Topic: IF YOU ASK ME (Read 23189 times)

Michael · « **Reply #30 on:** December 19, 2004, 07:30:40 AM »

THE Italian soprano Renata Tebaldi, considered one of the greatest divas in the post World War II era and a rival to Maria Callas, died today at the age of 82, her doctor said.

I knew the name only from the Terrence McNally play the Lisbon Traviatta. Where the character of Mendy (wonderfully played by Nathan Lane) tries to score a botleg copy of Callas' Lisbon Taviatta by pretending to be Tebaldi's secretary by saying that she was leaving tomorrow to do her first Violetta in years and everyone is tellling her to listen to Callas' Lisbon Traviatta

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #31 on:** December 19, 2004, 07:36:35 AM »

Good Morning!

-I think I'm still "recovering" from reading all those posts once I got back from the show...

My Mom is at the hospital right assisting with my father's discharge. -Hopefully, this one will stick! I'm home right now babysitting my niece, Alexandra - a.k.a. the one who is not scared of me. Her father/my brother is helping one of his friends move this morning, so I am gladly taking on "Uncle Jojo" duties. She's actually still sleeping, so, so far, so good. But once she gets up, we'll head downstairs for some cereal and TV (either NickToons and/or Disney Channel).

elmore3003 · « **Reply #32 on:** December 19, 2004, 07:38:25 AM »

Good morning, all! 10:35 am EST and it's quite gray outside. Perhaps we're getting snow today? I've got a fershluganeh ear infection this morning and I am not happy about it; my right ear aches, keeps closing up with draining fluid, and I fear this means a trip tomorrow to the idiot "care giver" who misdiagnosed my abscess in July and put me into six months of hell. The rules of my moronic HMO, which just raised their rates this months, are that my "care giver" has to refer me to an ENT physician. I hate this crap!

I have to deal today with final shopping; I have one brother and Father to shop for and no ideas for either of them! Oh, the quandary!

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #33 on:** December 19, 2004, 07:41:57 AM »

...OH, and I'm listening to Williams-Sonoma "My Favorite Things" which is part of their "Dinner Companion Series". I bought it last year - or maybe even the year before on sale after Clearance, and after this initial listen I may go back to see if they came out with a new one this year.

What a groovy mix of songs and personalities: Diana Krall, Ella Fitzgerald "Good Morning Blues", Billie Holiday, Joe Williams, Dean Martin "The Christmas Blues"...

My favorite tracks so far have to be Ralph Materie's "Dig The Crazy Santa Claus" (with the vocalist, unfortunately, uncredited), and "I'll Be Home for Christmas" sung by Ledisi and Sundra "Sun" Manning.

elmore3003 · « **Reply #34 on:** December 19, 2004, 07:43:20 AM »

Quote from: Michael Shayne on December 19, 2004, 07:30:40 AM

THE Italian soprano Renata Tebaldi, considered one of the greatest divas in the post World War II era and a rival to Maria Callas, died today at the age of 82, her doctor said.

DRMichaelShayne, La Tebaldi wasn't the actress La Callas was, but her voice was stunning. In Cher's film MOONSTRUCK, the excerpts from LA BOHEME are from Tebaldi's recording, and she's in fantastic voice. The joke in THE LISBON TRAVIATA, which you probably missed, is that Callas and Tebaldi were huge rivals, and it was La Scala's constant use of Callas that kept her away from there. There was a lovely article about Tebaldi in an OPERA NEWS around 3 or 4 issues ago.

Callas was once asked if she didn't think Tebaldi had a voice like champagne, and her answer was: Coca Cola!

DERBRUCER · « **Reply #35 on:** December 19, 2004, 07:47:09 AM »

Quote

Quote from: JoseSPiano on Yesterday at 09:05:46pm
Btw, my Ford Escort Wagon - blue - is 11 years and 4 months. And it's about to hit 200,007 miles! And it still gets about 35mph! Sometimes more if the moon is right!

