Beethoven Day

 

Though there is no hard historical evidence proving that today is Ludwig van Beethoven’s birthday… ye old fount of knowledge, wikipedia, informs me that it is the 16 that is typically celebrated as his date of birth. It’s been quite a Beethoven couple of months for me, actually:  I went to a performance of his 9th Symphony in September with my friend Rachel, and Jennifer and I recently saw Houston Grand Opera’s performance of Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio— a first for me!

SO!!! In much the same vein as my previous Bach birthday post here are a couple of my favorite usages  and machinations of Beethoven’s music:

 

The opening titles to one of my top favorite movies, The Fall (Symphony No. 7, 2nd Mvt.)

 

 

In my ongoing series to eventually post all clips from both Fantasia and Fantasia 2000 (Symphony No. 5, 1st Mvt.)

 

And finally, since we haven’t heard from La Voce herself (Mizzzzz Renee Fleming), I figure now is as appropriate a time as any for a video of her singing an arrangement of “My Funny Valentine” set to Beethoven’s “Moonlight” sonata.

 

 

Artist: Andrew Lippa / Album: You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown

Like a Rock

 

One of the wonderful (and yet, often troublesome) aspects of being in this biz called “show” is that it is a very very small world. Example: I recently went to a birthday party for my friend, Julia, who studies at the University of Houston and naturally I ran into three people I knew, one with whom I had gone to Michigan, and those whom I didn’t know at least had many mutual acquaintances.  That’s always my favorite awkward moment… when you realize you know someone in common but don’t know if you share the same opinion of said person.  It’s always a bit of a verbal ballet (which is about the only kind of dancing opera singers tend to know) we all do to figure out what level of dirt telling we can get away with.  Which, by the way, the scale of “dirt telling” for singers basically has a base line of about 6 on a scale of 1 – 10.

Yet I digress.  All this to say… with as much traveling around that we all do for auditions, performances, lessons, etc. it’s not uncommon to see old friends pop up outta the blue every now and then—which brings me to the point of this blathering. 

A small opera company here in Houston, Opera in the Heights, is doing a production of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte and my friend and studio mate from Baylor, Sarah Beckham, is performing (the hell outta, btw) the role Fioridiligi in one of the casts.  I haven’t seen Sarah in about seven years, the last time being when I went to audition at Boston University… an experience I mentioned previously back in February when I took a small vacation to the northeast.

 

In addition to Sarah as Fioridiligi, my friend, Zach (who was mentioned in one of my favorite posts ever but has thus far eluded being photographed) is performing the role of Ferrando in Sarah’s cast and Jennifer is the Despina in the other cast. I unfortunately have conflicts with Sarah and Zach’s performance dates so I was able to go to the final dress rehearsal with Jennifer and the above picture is from the casts’ post-performance drink session.

Thought it’s a bit of short notice, if you want to listen to some live performances from Cosi by Zach and Sarah you can tune-in to Houston’s Classical 91.7 (streaming online here) for today’s edition of The Front Row at NOON.

And, as a bit of a parting shot—and because there’s not really anything she can do about it—my absolute favorite picture of Sarah evar!

 

Artist: Bob Seger  / Album: Like a Rock

P.S.: A little back story behind today’s post title.  As Sarah is not from Houston, the company has put her up with a host family and the “father” was at the final dress as well.  He came up to her at intermission because he had to leave after the first half and the conversation went something like this:

Man: Sarah! You sound so fantastic… just spectacular!

Sarah: Oh thank you!!

Man: I especially loved the, hold on one second… I really like that one song, wait a minute I wrote down the name of it… that part where you sang by yourself, where IS that paper—oh here it is.  My favorite song of yours was that “Like a Rock” one, that was just great!

The adorableness of this is that “like a rock” is the translation “Come scoglio,” which also happens to be one of the most famous arias from the opera and like, ever… but as some of you southerners may know, is also the name of that song from the Chevy truck commercials.  So for your listening pleasure (and because I think everyone should listen to the aria at least once), here is lady Renee Fleming rockin’ out some Mozart.

