In Old Bavaria

 

Typically, once a tour Blue Lake will cover the costs of a day trip from one of the towns in which we are staying, and this year they were not. messing. around.  A couple of hours bus ride from Augsburg is located the Neuschwanstein castle, planned retreat for Ludwig II, homage to composer Richard Wagner and eventual inspiration for Sleeping Beauty’s castle in Disney Land.

For a nice little overview on the history of this late 19th century castle:

 

The BEST thing about this little day trip was that, as luck would have it, my brother and sister-in-law were in the country for a friend’s wedding.  Though Joanie was busy with bridesmaid duties, Matt was able to drive down from their town near Heidelberg to take the tour with me!  As neither of us had ever been to the castle before it was a bit hard to decide where to meet up. “Ummmm… the front?” was about all I had to offer, but Matt was smart enough to look for where the buses parked and greeted me once I got off the bus. (With the permission of the director) I high tailed it out of there so I could get a little one on one time with Matt and we took the steep walk through the woods up to the castle, first stopping at one of the restaurants to grab a quick drink and small bite to eat.

Oooooohhh, nature!

 

 

Just down hill from the castle is an observation area, perfectly suited to taking in the Bavarian countryside.

 

Besides the countryside, it’s also a great place to get your first real good look of the castle; or, if you’re so inclined (we were), get a picture with the castle:

 

 

The tours are planned out in five minute increments and, with a group as large as the combined orchestra and choir, we naturally had to divide up into several different times.  Matt’s ticketed time was about ten minutes after the last Blue Lake group, but he was able to join ours so we could do it together.

 

 

Unfortunately, pictures are strictly verboten inside the castle, so you’re missing out on the opulence that is the interior of Neuschwanstein.  Ludwig II had quite affinity for Wagner and his music, and most of his rooms are elaborately themed with stories from Wagner’s operas.  It’s always one of those tenuous lines to tread as a classical music lover: Wagner’s music is absolutely, undeniably glorious but, you know… Nazis.  I’ve actually been working my way through Curb Your Enthusiasm for the first time these last couple of months and couldn’t help but think this scene when doing the tour.

(Slightly nsfw language)

 

Visitors were provided one more great view at the end of the tour, and luckily pictures could be taken from the balcony.

It’s all about location, location, location

 

A short walk away is the Marienbrücke, a bridge which affords an unbelievable view of the castle.  I wasn’t exactly sure if I had enough time to make the trek and still catch the bus back, but Matt was able to go over and get the view for both of us!

 

A view of the bridge from the castle and vice versa

 

As far as castles go, Neuschwanstein is unarguably amongst the most beautiful in the world and I ‘m so glad that not only did I get to see it, but I got to share such a cool experience with Matt.  That’s just how we roll these days.

 

Artist: Mel Books / Album: The Producers

Bonus!  I also couldn’t help but visit a castle and think of the clip from Eddie Izzard's Dressed to Kill special:

As is typical for one of his routines, beware the salty language!

La Boheme

 

Well hello there! Long time no… read?  Admittedly, I've been quite absent from the blogosphere (that's a thing, right?) lately and will do my best to rectify the situation over the course of the Summer.  To be honest, though, I imagine only about five of you have really noticed, so no harm no foul in the grand scheme of things.  Chronologically, posts are going to move a bit circuitously until I catch up with the backlog from these past couple of months so hang in there with me if you haven't completely let go already.

Many of you may remember I spent the Summer of 2010 and 2011 touring with the Blue Lake International Youth Symphony Orchestra and Choir singing solos in Mendelssohn's Elijah and Brahms's Requiem, respectively.  This year they are embarking on their European tour performing Verdi's Requiem and, while I was very grateful for the invitation to be a soloist, it is not a role that I am exactly capable of singing.  Fear not, Blue Lake lovers, because it happily worked out that I am back at BLFAC singing in their production of Puccini's La Boheme!  As opposed to going on a tour, we will put on two shows each session, amassing to eight performances over two months for a total of 5,000+ attendees over the duration of the Summer.

