Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much full fish after a relaxing day of relaxing and then more relaxing. In fact, the only thing I did, work-wise, was proof a chart, and even that was relaxing. It was nice to have a full day and evening of relaxing relaxation. I did not expect to be this full, but as things transpired there was enough food for me to get full and I took advantage of each and every morsel, and then each and every morsel took advantage of me. And as I write these here notes, I’m listening to Mr. Klemperer do the Bach Mass in B-minor because I happen to have a little Klemperer box here with his recordings of sacred music, entitled Sacred Music. Sound is marvelous, of course. Have I mentioned that I’m full? Here’s why: When I got up after nine hours of lovely sleep, I was greeted with an e-mail from Postmates with a 40% off coupon and a click-through to only restaurants that were open, most of which were fast food jernts. But as I scrolled down the page, there was my beloved Paty’s Coffee Shop, so I clicked the menu and lo and behold and behold and lo they had a full Thanksgiving dinner one could order and have delivered. There were no time options, you just ordered, and it would be delivered within an hour or ordering. So, I instantly ordered and with the 40% coupon the whole thing set me back only twenty bucks with tip. And indeed, about forty-five minutes later my Thanksgiving meal arrived, for which I gave thanks. I don’t know why I wanted to have a proper Thanksgiving meal, since I don’t usually care one way or the other, but I did. So, there was a little salad with 1000-Island dressing, there was a full turkey dinner – turkey, stuffing (not too much), a medley of green beans, broccoli and corn that was tasty, and some pretty great candied sweet potato that I absolutely loved. The turkey was great, the gravy was great, the stuffing was great, and I was a happy Thanksgiving Jew. They also included a piece of pie – was supposed to be pumpkin, but I’m assuming they ran out, so it was cherry pie – a very small slice – and I was fine with that since I like cherry pie and pie-wise it’s not too horrible in terms of calories. After that, I was stuffed to the gills, as they say. But that didn’t stop me a few hours later, but first let’s catch up.
As mentioned, yesterday I got a little over nine hours of sleep, got up, answered e-mails, ordered food, proofed a chart and sent the one set of corrections I could via e-mail as they were simple. We’ll do the note corrections on the phone, and they’re pretty simple, too. Then food arrived and I ate, whilst listening to music from the little von Karajan box. I’m not a von Karajan FANatic, but when he’s on his game he can be great and the Berlin Philharmonic is a world-class band, so there are wonderful things in the box, including a terrific album of opera intermezzos. After I finished with that, I finally sat on my couch like so much fish, as it was already after five o’clock.
Last night, I watched a DVD of Hansel and Gretel, the Met production from 1982, which had been in their repertoire since 1968. It’s a very traditional, old-fashioned production, with fairy tale sets and costumes and very kid friendly. I must say, I pretty much adored it – yes, the direction could have been tighter and better, yes there could have been a bit more magic in sets and lighting while still staying within the storybook settings, but that’s picking nits. The cast was splendid, and I was completely entranced by the two leads, Frederica von Stade as Hansel and Judith Blegen as Gretel. I knew nothing of the latter but what a clear and wonderful soprano she is and I’ve always loved Ms. von Stade. And as the witch, Rosalind Elias was clearly having a great time and because she was, so did I. I do feel there’s more humor to be mined and if ever there was an opera I’d like to direct this would be it. I gather the Met retired this production and replaced it with a new, darker and weirder version directed by Richard Jones. I looked at a few clips of that production on YouTube and absolutely hated what I saw, another director with a “vision” I didn’t need to see. I have another production coming at some point, so it will be interesting to see how that compares, but I can’t imagine the cast will be better. I’ll watch again at Christmas. Recording-wise, it’s still the Eichhorn all the way, but the von Karajan mono thing is still winging its way to me.
After that, I began the bad boy portion of my evening. I had the ham bits that I bought the night before at Gelson’s, and it was really only a few slices, probably not even three ounces, so I ate those. Then this pumpkin chocolate ship loaf began calling out to me – “Try me, try me,” it implored, and never wanting to disappoint a pumpkin chocolate chip loaf I tried it and I have to say that it was pretty great. It wasn’t a huge slice, but still, after the dinner and the cherry pie, perhaps it was a little overkill, but I’m allowed a splurge day and this was clearly it, so even if I went all the way up to 2000 calories, I think it will be okay and today I’ll be super good about doing only 1000 calories and I’ll do that on the weekend, too. After that, I lucked out into a soundtrack to release – I’d thought about it after I’d watched the film a few months ago, but I finally gathered together the stuff that would make it a reality. The problem is, of course, that there’s only fifteen minutes of music, so I have to find something to put with it that would make sense and where I can bring it up to at least sixty minutes. But those fifteen minutes of music are cherce, that’s all I can tell you. Then it was time to write these here notes.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll maybe do a little work on project two if I feel like it, I’ll most likely do hot dogs for the meal, since that’s absolutely the best thing calorically, I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, and then it’s more watching, listening, and relaxing.
The weekend is exactly more of the same. I do have to go and get tested for Covid in the morning because everyone who’s involved in the shoot on Monday has to, and on Sunday I’ll immerse myself in the details for Monday’s shoot. Then the rest of the week is project two, proofing charts for project one, and the December Kritzerland show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, be up when I’m up, maybe do a little work, eat, hopefully pick up packages, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player, and your DVD/Blu and Ray player? I’ll start – CD, not sure what’s next. Blu-ray, not sure what’s next. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have had a lovely Thanksgiving meal and Thanksgiving memory.