T-day countdown

Only two more days to one of my very favorite holidays: Thanksgiving!!

I love love love it.... delicious food, great pals, a nip in the air (fingers crossed!). A day fully devoted to the idea of gratitude for all the blessings we have in our lives. And a parade. Hello? What's not to love about this day?

For many years now I have reserved Thanksgiving as the holiday I spend with the family I have made for myself. I've lived quite far away from my natural family since I graduated from college, and 2 big trips in the space of one month just doesn't make sense, so I've developed my own traditions. I've spent T-day on Ellis Island with a childhood pal, around a sad little chicken in my first apartment with a high-school friend, with the families of various loved ones... upstate NY, Texas Panhandle, Texas Hill Country. For the last couple of years, I've spent the day with the family of a dear dear friend here in Houston, which has been wonderful. And last year I began a new tradition: Delivering home-made CINNAMON ROLLS!

Thank you Pioneer Woman for adding to the collective waist-line of those in my inner circle.
Anyway, I hope you are all looking forward to a very happy Thanksgiving as well, surrounded by people you love. xxoxox

Tim Burton at MOMA

I am not the biggest fan of Tim Burton (lord knows that would be a difficult title for which to fight!) but I certainly appreciate his attention to detail and how fully his work is realized.... every piece is it's own AMAZING world. Anyhoo... here is a fascinating interview with the man that includes lots and lots of stills of his drawings and movie work. Worth the 7 minutes, I say.

Music & Lyrics --- Fleurs

As usual, a car trip of any length sends me to my stash of un-listened-to CDs and I take a musical walk down memory lane (schmaltz with your morning coffee anyone?)

Recently I pulled out "Love Songs"... a collection of songs sung by Arleen Auger, who has an exquisitely lovely voice. This is a great disc of all sorts of music written for the concert hall and/or parlor singer, and includes some really gorgeous tunes. Near the end of the disc is the haunting "Fleurs" by Francis Poulenc.

I came across this song during my last year of undergraduate study, and really, it is a big part of the reason I am still a musician today. As a young singer, I had grown steadily more frustrated with my technical progress, had begun to lose all faith in my skill, and spent a great deal of time sobbing in the practice rooms. A sad sap, indeed. And in your senior year of a music degree, you must present a final recital... the culmination of your studies, meant to show a polished product, ready for the world.

Disillusioned with my ability to do the job, disgusted with the plethora of frivolous music suitable for a young soprano, I nonetheless managed to stumble upon a book about Francis Poulenc. I flipped thru the pages, and came across the first poem in a set that includes "Fleurs", "La Dame D'Andre" ...

André does not know the lady
whom he took by the hand today.
Has she a heart for the tomorrows
and for the evening has she a soul?

On returning from a country ball
did she go in her flowing dress
to seek in the haystacks the ring
for the random betrothal?

Was she afraid, when night fell,
haunted by the ghosts of the past,
in her garden, when winter
entered by the wide avenue?

He loved her for her colour,
for her Sunday good humour.
will she fade on the white leaves
of his album of better days?

Wow. The coldness and "un-romantic-ness" of this really struck me, and I hadn't even heard the music. I read on to the next poem, "Dan l'herbe"...

I can say nothing more
nor do anything for him
He died for his beautiful one
he dies a beautiful death outside
under the tree of the Law
in deep silence
in open countryside
in the grass.

He died unnoticed
crying out in his passing
calling, calling me.
But as I was far from him
and because his voice no longer carried
he died alone in the woods
beneath the tree of his childhood.
And I can say nothing more
nor do anything for him.

And now I was hooked. I have big interpretive thoughts about both of these poems, but this is becoming the longest blog post in history. So... fast forward thru a couple other poems, and then we hit "Fleurs."

Promised flowers,
Flowers held in your arms,
Flowers sprung from footprints.
Who brought you these winter flowers,
Powdered with the sands of the seas?

Sands of your kisses,
Flowers of faded love,
Your beautiful eyes are ashes.
And in the fireplace
a heart beribboned with sighs
Burns with its treasured images.

Promised flowers,
Flowers held in your arms,
Flowers sprung from footprints.
Who brought you these winter flowers,
Powdered with the sands of the seas?

In my mind, this poem (song) is the voice of a woman who sits in front of a fire, burning the momentos of a love affair that is over. It speaks to me of quiet agony, of memories that are deeply painful because of the happiness they once held. And it is the music that tells me she is now in doubt about the entire relationship... were they ever really happy? Did she even know the man who gave her these flowers? Was she fooling herself all along?