During the second year of my master's degree at the University of Michigan (this would be pre-blog, for those of you who are wondering why I've never posted about it before) I was lucky enough to perform the role of Schaunard in the same opera.  It remains one of my favorite times on stage because there really was a synchronicity in the production: from our fabulous director, Kay Walker Castaldo; the undeniable genius of Martin Katz leading from the pit (as well as Clinton Smith assisting and even conducting one of our performances); hair and make-up by Erin Kennedy-Lunsford; and a roster of singers who seemed to be nothing but appropriately cast in their respective roles.  I think out of the whole of the operatic canon, Schaunard is the closest to my actual personality—I know him, I love him, and I could play him for the rest of my life… but what would be the fun in that?! (In fact, I'm not playing him in the production this Summer, which threw me for a bit of a loop when first learning it again).

But enough silly words… you came here for pictures, right?  Following are a sampling of photos from our production. Enjoy!

Obvs we did an updated version… don't think they had electric guitars back in the day!

 

 

Roomies: Andrew Harris (Colline), Steven Tompkins (Rodolfo), Wes Mason (Marcello)

 

 

Rhea Olivacce (Mimi) / Amanda Ramos (Musetta)

 

We were all fortunate enough to be joined on stage by the ridiculously talented George Shirley (in the role of Alcindoro and Benoit), a professor of voice at U of M who can count among his litany of accolades as being a Grammy award winner, the first African-American tenor to sing at the Metropolitan Opera, and all around bad-ass performer.  To have shared the stage with him is an honor I will carry with me through the rest of my career.

 

Professor Shirley, giving his absolute BEST Karl Lagerfeld!

 

Additionally, I was thrilled to have a whole cadre of Texans in the audience for the show! My parents, brother and sister-in-law, uncle Sid and cousin Hannah, and close close friend from Baylor made the trek up to Michigan to see the performances.  I'm still so grateful for each and every one of them!

Steven, Dad, Matt, Joanie, Me, Mom, Drew!

 

Stay tuned… more to come!!

Artist: Charles Aznavour / Album: Greatest Hits

Big Brother

 

Along with Jesus and Beethoven, December is also the birth month of my brother, the very one and only second Matthew Bryson Roberts!!  On a recent Halloween post I shared my penultimate favorite picture of us; and, in honor of today, I share with you the ULTIMATE picture…  it pretty much sums up our dynamic to a “t” If I do say so!

J.D.: “Listen to me play a scale!!!!”   Matt: “Um J.D., can’t you see I’m working here?”

 

But let’s be honest: really, not much has changed over the years…

 

Joseph:  “Hai, gia vinta la causaaaaaaaaaa!!”     Dr. Roberts: “Um Joseph, can’t you see I’m working here?”

 

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Artist: Stevie Wonder / Album: Talking Book

Superman

I mentioned last year that I’m not exactly gung ho about dressing up for Halloween.  It’s not that I think it’s silly or immature or whatever… I just honestly can’t be bothered with it. I typically just wear orange and call it a day but thought I’d one up myself (only just a bid) and got my “costume” from shirt.Woot, which I have mentioned here a couple of times before. 

 

 

“Laundry Day” close up; don’t I look thrilled?!? I’m helping pass out candy at Catherine’s house tonight and she loaned me the cape!

 

I also mentioned in the post from last year that it’s not like I never dressed up as a kid—in fact it’s quite the contrary.  I think I specifically mentioned a certain year when Liz Kelly and I went as Superman and Supergirl (and Jenny Yates’ costume was all abuzz with the mom's because it was from Neimans or something fancy!) Since then I have gotten the visual proof of it and other childhood Halloween’s past!

Able to leap tall… stumps?

 

It actually wasn’t uncommon for Liz and I to go as a duo:

*cough* Cam *cough

 

If not a duo then at least in tandem:

With her brother, Daniel (far left), and my brother, Matt Dr. Roberts (far right)

 

And finally, a non-costumed picture that is still Halloween appropriate (and is still a good representation of me and my brother).

I’m putting on a show and Matt’s doing all the work!

 

Artist: Barbra Streisand / Album: Superman

Bye Bye Blackbird

 

(I’m still woefully behind on my blogging as is evident from this Labor Day Weekend post I’m just now getting up.  Things have been pretty busy at the gallery and I’m in the process of moving further into the city [yay!] this weekend so I basically get home from work and pack and pass out… sorry.)

For those of you who aren’t exactly up to date with your hunting calendar then I’m thrilled to let you know that, in Texas at least, Labor Day weekend is perennially the opening of dove hunting season… or as it’s known in our family: The Roberts’ Annual Bird of Peace Murdering Dove Hunt Extravaganza Weekend.  I kid, I kid of course.  Some of you may take issue with hunting but I don’t… and for many reasons: population control, shooting guns is generally quite fun when in a safe and controlled environment, and of course, dove tastes delicious.  