 

P.P.S.:

Ice Dance

 

The night before I left Houston proper (I still had my stop in The Woodlands the following evening) I was lucky enough to go to my first hockey game evar with my friend Jennifer and her family.  That’s right, readers, Houston has a hockey team: the Aero’s!

They literally rolled out a red carpet for this guy to toss the coin.  Or the puck.  Or whatever was being tossed.  I WANT HIS JOB!

 

When going to get my requisite nachos and beer at one of the breaks I came across this “green” ad for the Prius:

 

That’d be nice except I’m pretty sure it’s a rip off of a Pushing Daisies episode that featured a dandelion powered car… …

 

 

The Aero’s were playing the Binghamton Senators and unfortunately did not win the game—a fact that everyone in Jennifer’s family blamed on me because they had been doing so well in the past :(  At any rate, I had a great time and would count hockey high amongst the different types of sports I would go see again.

The plus side of the evening is that I got to see Jennifer one last time before heading away for the summer!

CLOSE UUUUUUP!!!!!

Artist: Danny Elfman/ Album: Edward Scissorhands

An Identity Crisis (Or Two)

 

Last weekend I enjoyed a bit of a Mozart extravaganzafest in our fair city of Houston: Saturday night I went to the Alley Theater’s production of Amadeus with Paul, and Sunday afternoon I saw Houston Grand Opera’s production of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro with Jennifer and Patty.  Let’s investigate, shall we?!

Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus, a fictionalized historical play about the rivalry between famed composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and his contemporary, Antonio Salieri, premiered in London in 1979 and quickly transferred to a multi-Tony award winning production on Broadway the following year.  Four years later it was turned into a film of the same name and went on to garner a gazillion (approx.) Oscars.  I had never been to a production at the Alley before and figured this was as good a time as any!

 

I remember watching the movie a loooong time ago and so I was pretty much going into it with a fresh perspective on the piece.  Even at about three hours and just one intermission I was com.plete.ly entranced by the entire production—Jeffrey Bean and Stanley Bahorek’s portrayals of Salieri and Mozart, respectively, are still with me.  An added bonus of seeing the show is that a studio mate of mine from Michigan, Amanda Kingston, played the singing-only role of the soprano Katherina Cavalieri.  Not only does the girl know her way around some coloratura, but she can rock the hell out of a period costume as well!

 

The following afternoon I continued my HGO series with Jennifer and Patty to see Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, which now provides me the perfect venue to do a little retroactive blogging from the University of Michigan’s 2009 production of the same opera (and in which I played the role of Count Almaviva).

 

It would take a bit too long to explain the whole plot of Figaro, what with all the mistaken identities, geniological revelations, trickery and musicological implications of the work… for all that and the connection with Beaumarchais’ triology you can check out wikipedia’s article here.  Suffice it to say, the Count spends the whole show trying to sleep with his wife’s maid, Susanna, who is to be married to Figaro, the count’s attendant.  They, in turn, spend the whole opera trying to keep this from happening. Plus their’s bumbling gardeners, women-crazy soldiers, conniving cougars and much more!

Kyle Knapp, Basilio; Mary Martin, Susanna; Kate Wakefield, Cherbuino (video courtesy of Kyle’s iPhone) AND since I’m always up for a little inter-website promoting: check out Kyle’s website here and look for an ub-sessed shout-out in the “Links” section!

 

Now, some of you may have noticed an 8 foot tall portrait resembling a certain yours truly…

Dear art department: Thanks for superimposing my head onto this painting.  Next time, could you take a couple of inches off the middle, please!

