Politics, Explained In A Sentence
2 hours ago
Monday, June 29, 2009
A week in Chicago with Jacob
Last week I took Jacob downtown for a week to experience life in a city (vs a suburb).
Click on the picture to see a slideshow of the week's events.
Click on the picture to see a slideshow of the week's events.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Owen Wingrave by Benjamin Britten
Last night we went downtown to the Chicago Opera Theater to see the opera "Owen Wingrave" by Benjamin Britten.
The drive took longer than we had planned. We wanted to go to the pre-opera talk since we knew nothing about this production. We had to decide between a meal at a real restaurant, or fast food. We chose the fast food route so we went to Noodles and Company on Michigan Ave (and it was actually very good.)
We made the talk on time, and listened to a brief introduction from one of the assistant directors (I think). After about 15 minutes, she ran out of things to say. She said that she spoke faster than she had planned, and confessed to know nothing about the music, being that she was a director.
I was thinking that maybe we should have had a real meal rather than fast food when a man in the audience asked in a deep resonant voice if he could say something. Relieved, the presenter agreed, and the man stood up and said "I am Benjamin Luxon, the original Owen Wingrave"
He proceeded to regale us with stories of his work with Britten on the first production. Fascinating.
He closed off with a tale about his first visit to the USA, to the Opera at Saratoga. He was asked to attend a party by a very attractive lady, so naturally he agreed. As the evening wore on he was surrounded by opera fans of the female persuasion, who enticed him with comments like "We can go off later, my husband will get drunk and pass out soon" and similar lines. He enjoyed the attention, but did not partake of the offerings. On the way home he asked his companion if America was always like this. She confessed that the group had decided to try to find out if he was gay.
He said "They never found out!"
At that point the conductor of the night's performance Steuart Bedford who had also taken part in the original production came in, cried "Benjamin" in a surprised voice, and ran to embrace him.
Cast of Owen Wingrave
The drive took longer than we had planned. We wanted to go to the pre-opera talk since we knew nothing about this production. We had to decide between a meal at a real restaurant, or fast food. We chose the fast food route so we went to Noodles and Company on Michigan Ave (and it was actually very good.)
We made the talk on time, and listened to a brief introduction from one of the assistant directors (I think). After about 15 minutes, she ran out of things to say. She said that she spoke faster than she had planned, and confessed to know nothing about the music, being that she was a director.
I was thinking that maybe we should have had a real meal rather than fast food when a man in the audience asked in a deep resonant voice if he could say something. Relieved, the presenter agreed, and the man stood up and said "I am Benjamin Luxon, the original Owen Wingrave"
He proceeded to regale us with stories of his work with Britten on the first production. Fascinating.
He closed off with a tale about his first visit to the USA, to the Opera at Saratoga. He was asked to attend a party by a very attractive lady, so naturally he agreed. As the evening wore on he was surrounded by opera fans of the female persuasion, who enticed him with comments like "We can go off later, my husband will get drunk and pass out soon" and similar lines. He enjoyed the attention, but did not partake of the offerings. On the way home he asked his companion if America was always like this. She confessed that the group had decided to try to find out if he was gay.
He said "They never found out!"
At that point the conductor of the night's performance Steuart Bedford who had also taken part in the original production came in, cried "Benjamin" in a surprised voice, and ran to embrace him.
Benjamin Luxon
Cast of Owen Wingrave
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
The new wing of the Art Institute of Chicago
Sunday we visited the new wing (The Modern Wing} of the Art Institute of Chicago.
It is amazing - huge, beautiful, and filled with some of the best art of the 20th Century.
If you have not been there - run, do not walk to the nearest exit and head to downtown Chicago.
All my pics of the new wing start here
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Wednesday, May 06, 2009
"Le Tragedie de Carmen" at the Harris Theater
We went to see "La Tragedie de Carmen" produced by the Chicago Opera Theater at the Harris theater in Millenium Park last night. It is an interesting remix of Bizet's Carmen by Marius Constant. Same music (different sequence), smaller orchestra, condensed down to about 75 minutes by eliminating dancing, choruses, and happy parts. The whole cast plus the conductor appear in the photo above. Four of the six characters ended up dead. Two plus the conductor lived on.
The cast had great singing talent, with somwhat awkward acting by the Lead, Carmen.
We especially enjoyed the pre-concert talk by the assistant which gave us an insight into what Constant did, and why.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Shakespeare and Mozart's last works.
This week we went downtown to see two excellent productions - Shakespeare's last play - "The Tempest" and Mozart's last work - "La Clemenza di Tito".
Both were unusual and excellent productions.
"The Tempest" at Steppenwolf was played in non-traditional dress, with the players shunning traditional Shakespearean declamatory style in favor of totally modern prosody. The result was an enthralling performance.
"La Clemenza di Tito" was played on a simple, but credible, set. By any measure the Chicago Opera Theater is Chicago's second string Opera Company. However, this production was in no way inferior to anything produced by the Chicago Lyric Opera. The voices of the young singers were world class. I have no doubt that their names will become famous. Watch, in particular, for Dominic Armstrong, Charlotte Dobbs, and Renata Pokupic.
What is not mentioned in the course of the performance is that the Tito of the title is the Titus who destroyed the second Temple in Jerusalem!
Both were unusual and excellent productions.
"The Tempest" at Steppenwolf was played in non-traditional dress, with the players shunning traditional Shakespearean declamatory style in favor of totally modern prosody. The result was an enthralling performance.
"La Clemenza di Tito" was played on a simple, but credible, set. By any measure the Chicago Opera Theater is Chicago's second string Opera Company. However, this production was in no way inferior to anything produced by the Chicago Lyric Opera. The voices of the young singers were world class. I have no doubt that their names will become famous. Watch, in particular, for Dominic Armstrong, Charlotte Dobbs, and Renata Pokupic.
What is not mentioned in the course of the performance is that the Tito of the title is the Titus who destroyed the second Temple in Jerusalem!
Friday, April 24, 2009
Haitink and the Chicago Symphony
We listened to a program of Webern, Mahler and Schubert (The Great Symphony) at the CSO last night. Despite walking with the aid of a cane, Haitink delivered his usual masterful performance.
The Botanic Gardens
We rode to the Gardens on one of the first nice days of spring. This is one of my favorite views - not hard to find - its from the bridge as one walks in.
On the other hand, this field of Crocuses (Crocii) looks like it is afflicted with the pox.
On the other hand, this field of Crocuses (Crocii) looks like it is afflicted with the pox.
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