You can listen here: listen

These poems were written by Louise de Vilmorin, an incredibly interesting character. Poulenc found in her writing "a sort of sensitive impertinence, libertinage, and appetite..."
Found this quote on wikipedia:

She had a limp but possessed an ethereal elegance. Evelyn Waugh described "Loulou" to Nancy Mitford as "an Hungarian countess who pretended to be a French poet. An egocentric maniac with the eyes of a witch. She is the Spirit of France. How I hate the French." Mitford concurred, "Oh how glad I am you feel this about Lulu—I can't sit in a room with her she makes me so nervous. And vicious… She is much more like a middle European than a French woman."

ANYWAY.... this is to me one of the most beautiful songs in the world. Because of its beauty and depth and haunting pain, I was inspired to keep singing. Listen to it, love it with me.

What song breaks your heart?

On my plate...

What is on your plate this week?
Mine is FULL!!!

1. Going to Round Top, Texas, this weekend for a symposium on Noel Coward and Vaudeville.
   
2. Meeting new people
3. HGO's Lohengrin #3
4. Book club: featuring the informative and disturbing Half the Sky.
5. Washington Pub Crawl. Second incarnation. Missed the first, determined to enjoy the 2nd.
   
6. Flying to Tulsa and back multiple times... sometimes on the same day! .... to direct a small show for the opera there: Britten's Noyes's Fludde.... and am THRILLED to be using the costumes & sets from a production I did with Rooth Varland several years ago.
7. Lohengrin #4 and #5
8. exhaustion/relaxation
   

German Romantic fever

Can I say something obvious? Why, yes. Yes, I think I can. And I will. :)

Beethoven is astounding. I've been watching "Immortal Beloved" on Netflix today, loving Gary Oldman, and remembering why I used to have Beethoven Piano Sonatas on permanent play when I was working desk job.

Exhibit A:
A bit from Symphony #7, mvmnt 2:


Good lord I love how that unfolds and just washes over you.

Exhibit B:
Sonata #14 in C# min (Moonlight)
Yes, this is the world's most famous piano sonata. (is it? maybe) But just listen to it, folks!! I love this scene in the movie (see pic above)... Beethoven thinks he is alone in the house and he puts his ear right onto the instrument he is playing, trying desperately to hear the music. Tears. me. up.


If you are big ole nerd like me, you can go to YouTube, type in "Moonlight Sonata" and begin a comparision of the 800 versions there. The various interpretations are kind of astounding.... compare Glenn Gould with the one I've posted, by Barenboim.

And then, for something completely different, check this out:

THAT is art, people.

I heart Teesha Moore

Have you ever seen the work of artist Teesha Moore?
Her vivid style is instantly recognizable and I was attracted to it immediately when I began exploring the world of mixed-media art. You can see tons of her journal pages here.


A couple of years ago I heard about a rubber-stamping convention in Pasadena, Texas. I happened to have the afternoon free so I made the trek... and imagine my surprise when I ran across a booth with Teesha AND her wildly talented husband, Tracy! I spent a couple of hours talking to the pair and looking at their wares (definitely stand-outs in a sea of traditional rubber-stamping), and fell more in love with their work than ever.

And this week, Teesha has posted a series of "how-to" videos on her blog... Teesha's Circus. What an amazing glimpse at the process of a creative mind. Good lordy, it is fascinating.

Take a few minutes, scroll down thru her blog, and immerse yourself in Teesha's techni-color world.

headshots

ok, mini-freak out...how's this for a new headshot? I know, I know, push the hair out of your face.... what can i do ???
taken by the ever-talented CameraMan. Maybe I will post other options as personal demons are confronted and courage is plucked.
In the meantime, compare with this one, taken OVER A DECADE AGO. wow.


In other news, I am coming up on a bit of time off. I have some projects in the works, but I am looking at a LOT of free time. AND I NEED SOMETHING TO OCCUPY MY EASILY CRAZED MIND! so... suggestions????
Things I am considering:

• Getting serious about jogging. You know I love the podcast, but I am crap at keeping up with a program.
  
• Getting serious about language study. Even if I force myself to study for one hour a day.. think what I could learn!
• A crazy opera study project: Mozart immersion or something. Really devote myself to one opera a week... watch at least 2 videos, read up.
  

I should do ALL of these, shouldn't I? I could be educated AND svelte by Christmas. Che pazzo!
Seriously my friends, let's hear your ideas, pronto. I need you.