 

 

Seducing who I think is Susanna but is, in actuality, my wife in disguise.       Hai gia vinta la causa-ing it

 

Best. Picture. EVAR!! Just look at the kuh-crazy we are all giving.  Anticdotally, it was during the end of this 20 minute long Act II finale that at one point I started seeing stars everywhere.  I thought to myself: “Now wait a minute, did someone change the stage direction and start throwing glitter from the rafters?!?”  No… in fact someone did not… I was just singing balls-to-the-walls and may or may not have almost passed out! (L to R: Ben Sieverding, Kristin Eder, Kyle Knapp, Joseph Roberts, Mary Martin)

 

I also really love this backstage shot Kyle took. (L to R: Rhea Olivacce, Kyle, Me, Ben, Kate)

 

Because I had such a substantial role in the opera, I had a substantial Texas delegation to come up and see it!!  This was actually Matt and Mallory’s first time away from their baby Paige and I’m so happy I had such strong support.

Lunch at Zingerman’s Deli!!!  Everyone minus Matt and Joanie, who had eaten there before when they came to see La boheme and did a little off campus sight seeing that day.

 

Artist: Andrew Lloyd Webber/ Album: By Jeeves

Ballad of a Well Known Gun

 

Last week I was thrilled to get a pleasant surprise of a text message from friend-of-the-blog, Jan:

Jan: What are you doing to night.

Me: (thinking maybe she knew someone in Houston who had an extra ticket to a show or something) Oh nothing!

Jan: I am in town and if I can swing it I’d love to see you if I can.  If you get an offer to go out take it, but I’ll do my best to see you!

What a treat!!! I have been accustomed to getting to see her during the holiday season, but it was certainly delightful to meet up so unexpectedly.  I also love that she assumed I’d rather see people who live in the same city as I as opposed to seeing her—buh-crazy!

The reason for their visit to Houston was that it served as the port of origin for their family cruise and it was decided it would be easier for me  to come to her father-in-law’s house for our visit.  I had been there once before when she and Jason were first married (I sang in the wedding).  Needless to say from the photos below, it’s not a house I quickly forgot.

There’s your giraffe, Jennifer!!!

 

Jason’s father (as well as Jason and the boys) are avid hunters and has a fantastic trophy room to prove it.  Kyle helped provide some dramatic re-enactments… at least I’m pretty sure it was Kyle and not Reed, his twin.  

Who’s laughing NOW, Mr. Hyena in the background?!?

 

And you know it wouldn’t be an animal post without a photo of our favorite animal, the cougar!:

 NOT AGAIN!!!!

 

 

Plus some good ol’ Jan action and a silly shot to boot!

 

There I am, “lookin’ all Kanye”

Artist: Elton John/ Album: Tumbleweed Connection

(Check out her post to see another picture of us!)

Take Her to the Mardi Gras

 

I mentioned in a previous post that I got stuck in Boston with my friends Sarah and Jennifer during Mardi Gras five years ago.  And I gots the PROOF!!

 

MISS YOU!!!!!!!!

Artist: Harry Connick, Jr./ Album: Harry on Broadway, Act I

Look at Washington!

 

Well folks, by the time you read this I will hopefully be making my way towards our nation’s capital-- that would be Washington D.C., not Austin for all you Texans.  Last year when I went to New York for auditions I got bumped from my flight back and was compensated with a free round trip ticket.  I kept thinking I would have a reason to use it, but as the expiration date began to loom I decided I’d just book a weekend vacay to Washington!!

“Why D.C. in February?!?!",” you might ask yourself.  Let me count the ways:

1.  It’s a city full of free museums and monuments!!!! If you read my blog with any consistency then you are probably aware I’m a bit of an art geek so… it’ll be heaven.

2.  However, freedom doesn’t come without a cost as Thomas Jefferson once said.  Or maybe I’m thinking about Toby Keith?  Spiderman? At any rate, our nation’s museum is a huge tourist draw so I chose February for three reasons, all of them equally selfish:

   a. It’s not cherry blossom time!!!  As beautiful as it may be, I don’ts have times for it or the crowds.

   b. I’m taking a guess that the cold weather will also deter any big school trips from non-D.C-ers

   c. Congress isn’t in session.  I don’t know if that has anything to do with anything except fewer people at work?