TCB inquires:

Jose -- Aren't you required to drive faster than that on the Beltway?

Well, Jose - we wait with baited breath for the answer.

der Brucer (who had Jose as a passanger as we speeded through the cities of our fair Capital)

Matt H. · « **Reply #36 on:** December 19, 2004, 07:51:46 AM »

Quote from: George on December 19, 2004, 12:38:36 AM

Does anyone happen to have a stereo copy of Baker Street that they'd be willing to copy for me?? I'd greatly be grateful!

I was sure I did, DR George, and then I just walked back to the LPs and checked: my copy of BAKER STREET is mono! I'm so sorry.

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #37 on:** December 19, 2004, 07:53:13 AM »

Quote from: Michael Shayne on December 19, 2004, 07:30:40 AM

THE Italian soprano Renata Tebaldi, considered one of the greatest divas in the post World War II era and a rival to Maria Callas, died today at the age of 82, her doctor said.

I knew the name only from the Terrence McNally play the Lisbon Traviatta. Where the character of Mendy (wonderfully played by Nathan Lane) tries to score a botleg copy of Callas' Lisbon Taviatta by pretending to be Tebaldi's secretary by saying that she was leaving tomorrow to do her first Violetta in years and everyone is tellling her to listen to Callas' Lisbon Traviatta

-I believe she's also referred too in Merrily We Roll Along...

There's a series of "Great Voices" biographies published by Baskerville which started with Tito Schipa. I believe the Tebaldi bio was the second one in the series - and I think it's also an English translation of an Italian text. In any case... It's a nice bio, and unlike the trend in current writings about divas and divos - have you read any of the choice clips from the new one about Pavarotti?!?! Meow!!! - it's a very loving tribute to her and her career. Plus, each book comes with a CD.

Matt H. · « **Reply #38 on:** December 19, 2004, 07:54:54 AM »

My day plans to be erratic. My friend and I are going shopping at some point today for components for his new home theater system. I have laundry to do. I have many gifts that need wrapping.

I have selected some STAR TREK original series episodes to watch, and I also have W. C. Fields' IT'S A GIFT, my favorite film of his, on tap to view.

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #39 on:** December 19, 2004, 07:56:03 AM »

Quote from: DERBRUCER on December 19, 2004, 07:47:09 AM

Well, Jose - we wait with baited breath for the answer.

der Brucer (who had Jose as a passanger as we speeded through the cities of our fair Capital)

OOPS! My bad - see I told you I was tired!

Of course, I meant to type MPG as opposed to MPH...

As for driving 35 mph... I only do that when I can't drive any faster due to traffic... Or when I notice no cops around...

Matt H. · « **Reply #40 on:** December 19, 2004, 07:56:13 AM »

At least I don't have any more Christmas parties until WEdnesday night.

Jrand73 · « **Reply #41 on:** December 19, 2004, 08:04:36 AM »

My BAKER STREET is Monaural as well.

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #42 on:** December 19, 2004, 08:06:15 AM »

Quote from: elmore3003 on December 19, 2004, 07:38:25 AM

Good morning, all! 10:35 am EST and it's quite gray outside. Perhaps we're getting snow today? I've got a fershluganeh ear infection this morning and I am not happy about it; my right ear aches, keeps closing up with draining fluid, and I fear this means a trip tomorrow to the idiot "care giver" who misdiagnosed my abscess in July and put me into six months of hell. The rules of my moronic HMO, which just raised their rates this months, are that my "care giver" has to refer me to an ENT physician. I hate this crap!

I have to deal today with final shopping; I have one brother and Father to shop for and no ideas for either of them! Oh, the quandary!

Ear infections away! Feel Better Vibes! -And, who knows, maybe the Christmas Spirit has kicked into your care giver?

