Christmas Christmas Christmas
Getting in the Spirit
With the exception of a few moments of drama (mostly unnecessary drama I brought on myself), I think this Christmas season is going to be fine. Saturday was the first day I really did any shopping of substance...and I sure know how to pick the coldest, snowiest day yet of Winter. I didn't notice the second wave of snow until I was leaving the coffee shop section of Borders. As soon as I saw the snow from inside, I thought:
"WHEEEE! It finally feels like Christmas!!! I'm gonna go home, put on some comfy clothes, make some cocoa, snuggle up with a good movie, while listening to A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Guaraldi Trio!!! WHEEE!!!!"
Then I saw how much snow had accumulated on my car...and I realized how slow the drive home would have to be... Then I thought "BLECH! I'm just gonna order a pizza and watch Saturday Night Live." And that's exactly what I did. To my male readers: there's this wonderful, (somewhat) new gift idea for your significant other peddled to me by Justin Timberlake and Andy Sanberg on SNL. It's called "D*** in a Box". Try it sometime...at your own risk.
The Church Job has gotten less busy now that we're done with the recording (which is quite awesome, btw) and the Vivaldi Magnificat. I will not miss having to sing the "Et misericordia" from that piece...what a breath-control NIGHTMARE!! (The rest of it was quite an enjoyable sing, though.) I'm doing a greeting at this Sunday's service, where the music is promised to be very lightweight...and that also goes for Monday night's Christmas Eve service as well. Then we're off until the middle of January 16. My checkbook will shed a little tear until then.
I gave myself two early Christmas presents to myself this year. One I shall experience tomorrow (more on that below) and the other I gave myself the other night. I won't bore you with the details, but let's just say that I hope the latter gift leads to more happiness and health (physical, mental and spiritual) in my life. :) Maybe this Christmas won't suck, after all.
SwEeNeY tOdD OMGZ!!1!!!
The movie version of Sweeney Todd opens on Friday. Yours truly couldn't be any more excited!! *squeee* Sondheim himself has mentioned that in the early development stages for the film adaptation, he didn't want this film to read as a "movie of the stage show" so to speak. He wanted for it to be a "movie" through and through, which I agree with. If one listens to the score alone, it almost sounds like a soundtrack of an old-school horror film. I'm hardly a Tim Burton enthusiast, but I'm anxious to experience his vision of the work. Vocally speaking, I've heard samples of both Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. From what I've heard, Depp hits the mark for a non-singer. Carter, another non-singer, sounds adequate...though she seems to get through a role full of Sondheim's trickiest vocal challenges with finesse.
Chicago Trip
I'm taking that trip to Chicago for Die Frau ohne Schatten tomorrow! I've done a lot of homework on the Strauss piece (recordings, podcasts, libretto reading) and should be ready to fully enjoy/appreciate the production. I leave here 8:30 am, get in Chicago at 2:30, see the Opera at 6:30, get out of the Opera at 10:30, then board an 11:55 bus to return home after 5:00 am... ...do you think I'll be useful for work PLUS two Christmas parties???
(Eric P-- If you're reading this, I'll think of you and how much your love of Strauss rubbed off on me while I am at the opera.)
With the exception of a few moments of drama (mostly unnecessary drama I brought on myself), I think this Christmas season is going to be fine. Saturday was the first day I really did any shopping of substance...and I sure know how to pick the coldest, snowiest day yet of Winter. I didn't notice the second wave of snow until I was leaving the coffee shop section of Borders. As soon as I saw the snow from inside, I thought:
"WHEEEE! It finally feels like Christmas!!! I'm gonna go home, put on some comfy clothes, make some cocoa, snuggle up with a good movie, while listening to A Charlie Brown Christmas by the Vince Guaraldi Trio!!! WHEEE!!!!"
Then I saw how much snow had accumulated on my car...and I realized how slow the drive home would have to be... Then I thought "BLECH! I'm just gonna order a pizza and watch Saturday Night Live." And that's exactly what I did. To my male readers: there's this wonderful, (somewhat) new gift idea for your significant other peddled to me by Justin Timberlake and Andy Sanberg on SNL. It's called "D*** in a Box". Try it sometime...at your own risk.
The Church Job has gotten less busy now that we're done with the recording (which is quite awesome, btw) and the Vivaldi Magnificat. I will not miss having to sing the "Et misericordia" from that piece...what a breath-control NIGHTMARE!! (The rest of it was quite an enjoyable sing, though.) I'm doing a greeting at this Sunday's service, where the music is promised to be very lightweight...and that also goes for Monday night's Christmas Eve service as well. Then we're off until the middle of January 16. My checkbook will shed a little tear until then.
I gave myself two early Christmas presents to myself this year. One I shall experience tomorrow (more on that below) and the other I gave myself the other night. I won't bore you with the details, but let's just say that I hope the latter gift leads to more happiness and health (physical, mental and spiritual) in my life. :) Maybe this Christmas won't suck, after all.
SwEeNeY tOdD OMGZ!!1!!!
The movie version of Sweeney Todd opens on Friday. Yours truly couldn't be any more excited!! *squeee* Sondheim himself has mentioned that in the early development stages for the film adaptation, he didn't want this film to read as a "movie of the stage show" so to speak. He wanted for it to be a "movie" through and through, which I agree with. If one listens to the score alone, it almost sounds like a soundtrack of an old-school horror film. I'm hardly a Tim Burton enthusiast, but I'm anxious to experience his vision of the work. Vocally speaking, I've heard samples of both Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. From what I've heard, Depp hits the mark for a non-singer. Carter, another non-singer, sounds adequate...though she seems to get through a role full of Sondheim's trickiest vocal challenges with finesse.
Chicago Trip
I'm taking that trip to Chicago for Die Frau ohne Schatten tomorrow! I've done a lot of homework on the Strauss piece (recordings, podcasts, libretto reading) and should be ready to fully enjoy/appreciate the production. I leave here 8:30 am, get in Chicago at 2:30, see the Opera at 6:30, get out of the Opera at 10:30, then board an 11:55 bus to return home after 5:00 am... ...do you think I'll be useful for work PLUS two Christmas parties???
(Eric P-- If you're reading this, I'll think of you and how much your love of Strauss rubbed off on me while I am at the opera.)