3. None of my very close friends live there. Ergo… none of them can be upset I’m not going to see one and not the other.

4. If I had to make a list of favorite cities in the States, D.C. would be at the top top! And why not visit a favorite city?

I’m also counting this trip to Our Lady of the District of Columbia as my first time to go there as an “adult” (technically not true, but more on that later).  I went several times in high school with my parents and once for a program and loved every. single. moment!  One of the huge bonuses of going at the time was that our then U.S. Congressman, Jim Turner, also happened to be a family friend from Crockett and his wife, Ginny, remains eternally as the epitome of a consummate hostess.  (Case and point… when a young Pleasant Baker was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she would always offer an emphatic “GINNY TURNER!!!!!!”)

On the steps of the White House!

 

The last time I was there was five years ago almost to the date (I know because it was Mardi Gras at the time) when Jennifer and I went up to Boston to audition for Boston University’s school of music.  Unfortunately, there came up a big cloud of a blizzard and we were stranded for an extra day in Bean Town.  Luckily for us we were crashing at our friend, Sarah’s, a BU student at the time who had gone to Baylor with us and didn’t have to worry about finding another hotel room. 

THERE WAS NO WAY WE COULD HAVE KNOOOOWWWN!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Here’s the “technical” part I mentioned earlier.  The flight they were able to put us on later had a lay-over in D.C. and when departing from there to Dallas an announcement was made that we weren’t going to be able to take off due to malfunctioning blah blah blah lame excuse left on the runway for an hour.  Because of all the previous weather related cancellations we wouldn’t be able to leave again until morning so I said to Jennifer:

Me: Hold on, let me call my congressman!!!

Jennifer: (Not knowing I know ‘em) Ha ha okay, RIGHT!! … … … Wait, seriously? I don’t think that’s exactly how “contacting your local representative” works. You can’t just call the Capitol switchboard and make a hotel reservation.

Me: No no, I got this.

Jennifer: I’m so confused right now.

So… Jim came and picked us up on his way home from work, Ginny had a fresh meal waiting, and they even took us down to all of the monuments to do some quick sightseeing, seeing as how Jennifer had never been to D.C. before.

WWII Memorial

 

Abe.  (Honestly)

It was a bit of a whirlwind of a trip, but memorable nonetheless. Now I can’t wait to go back with all the time to spare, the patience of an adult, and a much greater interest in art and history than ten years ago.

Artist: Michael John LaChiusa/ Album: First Lady Suite

Mad World

So some reason I failed to get this up after Jennifer, Patty and I went to go see Houston Grand Opera’s newest production of Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor.  Better late than never, right?!

Lucia, as it’s generally referred to in the biz, is one of those TOP 10 shows that companies around the world can always pull out and sell out.  In short, Lucia is in love with some dude but her brother has promised her to another dude for money and stuff.  She is forced to marry dude #2 and on their wedding night goes buh-crazy, murders him and attends  their reception in a blood covered wedding dress (this is known appropriately enough as Lucia’s “Mad Scene.” Basically it’s what people come to the opera to see—and do a little judging of the soprano in the process).   Oh… and dude #1 kills himself in the end.  Who said opera was boring??? There’s not a typhoid infected lead in the bunch!

“Ummm ma’am, you got a little something on your blouse there…” (Projection from the HGO lobby)

 

I was actually very excited for this particular production because it was directed by John Doyle, who spearheaded the productions of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd and Company in which the actors were the orchestra (Patti LuPone playing the tuba anyone?)  Too bad he couldn’t seem to elicit the same kind of biting performances on the operatic stage. 

I can’t help but watch Lucia’s mad scene without thinking of the The Fifth Element where the Diva performs (the “opera” portion before all that crazy 27 octave techno cacophony in the movie is a portion of the longer mad scene).  One of the first mixed CD’s I ever received had the movie version on it, the irony being that my friend who made the CD, Jamie, introduced it thusly: “Now, I know you don’t like opera but….”

