Yesterday, it didn’t snow (it hasn’t since Monday) and the snow we did have is virtually gone. The radio opera was Arabella by Richard Strauss, which the last summer season also included, so it’s way to soon to say anything else about it. Mostly, I just cleaned out my inbox and committed knitting. I have three projects going, which is rare for me – usually I just work on one till it’s finished.
This doesn’t sound like good news rom the headline. You need to read the story. Then it’s good news.
Veterans. And kids. If you get newsletters from “Read the Smile” and saw this, you might have guessed I would share it.
I am not in the least worried about the birth rate – well, maybe that it’s too high – but this is just sweet.
Yesterday, another day, another death at the hands of (presumably) ICE (CBP is also out and equally lawless.) At least it appears to have turned many Dems away from voting for the appropriation bill which funds ICE. The radio opera was “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess.” The Met always refers to it that way, though if there’s another one, I’m not aware of it. I expect everyone has heard something from it – the most likely thing would be “Summertime.” Others often excerpted include “A Woman Is a Sometime Thing,” “My Man’s Gone Now,” “I got plenty of Nothin'” “Bess, You Is My Woman Now,” and “It Ain’t Necessarily So.” The Gershwins were adamant that it should never be performed unless the cast was 100% black – although I assume that would not include the ICE agents Detective and Policemen, who only have very short spoken parts – just long enough to make the racism clear. (They didn’t specify a black conductor, but today we had that too.) This performance was even more bittersweet that usual – Ryan Speedo Green, a bass-baritone who is still young and on the way up, was in it, and so was Denyce Graves, a diva who has been singing opera for decades and is retiring – this is her last performance -was also in it. During her career, she inspired so many young black singers to consider opera that it is possible – even probable – that without her we would never have heard Speedo either. If that sounds irrelevant, consider how many entertainers in movies and popular music have drawn attention not just for their professional activity, but for their activity in the community – George Clooney, Dolly Parton, Taylor Swift, and so many more. And that, for good or ill, becomes part of their persona. It’s the same with opera singers. Renee Fleming working with veterans with PTSD and physical injuries through music therapy. Joyce di Donato doing the same in prisons. I’d love all these singers just for their work in opera – but their other activities make it personal for me. They honored her at the end of intermission – with a speech, a facsimile of a plaque which is going up in the Opera House to honor her forever, and a piece of the iconic crystal chandelier (because, like her, it lights up the House.) I can’t say, I wasn’t crying – but I can say she was too. Off to see Virgil now – will check in upon return
I mentioned music therapy in connection with the opera. Bot any and everything that has to do with art and creativity can make a huge difference for veterans – or anyone, really. But I can see why Rocky Mountain PBS featured this from the Denver Art Museum.
I had no idea that this was even possible. Virgil has a form of red/green color blindness – he can see true red (crayon red) and reds that are on the blue side. But the more brown there is in something that is rea, the more green it looks to him, and all browns look green. And greens look brown. Not that it would have helped to know about it – it’s clearly pretty pricey. And it’s too late now – even if I could get one, it would be illegal to send it to him.
Yesterday, the radio opera was “Carmen” by George Bizet. There’s not much I don’t know about Carmen (although I did learn something today from the tenor in an intermission interview, he pointed out that Carmen never tells Jose she loves him. And he is 100% correct. She implies it once or twice, and says it to others, but never says it to him.) I played first chair second violin in a student production when I was studying music (I didn’t play it well, despite the work I put in, both practicing and listening) but I did play it, and the production was a success in spite of me. I’ve heard and seen so many productions I can’t remember them all. I’ve seen the movie “Carmen Jones” (in which Marilyn Horne sang for Dorothy Dandridge.) If I can’t get to sleep on account od an earworm, there’s probably about a 30% chance it’s from Carmen. A couple of seasons ago the Met put it on with a French mezzo and the announcers were excited to hear it, I presume because Bizet was French. But no one in Carmen is French. Carmen, her two gal pals, and the leaders of the smugglers, and part of the time the chorus, are Romani. Everyone else is Spanish (Jose and Micaela (and if so, Jose) may have been Basque, or may not.) The only thing in the opera which sounds remotely French is the “Flower Song,” and Carmen doesn’t sing that – Jose does. Yesterday’s Carmen was Aigul Akhmetshina, who is Bashkir – not Romani, but the Bashkir people were nomadic at one time. In the absence of any mezzos who are Romani, I’m more excited by this. Also yesterday, I received an email informing me that the trauma combat surgeon who saved the life of Tammy Duckworth in Iraq is now running for Congress in New Jersey. He joins a record number of medical and scientific professionals who are doing the same.
