The Worst of Times
There’s the best of times, there’s the worst of times. Mostly, it’s the worst. I’m talking Times Square. The place where the ball drops on New Year’s Eve. We all think Times Square is the […]
Tag: theater
8 Reasons I May Stop Going To The Movie Theater
Seriously, I can’t be the only one who has had their movie experience ruined by the following: 1) The Suspect – Have you noticed there’s always that one guy who comes strolling in well after […]
Peanut Sauce and Ape Actors
Beninese Appetizer PEANUT SAUCE INGREDIENTS 1 small tomato 1 small onion 2 tablespoons peanut oil 1½ tablespoons chili powder ¼ teaspoon salt 1 cube MaggiTM beef bouillon* 1 cup water 10 tablespoons smooth peanut butter […]
Opera for People Who Don’t Like It
Stage Directors The average opera has several principal singers, a few comprimario singers (opera speak for bit players), a chorus and sometimes dancers. Some supernumeraries might also be hired to carry big stuff, sit or […]
Opera for People Who Don’t Like It
Conductor, noun (kǝn dǝk tǝr): A musician who plays no instrument, yet always gets top billing. Train Wreck, noun (trān rek): In ensemble music, the condition that results when one of the players or singers […]
Opera for People Who Don’t Like It
This is going to be long. There is just too much here to laugh at: Sopranos and Mezzo-Sopranos I used to have a wonderful vocal coach who, when she heard me say something that she […]
Opera for People Who Don’t Like It
Tenors Yes, tenors get their own chapter. You’ll see why. Tenors and sopranos are natural enemies, passionate lovers or both. Whatever the state of the relationship, it is never dull. Tenors are the rock stars […]
Opera For People Who Don’t Like It
There was a time in the history of opera when singers ruled. If you had a great voice, it wouldn’t matter if you looked like a gorilla. You were in. Stage directors would never dare […]
Opera for People Who Don’t Like It
The So-Called Life of an Opera Singer Life upon the wicked stage ain’t nothin’ for a girl. Ellie in Jerome Kern’s and Oscar Hammerstein II’s musical Show Boat* People outside “The Business” are fascinated when […]
Opera for People Who Don’t Like It
THE FRENCH AND THE RUSSIANS Once everybody else saw that the Italians had come up with a Good Thing, other countries wanted to get in on it. I already covered the Germans in an earlier […]