 

I was reminded I hadn’t put any of this up yet when a co-worker (whose daughter is an undergrad music student at the University of Houston) said she had seen Lucia at HGO and kept chuckling all throughout the stunning sextet because all she could think about was Disney’s Willie the Whale Who Wanted to Sing Opera.  I had never even heard of it so of course I went and watched it on my break.  The plot line is pretty self-explanitory: So there’s this whale who wants to sing opera… Nelson Eddy, operetta star of the highest order, IS the entire cast.  He reads as the narrator, voices each character, and sings all of the music (which, in addition to the the Lucia sextet, also includes Boito, Rossini and Wagner!!!) Certainly opera and cartoons have been paired before, most notably What’s Opera, Doc? and The Bugs Bunny Opera, but how on earth did I miss this one?!

 

O. M.G!

Artist: Gary Jules/ Album: Donnie Darko

I would be absolutely remiss if I didn’t include any “actual” clips from the opera, so if you have about 20 minutes to spare, PLEASE watch Natalie Dessay perform the mad scene.  I try to refrain from putting up too many opera clips because I understand a lot of you may not even watch them.  Dessay—who for my money is one of the most stunning operatic actresses out there—gives an amazing performance (A French translation of an Italian opera set in Scotland!!) of an amazing aria.  Just consider it your culture for the week, and if you can only muster just the first half then I’ll give you a pass.

Enter crazy, stage left: (Oh, and I guess I need to slap a NSFW label on clip 2/2 due to the bewb action at 4:55)

 

   

THE ARISTOCRATS!!!!

Trouble is a Friend

 

Niagara falls, baybay!

 

Yesterday was my friend, Jennifer’s, twentywguskn-th birthday and I thought I would take this opportunity for a skip down memory lane if you will.  Oh, and YOU WILL!!

Jennifer and I met when we were freshmen at Baylor and shared a music theory class together.  Sometimes we’d even sit at football games together if I could find her. I always enjoyed finding someone I knew so I could just chat and joke around and not really have to pay attention to the game.  She remembers them a bit differently, though: “Yeah… did you know that I really didn’t know who you were when you used to sit by me? It was really awkward.”  I guess I revel in awkward, though, because I had no idea.  Or like the time when I asked for her phone number so we could hang out:

Me: (after getting her number) So your last name’s Whalen, right? How do you spell that?

Jennifer: W-H-A-L-E-N. Aaaaaaaaaaaand how is it that you spell yours again?

Me: Ummm, it’s Roberts.  You don’t even know my name, do you?

Jennifer: I knew your first name was Joseph, let’s just go from there.

And so a great friendship was born, like most of mine are, out of sheer determination and sticktoitiveness. Like when I met my friend Janai and said: “Yeah, you may not know this, but we WILL be good friends.”  I basically just wear people down until they can’t give up much of a fight any more—you may not like me in the beginning, but eventually you’ll learn it’s just easier in the long run to just nod and smile.  (Just like you’re probably doing right now).

At any rate… HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, JENNIFER!!!

Playing a rollicking round of “Catch My Leg”  Apparently I won that round. (Other favorite games include “One, Two, Three Pick-a-Note” and “Scrunch Your Face”, the latter of which she almost always wins. [She can’t help it, her face just looks that way.])

 

Weez be ejucaded!!!!!

 

In Chicago, after she drove up from Texas to Ann Arbor for the first time with the General

 

It’s kinda hard to look this cool in a McAlisters… but I’m pretty sure we’re the exception to the rule here

 

We’re not actually singing here, it’s all STAGED!

 

Artist: Lenka/ Album: Lenka

Woman on the Tier

OR: In which I make a fool of myself in front of Joyce DiDonato… twice.

 

Last night* marked the beginning of Houston Grand Opera’s winter season as well as the mid-season return of our favorite Bravo TV reject reality hit, Joseph Roberts: Party Crasher (or perhaps you know it by it’s working title, Who the Hell is He and What the Hell is He Doing Here?)

