29. May 2008 · Comments Off on Long Day … Wonderful Performance! · Categories: Links, Opera, Ramble, UCSC

I’m home from a very long day at UCSC. It began when I arrived to deal with a parking permit issue (I had the wrong license plate number on my latest purchased permit—yes, we do have to pay for parking!) at 8:45 AM. This means I left home at 8:00. I think we pulled into the garage tonight a little before 11:30 PM. That’s one very long day, and my eyes can’t stay open much longer.

But what a good day it was! First I taught, as I always do. And it was as enjoyable as ever. I just love teaching there. I spent time doing various things, including napping in my car (!), and then Dan, Jameson and I went out for sushi. Then it was back to school to see opening night of Menotti’s The Consul.

What an wonderful performance! I was impressed with every aspect of it: singers, pit, conductor, staging … so Bravi Tutti to you all! And hoorah to the group I coached! It was a delight to hear you. I do hope you all were happy with your performance … I sure was!

(Born yesterday, 1925)

So I just read that “An Inconvenenient Truth” will be turned into an opera. At La Scala.

I wonder if they’ll allow instruments made out of endangered species trees to be played. (My oboes are so old I think it’s okay … don’t you?)

Hmmm. Looking at the endangered species list I’m not finding “my” wood. Why is everyone saying it’s on the list? Is there another name besides grenadilla or African blackwood? Anyone know?

29. May 2008 · Comments Off on Opera Kids! · Categories: Ramble

Elementary school kids are singing an opera. And why not?

Read about it here.

I really like this idea. Kids and singing … sounds great to me. My brother and I used to sing “opera” as we made our mud pies and worked on a fort on the side of our house. I remember it all very fondly. (For some reason he doesn’t remember it … maybe it was my voice?)

29. May 2008 · Comments Off on Opening Night · Categories: Ramble

Well, mine have never looked quite like this. But then this was in 1933, so there you go.