times spent with uncle sam, debbie voigt, my family and tchaikovsky
Let's take a look back at my week...
TAXES:
My taxes are done and mailed off to the proper facilities. I have to say that I'm loving the fact that I can claim myself as a personal business (i.e. "Musician"). This allows me to do so many wonderful write-offs (i.e. opera tickets, black recital/concert clothing, scores, among several other high-priced stuff). The beauty is that my write-offs helped lessen my tax burden, but probably weren't substantial enough to warrant an audit. (Not that I'm afraid of one, necessarily...just the hassle of it all.)
DEBBIE VOIGT:
The theme of Thursday's concert at the Symphony was a celebration of erotic, decadent pleasure in the works of Wagner, Bartok and Strauss. The orchestra started off with the Overture and Bacchanal from Wagner's Tannhäuser, then the chorus joined them for Bartok's Cantata profana, a choral/orchestral tone poem about 9 boys that magically transform into stags. Both of these works were well executed, and I'm glad to see less-recognizable repertoire heard at Powell Hall...
...but come on... Y'all know why I was really there. The second half featured preeminent american dramatic soprano Deborah Voigt singing an aria from Strauss' Elektra ("Ich kann nicht sitzen") and the final scene of Salome. Decked out in a spangly black number, Ms Voigt walked onstage like she fuckin' OWNED Powell Hall. Her Chrysothemis aria worked very well, and she had wonderful command of the stage as well as her own gestures. Between the aria and the Salome scene, conductor David Robertson led the orchestra through a marvelous "Dance of the Seven Veils" which only ramped up the anticipation further. For the closing piece, Deborah changed into a sleek red dress--a delicious choice for the bloody final moments of Salome. The voice was phenomenal, if (dare I say it?) burdened in a few spots by the orchestra. Actingwise: I am very glad, indeed, to see Ms Voigt tackle this scene out of a production context...especially after experiencing her role debut in Chicago last October. It's obvious she knows this character inside and out, and the resulting performance was immensely satisfying for this viewer.
After the concert, Deborah came to the lobby to sign some of her recent CDs. I didn't buy one nor stand in line for fear that I would, out of star-struck mania, unleash the following fanboyesque gibberish:
"OHMYGODISAWYOUINSALOMELASTOCTOBERANDYOUREALLYROCKEDMYWORLDYOULOOKEDGOODEVENINAFLESHTONEBODYSUIT!"
Instead, I just stood off to the side to observe her interaction with the public that chose to fork over $20. Eric, dazzled by her performance, managed to steal a quick snapshot of Ms Voigt.
THE WEDDING:
My cousin Dave married his several-year girlfriend, Amy, yesterday in Collinsville. I wish them many happy years together, because by golly, they deserve it! Tomorrow they go honeymooning in Hawaii to experience more warm temperatures than we'll ever experience this spring.
Thursday night, I picked up my Tommy Hilfiger tux, which, I guess, was worth the $160 rental. Friday evening, I trekked over to C-ville for the rehearsal and the eventual rehearsal dinner. Saturday, naturally, was the wedding.
As a participant in the wedding party (Usher), I was part of some of the photographs, which were taken mostly before the wedding ceremony. During the group shots, the photographer was making several attempts at humor (for both us grownups and the toddlers acting as Flower Girl and Ring Bearer). As the photographer was beginning to suggest "funny" poses for the wedding party, I decided to jokingly suggest: "jazz hands?" ....big mistake. Why? This became one big running joke all the way up to the dancefloor at the reception. I mean, I can handle a little ridicule for such a weirdo suggestion, but when that's ALL the photographer took me for (i.e. a weirdo Fosse-wannabe?), I kept thinking "F___ YOU! THE JOKE IS WEARING THIN!" through clenched teeth when he'd look my way and do a jazz hands motion. At the end of the night, he motioned for me to do "jazz hands." With almost 2 bottles of champagne
Oh well, despite the time spent explaining that, it was a minor annoyance. The rest of the time was absolutely fun. A stretch hummer-limousine was ordered for the wedding party to cruise around town while guzzling beer and champagne...moreso the latter for myself. The reception was nothing but more good drinks, good food, good dancing and good times. In short, the Rhymers know how to throw a party!
EUGENE ONEGIN:
By complete happenstance, I learned that there was going to be a re-transmission of the MET's recent revival of Eugene Onegin playing this afternoon. Having nothing else to do this afternoon, I trekked out to B.F.E. (aka. St. Louis Mills Mall) for a 1:30 show. Hvorostovsky (sp?) and Fleming were absolutely wonderful in this Tchaikovsky opus, and Vargas was no slouch either! I have to say that this broadcast had the opposite effect on me (than Barbiere) in that I feel more compelled to make it up to Chicago for Lyric's Onegin, even though it will be the same exact production (falling leaves, 3-scrims, minimalist/furniture) heard/seen today.
I never claimed I wasn't fickle.