For their 2011 inaugural opener HGO put on a spectacularly moving production of Jake Heggie/Terrance McNally’s Dead Man Walking, based on the true-life story of Sister Helen Prejean.  Yes, it’s based on the same story as the movie. Pro: the male protagonists name is JOSEPH!!!  Con: Oh yeah, he’s kiiiiind of a rapist and murderer.

 

As with my last two outings to the Wortham Center (here and here), I was joined by my dear friend, Jennifer, under the auspices of the Patty Q. Whalen Charitable Arts Foundation.  As if the insanely talented created side of the show weren’t enough, let’s just take a second to break down the cast list, shall we?:

Joyce DiDonato (Sister Helen Prejean): The delightfully down-to-earth mezzo (aren’t they all) who famously broke her fibia during a performance of Il Barbieri di Siviglia and finished the night on crutches—THEN went on to finish the run in a frickin’ wheel chair.  You know the last person who bade her “break a leg” feels like a reeeaaal ass. And, as I’m always up for some fellow blog promotion, check hers out here! Also, if you’re in the Fort Worth area on February 8th, she’s giving a recital at the Bass Performance Hall.  GO SEE HER!!!

Geeez, sistah must really have something against her understudies.  YOU’RE IRREPLACEABLE, JOYCE, TAKE THE NIGHT OFF!

 

Frederica von Stade (Mrs. Patrick de Rocher ): Or Flicka as she is so often referred to, is a multiple (6!!) Grammy award winner, an officer of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (France’s highest honor in the Arts), and fans of a little known sports game known as the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics might remember her as a featured performer during the opening ceremonies.  Most often regarded as the 20th century’s Cherubino, she is also a fierce advocate for new works.  In fact, she originally created the role of Mrs. Rocher at the premier ten years ago and has chosen this role in Houston as her farewell to the operatic stage, marking the end of a decades spanning career. I have already mentioned previously that her performance in Montiverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea (also at HGO) is in my top handful of things I have seen live.

From neither Figaro or Dead Man… showing us that mezzo’s have all the fun.  Also, I’m pretty sure the character this is based on is a customer at our store.  Her name is Chantal.  And she is fabulous.

 

Measha Brueggergosman (Sister Rose): The only other time that I have seen her live was in Ann Arbor a couple of years ago when she performed a concert of William Bolcom songs with the composer at the piano. (A perk of having him on faculty at UM at the time!) .  Like, Flicka, Measha has also performed at an Olympic opening ceremonies (Vancouver 2010)!  Oh and Jan, she was a guest judge on an episode of Canada’s Project Runway. She gave the designers one stipulation: “I like to perform barefoot, so make sure the gown is absolutely floor length.”  If I remember correctly, every one of them made one that showed her feet and diva was not pleased

 

Philip Cutlip (Joseph de Rocher): I didn’t realize until reading the program after the performance that I have also seen him perform before.  My friend, Jamison, was the pianist for Toledo Opera a while back and Mr. Cutlip played Tarquinius in their performance of Britten’s The Rape of Lucrecia.  SO GOOD!  I had never seen that show before and at the moment it’s my favorite Britten piece.

During intermission I went to get a much needed coffee and ran into Stephanie unexpectedly, which was a nice surprise!

 

As the final bows were being held I thought to myself at one point: “these have been going on for longer than I expected, all the singers are onstage—oh, who’s that coming on from stage left?  Hmmm, now who’s this guy?  And this woman would be…?” 

Naturally the first thing I did while leaving was text Stephanie:

Me: Was that Jake Heggie onstage?

Stephanie: Yeah, and Terrance McNally. And then Sister Helen.

Me: WHAAAAATTTT!!!!

The Composer, the librettist, two original cast members, the conductor of the premier!!!

I never ended up hearing back from her so I walked Jennifer and Catherine out and headed back to the lobby for a quick bathroom break before my return to the west side.  (Now, you’re going to have to stay with me for the next part, as it’s about to get a bit socially circuitous).  Lo and behold I ran into a familiar face out of the corner of my eye in the form of an acquaintance I had made through a friend in Ann Arbor.  Logan, a voice student at the University of North Texas, had come down to see the show with an invitation from Jake Heggie, who was concomitantly working on a recital with the students at UNT.  With him were some friends Jamie, Laura and Keegan, the latter of which I knew I had met before but couldn’t quite place. Turns out they were going to crash the after party… and we all know how I have absolutely NO qualms about participating in a little social subterfuge.