“Colorado Chooses Vaccines is a broad, statewide coalition of healthcare providers, public health leaders, and community organizations working together to protect vaccine access and trust.” from the coalition’s website. I’m proud of Colorado for doing this. And of Coloradans like Carol Boigon don’t let physical disabilities stand in the way of their public service.
Yesterday, the radio opera was I Puritani by Vincenzo Bellini, AKA “The Swan of Catania” (where he was born.) You might say this opera was his “swan song,” as he died the same year it premiered, at the age of 33. I missed most of the first act – I set my alarm but forgot to activate it – but at least I didn’t miss the big mad scene, and even caught the first use of the melody from it. Elvira is very fragile – but if I were being pushed to marry a MAGA who was stalking me I might go a little crazy myself. Not that the Cavaliers were perfect – the British Civil War was between the Bad Guys and the Not Quite As Bad Guys. At least the Cavaliers were not killjoys. The Puritans, when they won, actually outlawed Christmas. But the I Puritani mad scene is IMO the most beautiful mad scene in all of opera – and there is a lot of competition. also, it was Queen Victoria’s favorite opera – for what that’s worth. On the positive side, at least the blog’s scheduling feature appears to be working again – at least it worked for yesterday. off to see Virgil now. Will check in upon return.
Yes, I’m still a sucker for news about veterans. Especially good news.
And I’m also a sucker for good news about young people shouldering responsibility for community.
This is not new and may not be current. If not – well, it was good while it lasted.
This is a “short”, and I don’t seem to be able to embed it without using the block editor, so you’ll have to use the link” https://youtube.com/shorts/DfwZqx05FaQ
Yesterday, The radio opera was Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” in the abridged version and English translation they put on around Christmas-New Year’s Day every year because the kids are out of school. It’s always fun, and generally as much for the cast as it is for the audience – maybe even more. Although it’s contagious.
From The Borowitz Report. Not terribly funny – more of an “Oregon Leads the Way” story – a story which would have made TomCat even prouder of his city. Am I selectively remembering, or are these Portland heroes mostly sheros? (I couldn’t help but think of “Naked Athena.”
Yes, another veteran story, and a Colorado Springs story at that. (Colorado Springs has a lot of veterans, including even some Navy/Marine vets, although the Air Force Academy proximity along with Fort Carson account for the bulk of us.) And so many are struggling.
This happened on December 16. It should last until the Cantaloupe Caligula finds out about it. I hope it lasts longer. The comments from party leaders are revealing.
Yesterday, the radio opera was “Andrea Chénier” by Umberto Giordano. It is loosely based on the last days of French poet André Chénier who was a victim of the French Revolution. Not surprisingly, an opera about a poet has multiple arias for the character (a tenor) – four, in fact, of which the best known is “Come un bel di di Maggio” (“Like a lovely day in May.”)The plot is a bit reminiscent of “A Tale of Two Cities,” except that here it’s the woman who takes a prisoner’s place, and not to save her, but in order to die with her lover. Hey, it’s opera. What did you expect, a happy ending? OK, I’m off to see Virgil – will check in upon return.
I’m not the one to comment intelligently on this story referred by The Smile – instead, it is right up Nameless’s alley. (And this story barely scratches the surface.)
Even in darkest Louisiana there are still good humans. This is one. I wish him well. There is a video at the link.
I’m not trying to tell anyone where to shop. However, I know I sometimes find it difficult to find vendors whom I know are not MAGA, so I’m passing on this link from Daily Dose of Democracy in case it will help anyone.
