Patty’s Words Of Wisdom for 11/16/08

16. November 2008 · 4 comments · Categories: Ramble

If you look at your music bag and think to yourself, “Gee, I’d be in a bit of trouble if I packed the wrong glasses and left my music reading glasses at home,” just go ahead and look in the bag to see if that is, in fact, the case. You will save yourself a good bit of anxiety that way. You will be able to read your music, and you won’t wind up with aching eyes. 🙂

Yeah, you are smart enough to figure out what I’m sayin’ there. Or, if you’re not, you’re even dumber than I am!

When I got to the pit today it was 65 degrees in there. We were told that the air conditioning is broken, so they have to blast it until the show begins, turn it off for the first act, turn it back on for the intermission, and then turn it back off for the second half. It did finally warm up, so I didn’t even get to complain. Can you imagine?!

SF Elixir

16. November 2008 · 4 comments · Categories: Links, Opera, Ramble

So maybe SF Opera’s Elixir isn’t any faster than ours. Hmmm. I had assumed it would be, but Not For Fun Only says it’s on the slow side. In the comments somewhere at Opera Tattler she also said the tempi weren’t all that speedy. I don’t go to hear and see the production until after ours is over, but I was expecting very quick tempi. Maybe I’m the only one who wants it to fly …?

Actually, our performance last night seemed zippier to me. Maybe the maestro wanted things peppier too? I’m sure one has to have balance — keeping it alive but not killing the singers. The thing is quite easy for us to play — okay, at least for the oboes; I can’t speak for other sections — and fast can be quite fun with Donizetti.

A Little Envious

16. November 2008 · Comments Off on A Little Envious · Categories: Links, Opera

“Minnesota OperaWorks is a multi-year, seven year, program to highlight contemporary opera as part of American opera repertoire,” Smith said.

I would love to do more contemporary opera. But it’s not a big sell here. I think the hype of one brand new contemporary opera might draw crowds; even those who only attend SF Opera and tend to look down on us might attend that. But to highlight contemporary opera would probably lose our audience. Oh well.

I read about Minnesota Opera here.

MQOD

16. November 2008 · 6 comments · Categories: Links, Quotes

“One of the things you do as a professional classical musician is play ‘church jobs,’ ” Wurman says, “and I always felt that this is so wonderful, all this music, the collection of people, this beautiful room. But there was something lacking.”

Hmmm. Perhaps it’s faith that’s lacking? Just an idea ….

I read it here.

What Do Dogs Know, Anyway?

16. November 2008 · Comments Off on What Do Dogs Know, Anyway? · Categories: Ramble

The body of research clearly demonstrates that anxious animals like slow, classical music, i.e., music that is 60-72 beats per minute, with simple melodies and harmonies. The most recent research from California adds one other element: piano. Dogs prefer their classical music played on the piano.

I read it

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BQOD

16. November 2008 · Comments Off on BQOD · Categories: BQOD

Note to the guy who sat next to me on the plane ride to San Francisco all those years ago — I was not actually engaged to a cellist in the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. I didn’t want to hurt your feelings. Sorry. I’m just not a Dungeons & Dragons type girl.