...Final shopping... Good for you... As for my holiday shopping... Hmmm... Since the real holiday is not until Saturday, I have until Friday... Although, I do know some stores that will be open on Saturday morning, so... Hmm...

elmore3003 · « **Reply #43 on:** December 19, 2004, 08:10:38 AM »

Quote from: Matt H. on December 19, 2004, 07:51:46 AM

I was sure I did, DR George, and then I just walked back to the LPs and checked: my copy of BAKER STREET is mono! I'm so sorry.

I'm still amazed that BAKER STREET hasn't landed on CD yet. It's MGM, isn't it? If so, like MAN WITH A LOAD OF MICHIEF (Kapp), I believe they're both owned by Decca/Polygram. If we can get UP IN CENTRAL PARK and ARMS AND THE GIRL, why can't they give us these two shows from the 60s?

elmore3003 · « **Reply #44 on:** December 19, 2004, 08:11:19 AM »

And what about ALL IN LOVE, while I'm raving?

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #45 on:** December 19, 2004, 08:13:01 AM »

Il est arrivé! Il est arrivé!

-Not the beaujolais nouveau - which actually came in a few weeks ago, and was pretty tasty this year...

My father is home from the hospital. We got him right up to the bedroom, got him comfortable - well, as comfortable as he can be right now, and now he's resting. He looks good. Understandably tired, but I can tell he's happy to out of the hospital again.

-I think the hard part will be telling my nieces and nephews that "PaPa" cannot come out to play today...

However, I'm sure they'll be able to keep themselves occupied and entertained on their own.

td · « **Reply #46 on:** December 19, 2004, 08:14:51 AM »

I have a full day here.
It's Mum's 72nd Birthday, and I'm having fourteen people in for dinner:
STANDING RIB ROAST
BAKED POTOTOES
(sour cream mixed with crumbled bacon and chopped onions)
FRESH BROCOLI CROWNS (to be steamed)
BABY SPINACH SALAD (with bacon, feta cheese, mushrooms, red onions and rasberry walnut dressing)
CAKE AND ICE CREAM CAKE (homemade on the latter, with sherbet and whipped frosting).

Already, I have the roast (13 lbs) ready to be put in the oven; the salad made, the ice cream cakes finished, the brocoli cleaned and the potatoes still need to be oiled and wrapped).

Listening to Dionne Warwick's Christmas album.

Watched L'AGE D'OR last night. Fascinating film. Still powerful after all these years . . .this was my first viewing, though I have seen UN CHIEN ANDALU countless times. I'm thinking of adding some more Bunel to my Netflix queue. . .

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #47 on:** December 19, 2004, 08:27:25 AM »

...Now playing: Suzanne Ishee & Mark Hardy, "Broadway Center Stage"

Mark was at VCU last school year finishing up a degree as well as teaching a musical theatre class which I played for. He spent a lot of time in time in LES MISERABLES off an on for about 14 years, as well as in TITANIC among others. Great baritone voice. He gave me a copy of the CD when the class finished, and this is the first time I've listened to it, so...

The CD features classic Broadway and movie musical songs. Arlen, Gershwin, Porter, and both R&H's (Hart and Hammerstein).

Nice disc.

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #48 on:** December 19, 2004, 08:30:31 AM »

...And my niece has opted to wait to have her breakfast until her father gets back - which should be momentarily. Instead, she's watching cartoons.

Meanwhile, her Uncle Jojo is having his bowl of healthy cereal with unsweetened soy milk and a good portion of frozen blueberries on top - Thank You, Trader Joe's!

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #49 on:** December 19, 2004, 08:33:48 AM »

td - What?!?! No floop?!??! No wacky noodles?!?!?

And I'm assuming you'll have the requisite crudité tray with the requisite chunks of cheese and ham.

Have a wonderful partay!!! Sounds like quite the culinary spread! The perfect accompaniment to a very festive birthday for your Mum!

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #50 on:** December 19, 2004, 08:43:45 AM »

...And continuing my own frenzy...

