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It's hard on a highly respectable man
Apparently it is culture weekend. On Thursday, I heard Susan Cooper read a remembrance of John Langstaff and the Revels at the Cambridge Public Library. (The reading was for Cambridge Voices, but she was gracious enough to sign my old trade paperback of The Grey King.) Last night I met ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
fleurdelis28 at the BU Theatre for Carlisle Floyd's Susannah, with a pre-show talk by the composer and Phyllis Curtin. (It is one of my favorite operas, an Appalachian murder ballad with apocryphal roots; I've had the 1962 recording with Curtin and Norman Treigle since I was a junior at Brandeis, but I'd never seen a production.) And tonight, thanks to the magic of the half-price ticket kiosk in Copley Square, we're going to see Coppélia at the Boston Ballet. (It's a comic ballet based on "Der Sandmann." I can't even figure out how that should work, but you expect me not to see it?) Right, and it's also my father's birthday observed. Just in case there wasn't enough going on.
And someone on WERS just finished singing Irving Berlin's "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning," which I can respect very much. I was standing in the rain at ten in the morning to ask about ballet tickets. I felt like the opening scenes of The Red Shoes, or possibly Elizabeth Enright's The Saturdays. I'll go with the latter; it decreases my chances of ending up folklorically dead.
fleurdelis28 at the BU Theatre for Carlisle Floyd's Susannah, with a pre-show talk by the composer and Phyllis Curtin. (It is one of my favorite operas, an Appalachian murder ballad with apocryphal roots; I've had the 1962 recording with Curtin and Norman Treigle since I was a junior at Brandeis, but I'd never seen a production.) And tonight, thanks to the magic of the half-price ticket kiosk in Copley Square, we're going to see Coppélia at the Boston Ballet. (It's a comic ballet based on "Der Sandmann." I can't even figure out how that should work, but you expect me not to see it?) Right, and it's also my father's birthday observed. Just in case there wasn't enough going on.And someone on WERS just finished singing Irving Berlin's "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning," which I can respect very much. I was standing in the rain at ten in the morning to ask about ballet tickets. I felt like the opening scenes of The Red Shoes, or possibly Elizabeth Enright's The Saturdays. I'll go with the latter; it decreases my chances of ending up folklorically dead.
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(2) Just your few words here about the opera Susannah made me very curious, so I read the story synopsis, the description of its Appalachian-based music, and its relation to the Biblical story of Susannah and the Elders--wow, just fascinating.
(3) Coppelia was the first ballet I ever saw performed.
(4) Happy birthday-observed to your father!
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It made me happy!
(2) Just your few words here about the opera Susannah made me very curious, so I read the story synopsis, the description of its Appalachian-based music, and its relation to the Biblical story of Susannah and the Elders--wow, just fascinating.
I recommend the recording I mentioned in the post; it's live, so there are coughs from the audience and pickup issues and occasional flubs from the pit, but Phyllis Curtin and Norman Treigle are amazing.
(3) Coppelia was the first ballet I ever saw performed.
It seems to be the first ballet for almost everyone except me; mine was The Nutcracker in 1987. But one of the dancers who spoke before the show was talking about putting Coppélia into repertory as the spring ballet in the same way as The Nutcracker is performed every winter, and I think that would be a wonderful idea.
(4) Happy birthday-observed to your father!
I shall tell him you say so!
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I found out the day before. There was a tiny notice in the paper. I didn't think. I'll let you know next time!
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Unrelatedly, have you played the board game Tales of the Arabian Nights?
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Cool. The only other work of his I know is Markheim, so I'm glad for the recommendation!
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But how lovely! All your stars must be aligned artistically.
Happy birthday to your father.
Nine
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I really needed a weekend—a month, if some other concerts and operas work out without bankrupting me—like this. I pipe-dream of being able to do it more than once a year.
Happy birthday to your father.
So conveyed.
Irving Berlin
>>Sunday, April 18, 3pm
Edward M. Pickman Concert Hall
Longy Welcomes
American Classics
Yip! Yip! Yaphank!
A concert performance of Irving Berlin’s World War I soldier show, in its first modern revival.
Tickets: $20 General Admission / $15 Students and Seniors<<
Re: Irving Berlin
Re: Irving Berlin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0CzZNvldUU
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That was it. I can't make it for prior commitments, but I was glad to know someone was still doing the music: "Oh, How I Get to Get Up in the Morning" is one of the songs I grew up on (and mostly the way I feel. I am nocturnal). Are you involved in the show?
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Heh. That means you saw the Coppélius I was sorry not to have seen—not that I knew Sabi Varga from Spalanzani before this evening, but he was half of the pre-show discussion (the other half being a former principal dancer of the New York City Ballet whose name I didn't catch, although I think she might have directed the children's chorus) and spoke passionately about "falling in love" with the character; I was curious if he would have made the inventor a more pathetic figure as well as a comic one. Robert Kretz was quite good, but I have no idea how he personally feels about the role!
I hope you aren't disappointed; the ballet is much less sinister than any story by Hoffman or that act of the Offenbach opera would lead one to believe.
I wasn't disappointed; I was sorry only that their T-shirts for Coppélia were pink and in design devoid of automata, because otherwise I would totally have bought one.
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And I'm pleased to have now seen the source for two Princess Tutu references.
T-shirts that were not-pink and with automata would certainly be preferable. I would say this is true of most things . . .
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Mornings are no fun, but I'm glad you got your tickets. Glad also that you're going with The Saturdays, as opposed to the Hans Christian Andersen story.
Happy Birthday Observed to your father!
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I had an excellent time. I may post about it tomorrow once sleep has actually been achieved.
Glad also that you're going with The Saturdays, as opposed to the Hans Christian Andersen story.
Well, I like Hans Christian Andersen . . . (I was thinking more of the Powell and Pressburger film, which opens with a gang of students all racing up to the balcony to catch the best cheap seats.)
Happy Birthday Observed to your father!
I'll tell him!
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Grand. I hope you've slept well.
Well, I like Hans Christian Andersen . . .
I do as well, but I don't much like the idea of my friends being characters in his stories, as the things that tend to happen to his characters are the sorts of things that would prevent them writing any more poems or interesting LJ posts. I'd miss you.
(I was thinking more of the Powell and Pressburger film, which opens with a gang of students all racing up to the balcony to catch the best cheap seats.)
Ah, okay.
I'll tell him!
Thanks!