SO!! Off to the soiree, greeted by white tuxedo clad waiters brandishing silver trays of vino vino vino, ladies dressed to the twelves, etc.  I was lucky enough to run into Mrs. Brueggergosman and wasted no time in extolling my love for her.  As it was just the beginning of the evening I didn’t really feel comfortable asking for a photo op, so I’ll just post the picture I nabbed with her at Hill in Ann Arbor.

Apparently 3 years ago I knew I would need to be wearing the same scarf and similar shirt for a future blog post’s continuity.  DAMN YOU STRIPED TIE!

 

Dinner time was accompanied by announcements from the general director acknowledging everyone from the singers to the stage crew.

 

At one point in the evening I ran into Logan and the gang again, and upon seeing Keegan again I couldn’t help but say:

Me: Yeah sooooo, how the hell is it that I know you?  I’ve been wracking my brain all night and just can’t place it.

Keegan: Wait, did you used to work at the Express in Waco?

Me: Ummmm yes.

Keegan: I’m pretty sure I’ve been to a party at your house.

Me: Yeah… probably.

Turns out we had a couple of mutual (non music, oddly enough) friends while at Baylor.  I’d say this was surprising, but as my mother always says: “You could be in any city in the world and probably know someone in a 50 mile radius.”

I also enjoyed getting to chat longer with Catherine and Michael, both members of the HGO young artist studio and both of whom I had met at Stephanie’s  ugly sweater party.  Michael performed the role of the police officer in the show and Catherine covering the role of Sister Helen (not that Joyce is letting anyone on that stage but herself!) 

 

Stars, all of ‘em!

 

Logan came over later to say Jake wanted to introduce him to Joyce, so naturally I clung onto his coattails with all the force of Charlie Sheen refusing to go to rehab, and of course she was gracious and charming and completely down to earth.  In fact, she was talking about her newest CD, Diva/Divo, and I interrupted her:

Me: Oh my God you should put it out on record… please!

Joyce: Right, it’s releasing Tuesday.

Me: Yeah yeah, but I mean on, like an album.

Joyce: That’s what I’m saying, the CD comes out Tuesday.

Me: Vinyl, I mean vinyl.  That would make me really happy.

Joyce: Oh, that … would be cool.

 

Blurry, I know, but it’s not like I can go up to her later on at the party and say something like “Hey Joyce… so that picture we took earlier—you look fantastic by the way—but it’s really blurry. Is it horrible for me to ask for another one?”  OR COULD I!!!!!!!!

 

As the night was winding down more and more people were heading out. I happened to be near the exit as Sister Helen was leaving and would have kicked myself if I didn’t at least introduce myself.  It is of course always exciting to meet famous opera singers but I was so honored to even just get to say hello to Sister Helen! I did manage to restrain myself from asking for a picture at 1:00 in the morning… I do at least have some modicum of decorum.

And, for one more parting shot, a group of us waiting for the valet:

Jamie, Joseph, Logan, Laura

As a bit of a post script, the next day I was off to Dallas to meet Benjamin for the first time and I stopped in the Woodlands to have coffee with Mallory at a Starbucks on i-45.  As I was leaving I heard a car honking at me and it was Logan, Keegan, Jamie and Laura.  WTF!? Stop following me!!!

 

Artist: Jake Heggie/ Album: Dead Man Walking

Matt and Joanie, this is just for you:

Did you hear a folk singer had to be put to death this past weekend?  Yeah… had to use an acoustic chair.

 

* I actually worked on this the day after the show but was waiting on some pictures I knew I would want to use.  Well… that, and I was hoping Chantal would make an appearance at the store and I could get a picture with her as proof.  IT WILL HAPPEN!