Well, dear readers, once again I am sitting here like so much fish, listening to the third of the three symphonies by Alfredo Casella. I discovered these because they showed up on YouTube one fine day, so I grabbed them and found them really excellent. And it’s no wonder, as he studied composition with one of my favorite composers, Gabriel Faure, whose other students included someone named Maurice Ravel. For two years, Casella was the conductor of the Boston Pops – he was succeeded by one Arthur Fiedler in 1929 and Fiedler would rule that roost for decades to come. Given how much I enjoyed these the first time I heard them, I’m surprised I didn’t grab the other stuff by him that’s on YouTube, but that will now be rectified, oh, yes, that will now be rectified. Give his symphonies a listen if they sound interesting to you. Just prior to listening, I watched the first twenty-five-minutes of Death and the Maiden, Roman Polanski’s film version of Ariel Dorfman’s play. I’m not sure why I never watched it since I’m a fan of Mr. Polanski’s motion pictures. I did see the play on Broadway with the rather stellar cast of Richard Dreyfuss, Glenn Close, and Gene Hackman, directed by Mike Nichols. I enjoyed it but didn’t love the play. The beautiful set was by our very own Tony Walton. The movie stars Sigourney Weaver, Ben Kingsley, and Stuart Wilson. So far, it’s very well directed, I don’t care for Stuart Wilson at all, but Kingsley and Weaver are fine. Prior to that, I’d seen a matinee at the Group Rep, a new play that I’d seen a reading of. This full production was done in their upstairs theater. The subject of the play (based on true events) was interesting. Doug was in it and did fine. After the play, he and I moseyed on over to the Coral Café for food. I had their version of Art’s Deli’s tri-salad – here with two scoops of chicken salad and one scoop of egg salad, only ten bucks less. We ordered some of their excellent onion rings as an appetizer and since we shared, it wasn’t too bad. The tri-salad was very good and filling. No bread was consumed. We had good conversation. After that, I went to Gelson’s, got some onion pockets and tuna for sandwiches, then I came home, watched a few irritating YouTube videos, had a muffin top that is currently making me quite nauseous, and then watched and listened.
Prior to all that, I got about six hours of on and off sleep. Then I had to shave and shower and be on my way to the theater. I did stop at the mail place and picked up no mail or packages. That was exciting. And the rest you know.
Today, I’ll be up when I’m up, I’ll do whatever needs doing, which better be nothing, I’ll be a lazy lout and have a ME day, I’ll eat two count them two tuna sandwiches and not one other thing, and then I’ll just lounge about in my pyjamas and smoking jacket and leopard-spotted dickie. And, of course, I’ll watch, listen, and relax.
Tomorrow is looking for young performers day so I can lock in the cast and begin choosing songs. We like to give the kids as much time as we can with the material so that they’re really prepared at the first rehearsal. Tuesday, she of the Evil Eye comes, and I have a few meetings and meals during the week. I have some writing to do, as well.
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, have a ME day, eat tuna sandwiches, and then watch, listen, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s free-for-all day, the day in which you dear readers get to make with the topics and we all get to post about them. So, let’s have loads of lovely topics and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to have a ME day today.