Well, dear readers, I have listened to two count them two Alban Berg operas and not only have I survived, I enjoyed them. They were, in the order heard, Wozzeck and Lulu, which is also that name of a 1940s haberdashery. While they are definitely not Puccini or Verdi, they are not so scary after all. They have moments of beauty, there is some cacophony, but I found it all very accessible. The two are contained in one box set on Deutsche Grammophon, conducted by Karl Bohm, who does a fine job of it as far as I can tell. It must be said that the Lulu is the truncated two-act version, because the recording was made prior to the Berg estate allowing someone to finish orchestrating the third act, which had never been performed. So, of course, I’m interested to hear that third act and have the Pierre Boulez version on its way, even though I don’t really care for Mr. Boulez. It does get high marks and it stars Theresa Stratas. I thought Wozzeck was really good, too, especially on this recording. Otherwise, I am sitting here like so much fish, listening to the Khachaturian piano concerto, which I love, and that will be followed by the Khachaturian violin concerto, which I also love. Mr. Khachaturian gets a lot of critical brickbats tossed his way, but I love his music and always have. I don’t know how you can listen to Spartacus or Gayane or these concertos and think this guy wasn’t a great composer. Oh, and before the Berg operas, I heard a short but nice opera, another by Respighi, this one called Lucrezia. I suppose you should also know that I’ve eaten two muffin tops and a sandwich for my evening snack. Do with that information what you will. We also had our second Zoom rehearsal on Zoom and it went very well. I didn’t stop much and just gave a few notes here and there for project two aka project two.
Yesterday was an okay day, pretty much. I got over nine hours of sleep. I went out like a light at two, woke up at eleven, and then slept another hour. Guess I needed that after the vaccine thing. But sleeping that much usually gives me a headache and did, so I finally took two I Be Profane tablets and those took effect very quickly and the headache was completely gone in thirty minutes and it even helped the soreness in the arm, too. That’s much better as I write these here notes. Once up, I answered e-mails, did a bit of writing, and then I went and picked up a couple of packages, after which I came right home. I had another forty percent off thing, and I used that for Hugo’s pasta papa. I always put in the instructions to not forget the cheese. They forgot and I complained and got a seven-dollar credit for my next order. Ah, the glorious second movement of the piano concerto with the incredible flexatone. Where was I? Oh, yes, I got a seven-dollar credit.
After that, I had other stuff to do, which I did. And then it was time to have our Zoom rehearsal on Zoom. After that, I did a quick run to Gelson’s for the two muffin tops, came home, ate one, had a little turkey sandwich, and am about to eat the other muffin top as soon as I finish writing these here notes.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, then I have to go to the Bank of Bur and pick up some tapes, which, if they’re interesting, could be the basis of a Kritzerland release. Then I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, I’ll eat something, do some writing, and then we have our third and final Zoom rehearsal. Prior to it, I’m Zooming with two of our actors, both of whom have very long monologues that I want to make sure we’re getting everything out of. Both are very tricky, but the actors are wonderful, and I know they’ll get it. After that, I can watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow is a day off aka ME day, although I do have a few things to do, including getting the Indiegogo campaign ready. Now’s the time, if we’re going to do it. Friday, we’re back with project two aka project two, which will go through Sunday and then one additional one hour on Monday or Tuesday. This one’s very complicated but we’ll figure it all out, I have no doubt.
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, pick up tapes in Burbank, hopefully pick up packages, eat, write, have our third and final Zoom rehearsal, and then I’ll watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have survived not only Wozzeck, but also Lulu.