sotto voce tag:www.charlesmay.com,2008:/blog/1 2007-02-23T20:19:44Z Movable Type Pro 4.21-en MORE CULTURE tag:www.charlesmay.com,2007:/blog//1.31 2007-02-23T19:36:44Z 2007-02-23T20:19:44Z THIS IS THE BLOG THAT IS NOT A BLOG BUT MERELY A LIST OF MY ACTIVITIES SO THAT I WILL HAVE SOME RECORD OF WHAT I DO HERE IN NEW YORK CITY. PERHAPS A MIRACLE WILL OCCUR AND THIS BORING... Charles May THIS IS THE BLOG THAT IS NOT A BLOG BUT MERELY A LIST OF MY ACTIVITIES SO THAT I WILL HAVE SOME RECORD OF WHAT I DO HERE IN NEW YORK CITY. PERHAPS A MIRACLE WILL OCCUR AND THIS BORING RECITAL WILL CHANGE INTO SOME SORT OF LITERARY, POLEMICAL SPOT LIKE A "BLOG" SHOULD BE. BUT FOR NOW IT IS WHAT IT IS. SO................... MONDAY FEBRUARY 5TH I WAS PRIVILEDGED TO SEE AT THE MET, ANNA NETREBKO, THAT BEAUTIFUL AND FINE ARTIST, SING ELVIRA IN "PURITANI." WONDERFUL! SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10TH TOGETHER WITH MY SON, STEPHEN, AT THE MET WE SAW(AND WERE THRILLED TO SEE "JENUFA" WITH THE MAGNIFICENT FINNISH SOPRANO, KARITA MATTILA. THIS WAS ONE OF THE FINEST PRODUCTIONS I HAVE SEEN AT THE MET.........IN OUR GREAT SEATS, FIRST ROW, GRAND CIRCLE! LAST NIGHT, FEBRUARY 22, WAS MY REGULAR SERIES NIGHT AT THE PHILHARMONIC. I WASN'T THRILLED AT THE PROSPECT, BUT I WAS WRONG. THE CONCERT WAS FABULOUS, SOMETHING NOT TO BE MISSED. MAAZEL CONDUCTED THE ORCHESTRA IN THREE WORKS WITH WHICH I WAS NOT FAMILIAR: MOZART CONCERTO IN C MAJOR FOR FLUTE AND HARP...SO LIGHT AND GORGEOUS. SCHUMANN CONCERTSTUCK IN F MAJOR FOR FOUR HORNS AND ORCHESTRA AND OF COURSE ONE CANNOT FIND A BETTER BRASS SECTION THAN IS IN THAT ORCHESTRA. MELINDA WAGNER CONCERTO FOR TROMBONE AND ORCH. NEW COMMISSION-WORLD PREMIERE. GERSHWIN-AN AMERICAN IN PARIS!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH,YES,I WAS LISTED IN THE PROGRAMME AS PATRON. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12 I SAW A PRODUCTION GIVEN BY THE SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY(OF WHICH I AM A MEMBER) CALLED "HISTORY GIRLS" - READINGS OF THE CHARACTERS, CONSTANCE, ELIZABETH, & MARGARET STARRING KATHLEEN CHALFONT AND MARIAN SELDES. GREAT LADIES OF THE AMERICAN THEATRE' WHO DID A WONDERFUL JOB. A MISSED BLOG MONTH tag:www.charlesmay.com,2007:/blog//1.30 2007-02-01T02:47:00Z 2007-02-01T03:31:48Z I RECENTLY SAW TWO GOOD GB SHAW READINGS AT THE PLAYERS' CLUB, THE PHILANDERER AND CANDIDA(THE BETTER OF THE TWO.) "SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER" AT THE ROUNDABOUT WITH BLYTHE DANNER AND CARLA GUGINO(GORGEOUS!) WAS A GOOD PLAY- TENNESSEE WILLIAMS DONCHA'... Charles May I RECENTLY SAW TWO GOOD GB SHAW READINGS AT THE PLAYERS' CLUB, THE PHILANDERER AND CANDIDA(THE BETTER OF THE TWO.) "SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER" AT THE ROUNDABOUT WITH BLYTHE DANNER AND CARLA GUGINO(GORGEOUS!) WAS A GOOD PLAY- TENNESSEE WILLIAMS DONCHA' KNOW. AT THE MET CAVALLERIA AND PAGLIACCI WHERE LICITRA PLAYED BOTH TENOR ROLES AND WAS EXCELLENT. REMINDS ME OF WHEN I DID THE SAME THING IN IL TRITTRICO, RINUCCIO IN SCHICHI AND LUIGI IN TABARRO. AT CARNEGIE THE PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA -SIR ANDREW DAVIS- BEETHOVEN-CORIOLANUS OVERTURE GUBAIDULINA- FEAST DURING A PLAGUE (NY PREMIERE) BRAHMS-VIOLIN CONCERTO-JOSHUA BELL STRAUSS-TILL EULENSPIEGELS LUSTIGE STREICHE THEN NEXT AT CARNEGIE: BACH'S ST MATTHEW PASSION - ORCHESTRA OPF ST LUKE'S, HELMUTH RILLING, CONDUCTOR AT THE PHILHARMONIC:- DAVID ROBERTSON, CONDUCTOR: DEBUSSY - LE MARTYRE DE SAINTE SEBASTIEN KAIJA SAARIAHO - ADRIANA SONGS FOR MEZZO & ORCHESTRA (PATRICIA BARDON) SIBELIUS- NIGHT RIDE AND SUNRISE DEBUSSY - LE MER THEN AT THE PHILHARMONIC: CARLO MUTI(THE GREATEST!) MARTUCCI- PIANO CONCERTO NO.2 IN B-FLAT MINOR VERDI-BALLET MUSIC FRFOM MACBETH RESPIGHI - FESTE ROMANE (AS EXPECTED TRIUMPHANT, GORGEOUS I KNOW I LEFT SOME ACTIVITIES OUT. BUT IT SERVES ME RIGHT FOR PROCRASTIN ATION PICK-UP AGAIN tag:www.charlesmay.com,2006:/blog//1.29 2006-12-05T01:15:11Z 2006-12-05T02:00:32Z THIS IS MY RETURN. IT'S BEEN SEVERAL WEEKS SINCE I MADE AN ENTRY IN THIS BLOG. MAY I MAKE A DEMAND OF ANYONE WHO READS THIS, NO MATTER HIS OR HER AGE? PLEASE DO NOT CLIMB UP ON A KITCHEN... Charles May THIS IS MY RETURN. IT'S BEEN SEVERAL WEEKS SINCE I MADE AN ENTRY IN THIS BLOG. MAY I MAKE A DEMAND OF ANYONE WHO READS THIS, NO MATTER HIS OR HER AGE? PLEASE DO NOT CLIMB UP ON A KITCHEN CHAIR OR ON AN UNSTEADY LADDER.......OR LIKE ME, YOU MAY WIND UP WITH BROKEN RIBS, TWISTED KNEE AND ALL THE PAINS THAT ACCOMPANY SUCH AN ACCIDENT. SO, I MISSED A NUMBER OF CLASSES, AND SOME CONCERTS. WHAT WITH MY INJURIES AND MY OTHER PHYSICAL PROBLEMS, I HAVE APOINTMENTS WITH FOUR DOCTORS NEXT WEEK. THURSDAY, NOV. 30TH, WAS THE FIRST DAY I WAS ABLE TO GO OUT, AND I DID GET TO SEE A NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC CONCERT, ONE THAT I HAD BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO FOR A LONG TIME, AND IT WAS MARVELOUS, ONE OF THE BEST I HAVE SEEN. MY ORCHESTRA SEAT(NOT MY USUAL ONE,)WAS EXCELLENT. I REALLY WAS "TRANSPORTED." THE PROGRAM: MOZART - PIANO CONCERTO IN A MAJOR - LEON FLEISHER HINDEMUTH - PIANO MUSIC WITH ORCHESTRA OP.29 - LEON FLEISHER ROUSSEL - BACCHUS ET AREIEL SUITE NO. 2 R. STRAUSS - FINAL SCENE FROM SALOME - NANCY GUSTAFSON THIS WAS ONE BEAUTIFULLY PLAYED AND WELL PROGRAMMED CONCERT! COULDN'T HAVE BEEN BETTER. THEN ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1. I HAD A GREAT TIME AT THE ROUNDABOUT THEATRE FOR THE MUSICAL, "THE APPLE TREE" WITH KRISTEN CHENOWETH. LILLIAN AND I HAD A GREAT TIME. I FELT AS IF THIS SHOW, TOO, WAS ONE OF THE BEST REVIVALS OF A FAMOUS B'WAY SHOW THAT I HAD EVER SEEN. LUCKY ME! THIS BLOG WRITING ENDEAVOR WAS STARTED BECAUSE I WANTED TO KEEP A RECORD OF WHAT I DO IN NEW YORK, BUT MY DEAR JENNIFER, DAUGHTER NUMBER THREE SUGGESTED, RIGHTLY, THAT I NEVER MENTION MY FAMILY OR TELL ANY PERSONAL STUFF, AND SHE IS CORRECT BEACAUSE, AS I SAID I STARTED THIS AS A KIND OF MEMORANDUM. BUT I WILL TRY TO INCLUDE A DIFFERENT SORT LOF WRITING IN FUTURE. OCTOBER FOLLY tag:www.charlesmay.com,2006:/blog//1.28 2006-10-28T01:22:44Z 2006-10-28T01:27:03Z THE TITLE OF THIS ENTRY IS IN ITS ANTIQUE MEANING - MADNESS. WHEN ONE SCHEDULES TOO MANY