Well, dear readers, I think today’s notes should be sung by opera singers, don’t you? But should they be spinto or bel canto, soprano or mezzo, a coloratura or a Tessie Tura, a basso profundo a baritone, a countertenor or a plain old tenor? I have no idea what spinto or bel canto means, but it sounds to me like it has something to do with horses. Yes, operatic notes, especially high C’s on the high seas. Of course, all this opera talk is because I’ve been having a bit of an opera education. Prior to this education, I knew nothing of Richard Strauss or Richard Wagner’s operas, other than their orchestra suites, I knew nothing of Braunfels other than dear reader elmore’s recommendation (a good one), I knew nothing of Humperdinck or Schreker. In other words, I was an opera neophyte, only knowing the works of Puccini, Cavalleria Rusticana, Robert Ward’s The Crucible, Lee Hoiby’s Summer and Smoke, Amahl and the Night Visitors of Menotti, the operas of Douglas Moore and a few other American operas, including Kurt Weill and Marc Blitzstein. I suppose I’d heard Carmen a time or two, but I don’t believe I’ve ever heard a Verdi opera all the way through. I’ll probably have to do something about that at some point. But I’m enjoying the journey. For example, yesterday’s listening included a new remastering of the Karl Bohm Salome, which is beyond spectacular and a real step up, quality-wise, Richard Strauss’s Der Rosenkavalier, which I really enjoyed, despite its over three-hour length – von Karajan’s 1956 recording, originally only released in mono, but recently released in stereo for the first time – it’s a great-sounding early stereo recording, and the performance is fantastic, from singers, to conductor, to band, all with the caveat that I have no idea what I’m talking about – I just know what sounds good. Also, a new mastering (and superb) of Tosca with Leontyne Price – that and Salome both included a Blu-ray audio disc as well as the CDs. I really was reminded how much I love Puccini, and this is a wonderful recording. I have all the Puccini operas in a box somewhere – I may try to dig them out. You know what they say: An opera or three a day keeps the doctor away and true to form there was not a doctor in sight. Now, I just sang this entire paragraph in a rousing baritone, no scooping, and did so while eating some peanuts, no mean feat or even mean feet, since my feet were thoroughly entranced by my baritone warblings. I no longer have a clew as to what the HELL I’m talking about.
Yesterday was, for whatever reasons, both irritating and irritating, not necessarily in that order. Not the entire day or evening, but enough of each to be both irritating and irritating. First of all, sanity and light, please, because the farce that’s going on in this country right now is a farce. And I think most thinking people can see it for exactly what it is – bad theatre and a bad farce – in the end, none of it will matter a whit, but to have to endure this daily nonsense, which we all knew we’d have to, is enervating and just plain stupid. Thankfully, it will all be over soon enough. Was I ranting? Anyway, I got eight hours of sleep, got up, answered e-mails, picked up some packages, and went to Casa Vega, where I picked up the main meal – three beef tacos – after which I came home and ate said tacos, which were, as always, great. They’re really only about 250 calories each and nicely filling. I had a handful of chips and salsa and threw the rest away. That was basically it for food until much later, when I made a little tortilla with cheese, about 180 calories, and had a few peanuts. So, if I went over 1000 calories it wasn’t by much.
After food, I listened to Der Rosenkavalier straight through, which was a bright spot, then, as soon as it was done, I did some work on project two, making some good progress. After that, I finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched an old Bing Crosby special called Coolin’ It, on DVD. I’d seen a clip of Bernadette Peters doing a number from it on YouTube, and just loved the choreography and was intensely curious as to who it was. So, I found this two-DVD set for about five bucks – several der Bingle specials, Coolin’ It being from 1970 and also featuring Dean Martin and Flip Wilson. It was very much of its era, but the opening number’s choreography was also great, so at the end I finally got the name of the responsible party – I knew whoever it was was really good and I was right – the brilliant Danny Daniels.
After that, I dove into the first season of The Good Fight on DVD, which dear reader Jeanne kindly gave me for my birthday. It stars Christine Baranski, who I like very much and who I had the pleasure of recording in our definitive version of the title song from the musical version of The Man Who Came to Dinner – Sherry. She’s terrific in this, and I thought the writing was decent and I enjoyed episode one very much and am looking forward to the other nine season one episodes.
In between all that, I had a volley of truly irritating texts, which I finally put to an end, got truly irritated at the amount of money the postage on our first two releases is – over $2,000 at the moment and we aren’t quite finished – it’s really outrageous and I realize it’s paid for but we kind of lose money in the end because of the boxes and labels and stuff. But ship we must. And I know the other two releases are being picked up tomorrow, but I think we’ll hold off until mid-week to ship them, which is still over two weeks ahead of the ship date.
After my viewing, I did a bit more work on project two and a bit of Kritzerland show work, then listened to music and relaxed.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, I’ll hopefully pick up packages, I’ll eat the sausage pizza as the meal, I’ll hopefully have no irritations, I’ll work on project two, hopefully hear a new orchestration, work on the Kritzerland show, and, I’m quite certain, watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow, the Group Rep holiday playlets begin and I’ll have that direct link in tomorrow’s notes – it’s ten bucks and I get no freebies, but don’t feel compelled to watch unless you really have the wherewithal and the interest. I do know that the one I directed is the final playlet. There will be a Zoom cast party for the opening night attendees, if that’s an incentive. And you get to watch as much as you like for the one fee – for the next three weeks. Sunday is, of course, the Kritzerland show, and I’ll relax until it’s show time – I’ll have those links in Sunday’s notes, and do try to join us as it live streams, won’t you?
Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s all break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, let’s all dance the Hora and the Monkey, for today is the birthday of our very own dear reader Ginny. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to our very own dear reader Ginny. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OUR VERY OWN DEAR READER GINNY!!!
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, do whatever needs doing, hopefully pick up packages, I’ll eat the sausage pizza, hopefully have no irritations or irritations, hopefully hear a new orchestration, work on both project two and the Kritzerland show, 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, I think I’ll be listening to the Strauss opera, Daphne. Blu-ray, more The Good Fight. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall perhaps meet the soprano, the basso profundo and the Tessie Tura.