The festivities are always held in Midland, TX (where my fraternal grandparents live) and this is the first year I have been able to get out there in well over ten years.  Little J.D. Joseph wasn’t as interested in hunting as I am now and being away in the foreign lands of Michigan didn’t help that much either.

At any rate… due to a snafu with my license I wasn’t exactly able to hunt, per se, so I had to stick to shooting pictures as opposed to birds this year.

 

 

The hunting lease our family always uses is about 25-30 minutes outside of the city and at the second entrance to the property was a fence lined with coyote tails… “a warning” I was told by one of the workers.

 

 

I also couldn’t help but notice the property had an outdoor “venue” for performances. 

I’m totes doing a recital here!

 

All of the hunting takes place on the dirt roads surrounding a large sunflower field (the birds come to eat and are shot when entering/exiting) and dawn is one of the better times to go out.

    

Dad and uncle David getting their gun on

 

Brett, my brother’s friend and college roommate (of recent wedding fame), and his dog, Millie joined the party and a large portion of my time was spent with the latter: the perk of not being able to hunt means that it’s absolutely acceptable—even expected—to have an early morning aperitif! That’s what hunters call it, right?

  

 

Speaking of dogs, Matt brought along Scout as well to do a bit of bird-doggin’ and she was quick to find some moisture to cool off in.  And what fun is a sopping wet dog without a bit of a roll in the dirt?

 

Scout just loves a good action shot!

 

We also got a little visit from the game warden… just to make sure everyone was licensed up and not exceeding their respective limits.

 

During some of the slower bits, not that there really were any, I figured I’d take a self portrait of sorts.

It looks like I’m holding the tree BUT I’M NOT!!!  (How sad for me)

 

By the end of the hunt everyone had their limit and the ground was littered with shell casings and feathers:

So perhaps this doesn’t qualify for “littered” exactly but you get the point.

 

All in all it was a great couple of mornings and hopefully next year I’ll have my act together a bit more regarding the license! Group photo time!!!!

L to R: Uncle David, Granddad, Dad, Scout, Matt

 

And finally, one parting shot:

*BAM*

 

Artist: John Kander and Fred Ebb, Liza Minnelli/ Album: Liza with a Z

BONUS:  Ever wondered what it sounded like to go dove hunting but did feel like getting up before the sun did just to find out!? Well you’re in luck because I recorded a bit of audio while out there!! Now that I think about it I’m not exactly sure why I didn’t move it into the 21st century by taking a video but I suppose that’s the lot you’ve been cast today.

Get Up Offa That Thing

 

It’s been a week since Brett and Kat’s wedding so I figure my photo’s will have reached an expiration date if I don’t get the rest of the reception shots up! After the appetizer portion of the party came dinner and dancing, and Monica and I didn’t let up on either fronts.

For example, here I am acting like I don’t want to push down that little girl to my left in order to get to the chocolate fountain:

There’s a strawberry in there somewhere, so get off my back already Michelle Obama!!!

 

SELF PORTRAIT!

 

Monica managed to take a surreptitious shot with the bouquet

 

The bride and groom dancing with the band. 

 

You might notice that Kat has a fuchsia fedora (that sounds much fancier than “pink hat,” right?)—you can always tell a good party when props are passed out.  In addition to hats they also had GLOW BRACELETS and BALLOON INSTRUMENTS and OTHER VARIOUS ENTERTAINING PARTY FAVORS (oh my!)

“Rockin’ out” (part two of two of Monica looking good fake-playing an instrument)

 

I was havin’ a bit of New Years Eve flashback with my new neon neckwear!

 

Dad, who stayed out and partied hours after I was home and in bed (… seriously)

 

The fam!!!!

 

Monica with Bucket Bull David, a groomsman, former roommate of Matt and Brett’s and winner of the garter.  And by winner I of course mean he was the lone male standing closest to it when it fell on the ground

 

L to R: Kat’s hand, Brett, Matt, some-girl-I-don’t-know, Joanie, some-other-hand.  Doing an Aggie song/ritual thingy.

 

Needless to say the whole day was loads of fun (I mean, I did get four blog posts out of it, so that’s not too shabby!) and I am unbelievably happy for Brett and Kat. 

 

Artist: James Brown/ Album: Sister Act 2