Ok, I'm off to scrounge up some dinner and watch The Amazing Race.
TAXES:
My taxes are done and mailed off to the proper facilities. I have to say that I'm loving the fact that I can claim myself as a personal business (i.e. "Musician"). This allows me to do so many wonderful write-offs (i.e. opera tickets, black recital/concert clothing, scores, among several other high-priced stuff). The beauty is that my write-offs helped lessen my tax burden, but probably weren't substantial enough to warrant an audit. (Not that I'm afraid of one, necessarily...just the hassle of it all.)
DEBBIE VOIGT:
The theme of Thursday's concert at the Symphony was a celebration of erotic, decadent pleasure in the works of Wagner, Bartok and Strauss. The orchestra started off with the Overture and Bacchanal from Wagner's Tannhäuser, then the chorus joined them for Bartok's Cantata profana, a choral/orchestral tone poem about 9 boys that magically transform into stags. Both of these works were well executed, and I'm glad to see less-recognizable repertoire heard at Powell Hall...
...but come on... Y'all know why I was really there. The second half featured preeminent american dramatic soprano Deborah Voigt singing an aria from Strauss' Elektra ("Ich kann nicht sitzen") and the final scene of Salome. Decked out in a spangly black number, Ms Voigt walked onstage like she fuckin' OWNED Powell Hall. Her Chrysothemis aria worked very well, and she had wonderful command of the stage as well as her own gestures. Between the aria and the Salome scene, conductor David Robertson led the orchestra through a marvelous "Dance of the Seven Veils" which only ramped up the anticipation further. For the closing piece, Deborah changed into a sleek red dress--a delicious choice for the bloody final moments of Salome. The voice was phenomenal, if (dare I say it?) burdened in a few spots by the orchestra. Actingwise: I am very glad, indeed, to see Ms Voigt tackle this scene out of a production context...especially after experiencing her role debut in Chicago last October. It's obvious she knows this character inside and out, and the resulting performance was immensely satisfying for this viewer.
After the concert, Deborah came to the lobby to sign some of her recent CDs. I didn't buy one nor stand in line for fear that I would, out of star-struck mania, unleash the following fanboyesque gibberish:
"OHMYGODISAWYOUINSALOMELASTOCTOBERANDYOUREALLYROCKEDMYWORLDYOULOOKEDGOODEVENINAFLESHTONEBODYSUIT!"
Instead, I just stood off to the side to observe her interaction with the public that chose to fork over $20. Eric, dazzled by her performance, managed to steal a quick snapshot of Ms Voigt.
THE WEDDING:
My cousin Dave married his several-year girlfriend, Amy, yesterday in Collinsville. I wish them many happy years together, because by golly, they deserve it! Tomorrow they go honeymooning in Hawaii to experience more warm temperatures than we'll ever experience this spring.
Thursday night, I picked up my Tommy Hilfiger tux, which, I guess, was worth the $160 rental. Friday evening, I trekked over to C-ville for the rehearsal and the eventual rehearsal dinner. Saturday, naturally, was the wedding.
As a participant in the wedding party (Usher), I was part of some of the photographs, which were taken mostly before the wedding ceremony. During the group shots, the photographer was making several attempts at humor (for both us grownups and the toddlers acting as Flower Girl and Ring Bearer). As the photographer was beginning to suggest "funny" poses for the wedding party, I decided to jokingly suggest: "jazz hands?" ....big mistake. Why? This became one big running joke all the way up to the dancefloor at the reception. I mean, I can handle a little ridicule for such a weirdo suggestion, but when that's ALL the photographer took me for (i.e. a weirdo Fosse-wannabe?), I kept thinking "F___ YOU! THE JOKE IS WEARING THIN!" through clenched teeth when he'd look my way and do a jazz hands motion. At the end of the night, he motioned for me to do "jazz hands." With almost 2 bottles of champagne
Oh well, despite the time spent explaining that, it was a minor annoyance. The rest of the time was absolutely fun. A stretch hummer-limousine was ordered for the wedding party to cruise around town while guzzling beer and champagne...moreso the latter for myself. The reception was nothing but more good drinks, good food, good dancing and good times. In short, the Rhymers know how to throw a party!
EUGENE ONEGIN:
By complete happenstance, I learned that there was going to be a re-transmission of the MET's recent revival of Eugene Onegin playing this afternoon. Having nothing else to do this afternoon, I trekked out to B.F.E. (aka. St. Louis Mills Mall) for a 1:30 show. Hvorostovsky (sp?) and Fleming were absolutely wonderful in this Tchaikovsky opus, and Vargas was no slouch either! I have to say that this broadcast had the opposite effect on me (than Barbiere) in that I feel more compelled to make it up to Chicago for Lyric's Onegin, even though it will be the same exact production (falling leaves, 3-scrims, minimalist/furniture) heard/seen today.
I never claimed I wasn't fickle.
Ok, I'm off to scrounge up some dinner and watch The Amazing Race.