Weblog 112

March 30, 2008~ 12:15am
There's a multitude of images of the Madonna that have been rendered over the centuries that are beautiful- serene, and moving, but they are so often sad. Even clasping a chubby baby Jesus in her arms, I sense an overhang of doom--an inability to escape the dictates of fate, and what it will finally come to: her, at the bottom of the cross, and wretchedly weeping.



So often that is the image of the female role- to abide, to be long-suffering, and I think it's crap. What I'd like to see is another kind of icon-- one with strong legs, and a formidable butt, who looks like she could hoist a ton of pain and toss it into the ocean with a butt and legs that are muscular, entirely solid on their pins. A butt to be reckoned with-



I don't think anyone would mistake this lady for a 'damsel'. I think she could throw a shot put, carry a hod of bricks and yes, for sure, she'd carry her own groceries, and sink posts if she had to. Notice the face is not even shown. Not a hint of pulled down eyes that are glistened with tears- or an otherworldly wistfulness- this lady is in the moment, standing firm. And so is this one-



Give me a strong-legged, big butted woman any day of the week and she'll benchpress FIVE of those madonna-types. We're stronger than we look- (or more than some of us pretend.) Women can push out babies and bounce right back. Can spitshine a whole household and put in a garden, move furniture like longshoremen, and we do not faint at the sight of blood- hell no- we live with blood all the time.



I like the secretly smiling androgeny of that face above. That's a woman, for sure- and she knows what she knows. And she ain't tellin'.




March 30, 2008~ 8:10pm
If you've never paid a visit to a submlimely entertaining blog, "Dark Roasted Blend"- you must stop in today and visit this page on Nightmare Playgrounds. These are ACTUAL, IN-USE playgrounds from Russia and Eastern Europe, and to tell you the truth, I don't think any kid would get any sleep after playing in one. LOL!


Simply click on the homicidal pediatrician above, and wend your way through the horrific world of Eastern European kiddie habitats. (I believe they must have a continent of bed-wetters over there. Stutterers and OCD's.) To be young, is to be traumatized----------- but all in good fun.




April 2, 2008~ 5:00am
Chutzpah! The best kind.... I believe Pittsburgh has achieved a new 'first' in this story that delighted me this morning as I read it in our local online newspaper. No April fool's joke, but a valiant, nervy commitment to the old axiom, 'the show must go on'......



Conductor Does Double Duty As Tenor Loses Voice...

Wednesday, April 02, 2008

By Andrew Druckenbrod, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Desperate times led to a remarkable solution in Verdi's "Aida" at the Benedum Center last night: The conductor stepped in to sing for an ailing tenor.

That would be amazing enough, except that Antony Walker, the Pittsburgh Opera's music director, didn't leave the podium. In a rare occurrence indeed in the opera world, Mr. Walker conducted and sang the role of Radames in the final act of the opera while the tenor acted the role on stage.

"I trained as a singer for seven years and sometimes it comes in handy," Mr. Walker said after the performance. "I never had to sing and conduct before and I hope I never have to do it again!"

Yesterday, tenor Vladimir Kuzmenko, cast as Radames, came down with the same bug that has sidelined mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe. Pittsburgh Opera management yesterday decided to fly in a tenor to sing the role if Mr. Kuzmenko couldn't make it through the performance. But Eduardo Villa's flight was delayed and Mr. Kuzmenko lost his voice by the end of the third of four acts.

Panic? No. Not when you have a tenor in the pit. Christopher Hahn, the Opera's artistic director, knocked on Mr. Walker's door and said, "Can you do it"?

"Act 4 is light and lyrical; It was feasible;" said Mr. Walker, who already had been steeling himself for the possibility. "It was the only way we could continue the opera."

"When I heard it announced, I thought it was an April Fools' joke," said Beth Parker, an Opera staff member.

Mr. Walker sang the intimate action in which Radames and Aida -- played by soprano Eszter Sumegi -- are entombed, while Mr. Kuzmenko acted on stage.

"I had a lovely duet with the sopranos," said Mr. Walker. "A conductor and a singer often communicate. It actually wasn't so difficult. We know each other quite well."

Singing is not new to Mr. Walker. In addition to studying voice and singing in recitals, he sings in rehearsals.

"I often sing in orchestra rehearsals because it gives the orchestra an idea of the work," he said. "I have sung every note of 'Aida.' I do that with every opera I prepare. I find you can empathize with the singers better."

But singing in rehearsal is different than the real thing.

"Conducting and singing are essentially two contradictory things, with singing you have to feel it in the body but conducting is upper body and brings that breath up. I had to conduct lower than I typically do, to support a column of air."

He asked for a microphone to help him since he faces away from the audience, but that was eventually turned down.

"It was surprisingly seamless," said Pittsburgh Post-Gazette dance and music critic Jane Vranish. "He blended well with the women. He did not lose any of his conducting skills in the process."

The audience ate it up, giving him the largest ovation of all.

"The show must go on," said Mr. Walker, who said he did enjoy the challenge. "The audience was so appreciative of everything that went on and supportive of us trying to do it."

It's just not something he would recommend anyone, even himself, doing again.

And just LOOK at that guy! If anyone could have done it, he could. What an absolute joy he is!




April4, 2008~ 5:15am
From a link sent to me yesterday from my sweetie-- here is a couple of weird-assed architects whose passion in life is to live in a kind of self-created kindergarten- click on the pimply floors below


See? Youth forever! Make sure you watch the audio slideshow. (Yah, a livin' in a place like that- those concrete, bumpy floors- those primary colors, yah that will keep you from cancer and old age. That should do it. LOL!) If you ask me I think I'd vote this house the one- "most likely to fall and break a hip"....

the rich and insane.....we have always with us.





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