SFOpera AIDA is fantastic!

it was TREMENDOUS and mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick stole the show as Amneris.

Here she is in a less um. flashy production of AIDA singing in The Judgement Scene:

the show last night was sung beautifully but was dressed like something out of Vegas. The costume and stage design by famed punk british designer Zandra Rhodes. It was gawdy, bombastic and a lamentation in gold lame. (lamay?) She borrowed heavily from Julie Taymor for the elephant scene - and everything was in saturated glimmering colour.



it felt like how something with be costumed at the luxor in Vegas vs. performing Verdi's timeless opera. and the program for the evening dedicated five pages to an interview with the designer - who apparently got into opera because with a recession on - nobody was buying her fashions any longer.

AIDA is one of my favorite operas - and I'd go see any live production. but Rhodes' designs (for this opera anyway) left me lamenting for a Verdi that was less shiny and more gritty. Honestly, as a reviewer put it when the production premiered in London a couple of years ago, "I've never thought to bring sunglasses to the opera before this evening, it was so bright and gawdy."

TRAVEL PLANS!

after over a year of drought - Dave and I are traveling twice in as many months:

September 24-26th: PORTLAND OREGON
David and I will be in Portland Oregon. He will be all tied up with the gay square dance event - but being a square dance widow - I'm ALL OVER IT - Powells, the Chinese Garden, Washington Park - - I'm excited.

October 29th to November 1st: HOUSTON TEXAS
David and I will be in Houston, Texas visiting my brother Drew bootedintexas . Drew is the cruise director and has all sorts of ideas. (including a day trip south to Galveston)

November 1st to November 7th: WASHINGTON DC
David and I will be in Washington. We're staying with Jim and Joseph Adams-Dress in Tacoma Park.
David is hoping to get some square dancing in with the local clubs. and I'm soaking up as much art and history as I can in six days. As well as planning to cook dinner for our hosts and a special glutenfree flavorgasm for Kent and Michael; and I guess Brian too.... but our plans are pretty looseygoosey at this point other than actually making it there.

so - Portland LJers, Houston LJers and Washington/Baltimore LJers - we're coming your way soon!

Writer's Block: Neat, sweet, groovy songs

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the band YES - from Starship Trooper to Big Generator - - and yes I'm a huge fan still of everyone involved in the original YES.

helps if I learn English before trying Spanish....

I apparently mistyped my email address in my registration for the Conversational Spanish Class at Palo Alto Adult School - so when the email address bounced. they simply dis-enrolled me and didn't bother calling my phone number. I shot them an email today and they emailed back and said they don't have time to call everyone whose email bounces (they said it REALLY nicely; they weren't snarky) but - as a result - I am now ineligible to enroll since the classes have already started. Please come back and try again in the spring.

Disappointing. but I'll just try again in January.