ACTIVITIES THAT IS A FORM OF MADNESS. iT SEEMED THAT WAYTHIS WEEK, ALTHOUGH I SEEM TO REMEMBER DOING MORE, BEING BUSIER IN THE... Charles May THE TITLE OF THIS ENTRY IS IN ITS ANTIQUE MEANING - MADNESS. WHEN ONE SCHEDULES TOO MANY ACTIVITIES THAT IS A FORM OF MADNESS. iT SEEMED THAT WAYTHIS WEEK, ALTHOUGH I SEEM TO REMEMBER DOING MORE, BEING BUSIER IN THE PAST, BUT ALAS, I WAS YOUNGER AND STRESS AND MY BODY'S ACHES, PAINS, AND STIFFNESS WERE NOT SO BOTHERSOME AS LATELY THEY HAVE BEEN. MONDAY, I DID NOT TAKE THE RICHARD WILBUR POETRY CLASS........WAITING FOR THE PLUMBER, WHO DID NOT ARRIVE................SURPRISE! BUT I DID GO TO THE SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY CLASS "SPEAK THE SPEECH" WHERE WE CONTINUED READING HENRY IV, PART 2. HAVING STUDIED THIS PLAY BEFORE, AND HAVING COACHED SOME SCENES FROM IT MADE A RE-VISIT VERY PLEASUREALBLE. TUESDAY NIGHT I COULD HAVE GONE TO LINCOLN CENTER TO HEAR GERGIEV CONDUCT THE KIROV ORCHESTRA IN TWO SHOSTAKOVICH SYMPHONIES, BUT I DECIDED TO REST BECAUSE OF THE REST OF THE WEEK'S ACTIVIITIES. WEDNESDAY, THE MEN''S LUNCHEON GROUP WAS UP TO 17 ATTENDEES, AND THE DISCUSSION WAS TOP DRAWER.THEN THE CLASS IN BRITISH EMPIRE'S RISE. WEDNESDAY NIGHT I SAW RIGOLETTO AT THE MET. AS USUAL, GREAT SETS AND COSTUMES. THE BARITONE, JUAN PONS, I HAD SEEN BEFORE AT THE MET, BUT THE OTHER PRINCIPALS WERE NEW TO ME. THE TENOR WAS O.K. SERVICEABLE AND NOT UNPLEASANT, SANG ALL THE NOTES, BUT THERE WAS SOME LACK OF EXCITEMENT THERE. HOWEVER, I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SOPRANO WHO SANG GILDA...................A LOVELY VOICE AND STAGE PRESENCE, A REAL BEAUTY WHOM THE AUDIENCE TOOK TO THEIR HEARTS. I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE SWEPT AWAY. CAST:THE DUKE, JOSEPH CALLEJAH, RIGOLETTO, PONS, GILDA, EKATERINA SIURINA THURSDAY NIGHT'S PHILHARMONIC CONCERT WAS WELL ATTENDED..............EMPPHASIS UPON HUNGARIAN COMPOSERS SANDWICHED IN BETWEEN BEETHOVEN PEICES. VERY CLEVER PROGRAMMING! A GOOD WAY TO KEEP THE AUDIENCE FROM LEAVING DURING THE BARTOK AND LIGETI PIECES BY KEEPING THE BEETHOVEN FIFTH AS THE PIECE DE RESISTANCE IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE CONCERT. AS USUAL, LIGETI'S PALETTE NEEDS SOME GETTING USED TO, BUT IT IS QUITE INTERESTING MUSIC........................STANLEY KUBRICK USED LIGETI'S MUSIC IN MANY OF HIS FILMS. PETER SERKIN, WHOM I HAVE HEARD AT LEAST FIVE TIMES IS A GREAT FAN OF THE SO CALLED "MODERN" COMPOSERS, ALTHOUGH I'VE HEARD HIM DO ALL PERIODS OF MUSIC. WELL, HE PLAYED THE HELL OUT OF THE BARTOK CONCERTO, ECHOING THE PERCUSSION SECTION OF THE ORCHESTRA......THE PIANO IS, AFTER ALL, A PERCUSSION INSTRUMENT. BUT THE BARTOK CONCERTO IS SO DIFFICULT TO PLAY! IT WAS GOOD TO HEAR THE B EETHOVEN FIFTH PLAYED AGAIN BY THIS ORCHESTRA. I ALWAYS SEEM TO HEAR SOMETHING NEW. PEHAPS A COUNTER MELODY THAT I NEWLY DISCOVERED. THE CONDUCTOR, WHOM I HEARD LAST YEAR AND LIKED VERY MUCH, JONATHAN NOTT, IS WELL LIKED BY THE ORCHSTRA, ONE COULD SENSE, AND THE PUBLIC RESPONDS WELL TO HIS YOUTH AND GOOD LOOKS. HIS BATON TECHNIQUE IS EASY TO READ, ALSO. PERHAPS HE