Well, dear readers, I am sitting here like so much fish, engulfed in lush. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, I, BK, am sitting here like so much fish, engulfed in lush. You see, I am listening to an opera by one Claude Debussy entitled Rodrigue et Chimene (Rodrigue and Chimene, for those who don’t speak French) and, like most of Debussy, it is lush, the lushest, lush that gives lush a run for its money. Did you know, that if you change the final letter of lush you might get lust? Of course, getting lust is another story for another day, isn’t it? It is not a story for a Tuesday, that much I know, as Tuesday isn’t National Lust Day. In any case, this Debussy fellow is LUSH, and this is a very enjoyable and lush opera, with a lot of choral singing to boot, not that I want to boot the choral singing. It’s an interesting piece – Debussy gave up on it – the libretto, based on El Cid, was simply not, according to him, who he was as a composer. But miraculously enough of it survived that it was finally reconstructed from the original manuscript and finally presented in 1995, which is what this recording stems from. And it’s very beautiful, so who knew? And it’s lush. Very, very lush, in that Debussy way. I really like it a lot, so far. I’m almost done with act two of three. Prior to that, I watched a very bad and irritating motion picture entitled Betrayed, starring Debra Winger and Tom Berenger. It was directed with a heavy hand by Costa-Gavras and written with an even heavier hand by a screenwriter I consider to be one of the worst in the history of cinema – Joe Eszterhas, the man who gave the world Flashdance, Jagged Edge, Basic Instinct, and best of all, Showgirls. I know Jagged Edge and Basic Instinct have rabid fans, but, for me, they are two of the worst thrillers I’ve ever seen. In any case, he’s at his considerable worst in Betrayed, a vile movie about white supremacists and the agent who’s been asked to infiltrate them. The pace is flaccid, the writing is just awful, and the actors do their best, which in the case of Miss Winger, is always great. But she’s asked to do so many idiotic things in this film and her boss, played by John Heard, is such a reprehensible character, and yet she keeps going along with whatever he asks her to do. I suppose it was prescient about the white supremacist angle, since there’s a real pandemic of THAT running alongside the other pandemic, but in the end the film is completely ludicrous. Even the Bill Conti score is ludicrous. And its self-importance reeks of the film’s producer, Irwin Winkler, who himself has directed some truly awful movies with a heavy hand. Highly NOT recommended by the likes of me.
Yesterday was partially enjoyable – or even mostly enjoyable – or even completely enjoyable, depending on the specific part of the day. I woke up at eight after four and a half hours of sleep and went back to bed at nine-thirty and sleeping until one – so eight hours of sleep. Then I had to shave and shower, answer e-mails and then I moseyed on over to Casa Vega for a fun luncheon with Cindy Williams. We were there almost two hours, and the conversation was sparkling and, at times, hilarious. I, of course, had my usual combination plate with one beef taco and one cheese enchilada, both excellent. Cindy had a chicken tostada.
After that, I picked up a couple of packages, made an ATM deposit, and then came home. I answered e-mails, solidified the rest of the week in terms of what I’m doing when, and then I finally sat on my couch like so much fish and watched Betrayed, which is what you’ll feel if you watch it.
Then I began the Debussy opera and the rest you know, so we are all caught up. Have I mentioned that this opera is LUSH? And about El Cid?
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, and I should be able to turn in all the Carol Christmas materials I’m responsible for, i.e. the complete score, the cast vocal book, and the tracks, both in WAV and mp3 format. We may print up copies of the Christmas Carol vocal selections, if that’s of interest to anyone. I’ll hopefully pick up some packages and then I have a meeting at five o’clock, which will include a meal, at least for me it will. Then I can watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow, I’m stuck here all day because they’re repaving or doing whatever they seem to do once a year to the streets around here. I can leave at six if I need to do anything. Thursday, I have another meal/meeting, Friday, I rehearse with the singer, and I’ll go see my friend who’s going on this weekend at the Group Rep – I’ll just show up for her part of the show, which is the first playlet of act two. Not sure what’s what on the weekend, but it may involve a trip to storage.
Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s all break out the cheese slices and ham chunks, let’s all dance the Hora or the Texas Two-Step, for today is the birthday of dear reader JohnG. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to dear reader JohnG. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO DEAR READER JOHNG!!!
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 turn in the Carol Christmas materials, hopefully pick up packages, have an early dinner meeting, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite choral pieces? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, as the Debussy opera finishes up its LUSH journey.