shop is dedicating the increased revenue.

You may have to unmute this (I did), but it’s under 2 minutes, and it’s on loop so you won’t miss anything.

Building community is always good news (well, maybe not if it’s a “Christian Nationalist” community. But most are better than that.) This one sounds like fun – and is reaching more than just its members.

NM Granny

Cats

Open Thread February 22 2026

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 222026

Yesterday, the radio opera was “Manon Lescaut” by Puccini – his first big hit, actually. I always struggle not to laugh when she ends up dying in “the deserts of Louisiana”, but – since it’s set in the 18th century, when French-owned Louisiana stretched much farther west even than the Louisiana Purchase – it’s not nearly as silly as it sounds today. This performance was chosen by soprano Asmik Grigorian, a big fan of Mirella Freni (who was born in the same tiny little town where Luciano Pavarotti was born – there must have been something in the water.) Off to see Virgil now – will check in upon return..

This is kind of sweet. (You will likely need to unmute it)

It always warms my heart to see Joe Biden get any credit at all. He deserves so much better.

I do realize some people have difficulty with bats – and that most people are not aware how much bats do for the environment. But how can anyone not find flying foxes adorable?

Rocky Mountain Mike

Open Thread February 15 2026

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 152026

Yesterday, the radio opera was Mozart’s “Idomeneo” from 1986, chosen by Joyce Di Donato because of Frederica von Stade. I have a von Stade story from many years ago which appeared in Cat Fancy magazine, submitted by a vocal coach about the first time von Stade (“Flicka”) came to learn from her. At one point the coach’s cat threw up o Flicka’s foot. The coach thought she’d lost a student forever. But Flicka just deadpanned, “I hope it wasn’t my singing,” and stayed with the coach. She is a class act in every way. It’s interesting to me (if no one else) that every time an “Artist’s Choice” is picked by someone I really like, that their choice is based on someone in a previous generation I also really, really like.

I would call this “mixed” rather than “good.” But for decades we have been thinking “doomed,” and “mixed” is definitely an improvement over that.

Now this is sportsmanship. This is how sports are supposed to work (and sadly often don’t.)

It’s always good news when someone gets to live his or her dream. And it’s always especially good when it’s a child, and particularly a child who’s experienced an illness that no one, and especially no child, should have to cope with.

Cat

Open Thread February 8 2026

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 082026

To the left is King Owlbert, an Alaskan Pygmy Owl who arrived at the rescue center with a drooping wing – hence the strip of red which is supporting it while he heals. He would fit in your hand. There are multiple species of very small owls up around the Arctic Circle, a\such as the Northern Pygmy Owl. But this little man is obviously Superb. Yesterday, the radio opera was Massenet’s “Werther.” It was based on “The Sorrows of Young Werther,” a novel written by Goethe when he was 24. It was first published in 1772, and there were incels then too. However, it was more difficult then to blame women, since they really didn’t have the power to choose whom they married, and at least some of them killed themselves instead of just whining. I’m not saying that was better, just that it happened, as it does in this opera. And it gives Massenet the opening for a really bang-up aria for the tenor – and, yes, it’s a whine, but today’s incels would get more sympathy if they whined like it. OK, off to see Virgil, will check in upon return.

It had not occurred to me that this was a possibility. I hope that other states will follow.

I’m not a dog person – I’ve known a couple I have liked, but I’m basically a cat person. But I am also a person who understands that dog people feel about their dogs the way I feel about my cats. I’ve had cats missing for periods up to a week and then show up. I’ve had cats missing that never showed up. I get the heartbreak. And I get the relief and the joy too.

You kind of have to scroll down here before you can see all the donated art. I consider it good news that so many contributed, and IMO the quality is high.

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