Yesterday, the radio opera was Puccini’s “La Bohème.” I would not say it’s everyone’s favorite opera, but it is for a lot of people, and not without reason. And the reasons are not just the music, although the music is some of his best. It’s also the story – it has everything. Its protagonists are “have-nots,” and it makes outrageous fun of “haves.” In between thise, it put on sage what falling in love looks like and feels like. It ahows a Parisian Cafe on Christmas Eve, including a self-employed toymaker selling his wares, with kids begging their parents for this or that. The song the second female lead sings in that setting is so good it was turned into a pop song in the fifties and sung by Della Reese under the title “Don’t You Know?” – you may remember it. Then it turns dark as the female lead, trying to find out why the male lead has been cold to her lately, learns it’s because she has this terrible cough and he’s afraid she’s dying (spoiler – she is). They separate, and the two male leads admit, not out loud to each other, but in soliloquies how lonely they are, and then there’s more humor as the other two show up and they decide to dance, two pretending to be female, but they are interrupted by the two female leads (only one at first because the one with TB can’t climb the stairs alone) showing up. They get the one with TB upstairs, and everyone tries to help, each in his or her own way showing grief and then leaving to get medicine or pawn a coat or whatever they can, leaving the lovers alone. They reminisce about their meeting, and she falls asleep, and the others get back. Soon one notices she is no longer breathing and whispers it to the others. Her lover is oblivious to her death , but notices the others have gone silent, and says, “What’s wrong? Why are you looking at me like that?” and then it hits him. He rushes to her, calls her name twice and then loses it. The orchestra replays the first phrase of the tune to which they reminisced, and there is not a dry eye in the house. I know that’s a lot happening, but without intermissions it only takes up about an hour and a half total, which is very short for an opera, which also doesn’t hurt its popularity. (The broadcast today did have intermissions, including an Opera Quiz, so the broadcast was a bit over 2 hours.) It’s the first opera I ever owned on vinyl. I found it at the PX for $4.00, which was very cheap even then, and the lead was sung by Renata Tebaldi, who was contemporary with Maria Callas. They were the two biggest names at the time, and were said to be feuding- which I’m pretty sure never happened, but OMG, did their respective fans ever feud! It was, like so many feuds, just silly. I enjoyed both divas, not in the exact same way, but on balance about equally. And, yes, La Bohème was the inspiration for “Rent” Today is not a Sunday that I see Virgil, and Trinette is out of town, so I am hoping to get some knitting done.
From The Root. This is jaw-dropping. I do know a little about prisons, which states have better ones and which states (including Louisiana) have worse ones, and that the gap between good and bad is huge. This blows my mind – in the best way.
Referred by The Smile, this article was a bit annoying to navigate at the original site, so I archived it. Sure, it’s worth a little effort to get to – but it was easy to do and makes it a lot easier to read.
I love my Secretary of State. Next year she’s term limited but will be running for AD (I love my AG even more, but he’s also term limited. He’ll be running for Governor.) One thing about being told to take a hike is Colorado is that there’s virtually no end of beautiful and exciting possible hikes to take here.
Randy – I started the video at 2:43 because that’s where the song starts, but by doing so I left out the first 1:18 of introduction. You can decide how much you want to see by going to YouTube.
Yesterday, the radio opera was “Arabella” by Richard Strauss, who is much better known for “Salome,” “Elektra,” and “Der Rosenkavalier.” Arabella is about the two daughters of a Count and Countess who are deep in debt and figure they can just barely manage to come up with one dowry, but two are an impossibility, so the second daughter Zdenka, has to dress as and pretend to be a boy (“Zdenko”). I can just hear MAGA screaming – or at least I would if anyone in MAGA were able to appreciate opera. But I digress. It’s essentially a comic farce, with a happy ending for both daughters and their parents. It’s also the last opera of the summer season – next Saturday the Met will be back, and hopefully I can just listen on the radio again. I say “hopefully” because the toad in the White House has cut public radio and TV funds enough that two announcers have left and the station manager is leaving as of tomorrow, and the Met costs. So I may be depending on WFMT all year now. Either way, there’s a lot for me to be excited about in the new season. Anyway, I’m off to see Virgil now and will check in when I return.
Also referred by The Smile, from a local TV station on Chattanooga. No information on how her skull got fractured – unless her blindness and he running everywhere might be a factor.
This from the East Idaho News is late – it happened a few days before Thanksgiving – but good news (and referred by The Smile) is always welcome, right? I can’t skip the ad on the video but it’s not terribly long and I think it’s worth it.