It looks like the weather will not be cooperating tonight for my trip back to Richmond. The forecasted snow looks like it will definitely be coming in. Yes, it's only supposed to accumulate about an inch or so, but driving down 95 in any sort of inclement weather is always guaranteed to be quite the adventure. Of course, that adventure is not caused by the weather - snow, rain, sleet, etc. - but rather by the idiots on the road who think that their good tires, four-wheel drive, big car, etc., make them impervious to driving hazards. However...

I'm also thinking it will good for me to stay here tomorrow to help my father and mother out... So...

Oohh.. And maybe I'll actually get my Christmas cards done!

:\

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #51 on:** December 19, 2004, 08:49:25 AM »

Quote from: Michael Shayne on December 19, 2004, 07:19:30 AM

One of the more memorable moments in LA Theater this past year.

Most brazen use of a TelePrompTer: Val Kilmer. "Let my people, um ... LINE!"

Unfortunately, in the vast cavern of the Kodak Theater, the rest of line was:

"Let my people... Get Down Widdit!"

It was the audience who wanted to be set FREE!

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #52 on:** December 19, 2004, 08:50:33 AM »

....So sad to be all alone in the world....

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #53 on:** December 19, 2004, 08:53:03 AM »

DR JRand - It looks like I might be back in Indiana next summer for a few weeks down in New Harmony again. -And it's actually for a BK-related show too!

-See, I knew this would happen! As soon as I move to New York, I'll start getting all the work "out of town" again.

Matt H. · « **Reply #54 on:** December 19, 2004, 09:14:56 AM »

I'm sure I read somewhere, maybe one of Ken Mandelbaum's columns, that BAKER STREET is due on CD at some point in 2005.

TCB · « **Reply #55 on:** December 19, 2004, 09:43:25 AM »

Well, I am awake, and I am trying, unsuccessfully, to cram all of my dialogue for this new show into my burned-out brain. I have a 12:30 stumble through, followed by a mad dash to Port Orchard for the final performance of SCROOGE, THE MUSICAL. Gee, I am sure you will all be thrilled not to have to listen to any more stories about my triumphs and tragedies in SCROOGE.

JoseSPiano · « **Reply #56 on:** December 19, 2004, 09:46:34 AM »

Good Afternoon!

I'm off to the theatre... Two shows! -Which equals about four naps!

Laters...

bk · « **Reply #57 on:** December 19, 2004, 10:41:22 AM »

Quote from: Hisaka on December 19, 2004, 04:05:59 AM

DR BK loves Howl's Moving Castle a lot.
DR BK loves Cotton White Underpants a lot, too.
Well, I have a question, a simple but hard question.
Which do you prefer in reality, BK???

Cotton white underpants, always.

Hisaka, are the flowers in your photo from your garden?

bk · « **Reply #58 on:** December 19, 2004, 10:44:06 AM »

I am told Baker Street is on its way - we've been told that before and it hasn't happened, so let's just hope the news is correct. With that and the DRG release of A Family Affair, it doesn't leave very much of my sixties want list - maybe just A Time for Singing.

Jay · « **Reply #59 on:** December 19, 2004, 10:46:07 AM »

Quote from: DERBRUCER on December 19, 2004, 06:56:18 AM

Another voice for the Heavenly Choir:(Above courtesy of the Sydney Sunday Telegraph)

der Brucer

Miss Tebaldi's voice will be a fine addition to the Celestial Chorale. Regrettably, I never heard her sing live, though I have many of her recordings. She joins Messrs. Franco Corelli (with whom she sang frequently) and Robert Merrill, both of whom also died this past year. All three of these singers were amongst the icons of the golden age of operatic singing that audiences enjoyed in the '50s and '60s and into the '70s.

Another icon of roughly the same era, Dame Joan Sutherland, has been awarded a Kennedy Center honor. The festivities will be telecast this Tuesday evening.

News:

Author Topic: IF YOU ASK ME (Read 23189 times)