WILL BE ON "THE SHORT LIST" SOME DAY FOR THE PHILHARMONIC JOB! PROGRAM: BEETHOVEN-OVERTURE TO KONEG STEPHAN LIGETI -LONTANO, FOR LARGE ORCHESTRA BARTOK- PIANO CONDERTO N O.1 (PETER SERKIN) BEETHOVEN- SYMPHONY NO.5 IN C minor SO TODAY TIRED AND RESTING. SOME NEW, SOME OLD "DO'INS" tag:www.charlesmay.com,2006:/blog//1.27 2006-10-19T03:34:03Z 2006-10-19T03:51:07Z jUST SO I WON'T THINK I DID NOTHIN' THE PAST FEW DAYS, I'M SETTING THIS DOWN IN PRINT! SUNDAY, ANOTHER LOVELY FALL DAY, I SPENT SOME TIME IN BRYAN T PARK--NEW YORK TIMES BOOK FAIR, MANY PEOPLE, BUT I WAS... Charles May jUST SO I WON'T THINK I DID NOTHIN' THE PAST FEW DAYS, I'M SETTING THIS DOWN IN PRINT! SUNDAY, ANOTHER LOVELY FALL DAY, I SPENT SOME TIME IN BRYAN T PARK--NEW YORK TIMES BOOK FAIR, MANY PEOPLE, BUT I WAS ABLE TO FIND A PLEASANT HIDE-A-WAY FOR READING, WHILE LILLIAN LOOKED, SHOPPED AROUND. MONDAY WAS THE RICHARD WILBUR COURSE AT SCHOOL, AND THE MORE I READ HIM, THE BETTER HE GETS--A REALLY MARVELOUS ARTIST! MONDAY EVENING WAS MY FIRST MEETING OF "SPEAK THE SPEECH" SEMINAR AT THE SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY...............KING HENRY THE FOURTH , WHICH I KNOW PRETTY WELL, AND IT WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO DO A LITTLE ACTING. YESTERDAY WAS LOAFING DAY. TODAY, THE 18TH, WAS THE MEN'S LUNCH BUNCH, A VERY GOOD MEETING, THEN THE BRITISH EMPIRE CLASS. AND THAT'S ALL SHE WROTE! (WHAT A BORE, BUT A MEMO TO MYSELF.) DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF TIME tag:www.charlesmay.com,2006:/blog//1.26 2006-10-14T00:08:30Z 2006-10-14T01:29:36Z TODAY WAS ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL FALL DAY, A LITTLE COOL, BRACING, STIMULATING. THIS FRIDAY WAS THE FIRST "FRIDAY'S AT ONE" LECTURE AT THE UNIVERSITY, AND ONE I HAD BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO. NICHOLAS BIRNS, A PROFESSOR AT THE NEW SCHOOL GAVE... Charles May TODAY WAS ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL FALL DAY, A LITTLE COOL, BRACING, STIMULATING. THIS FRIDAY WAS THE FIRST "FRIDAY'S AT ONE" LECTURE AT THE UNIVERSITY, AND ONE I HAD BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO. NICHOLAS BIRNS, A PROFESSOR AT THE NEW SCHOOL GAVE A LECTURE ABOUT ANTHONY POWELL'S 12 NOVELS, TITLED "DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF TIME'' ALL WHICH I READ LAST YEAR AND ENJOYED TREMENDOUSLY. SO THAT PART OF THE DAY EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS. AFTER THE INEVITABLE, UNAVOIDABLE COFFEE HOUR LILLIAN AND I TOOK A LONG WALK IN THE WEST VILLAGE ENDING IN WASHINGTON SQUARE. AFTER A REST WE WENT TO MARIO BATTAGLIA'S "OTTO" AT FIFTH AVE AND NINTH STREET FOR MY FAVORITE THIN CRUST PIZZA AND SOME PROSECCO. I WENT HOME, LILLIAN TO CASA ITALIANA TO SEE "AMARACORD," A FELLINI FILM ABOUT FASCISM-----RELATED TO AN IRP COURSE SHE'S TAKING. WE'LL SEE EACH AT AN 80TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION TOMORROW. LUDWIG et al tag:www.charlesmay.com,2006:/blog//1.25 2006-10-11T03:26:46Z 2006-10-12T21:38:58Z THIS PAST SUMMER I HEARD/SAW THE BOSTON SYMPHONY AT TANGLEWOOD CONDUCTED BY BERNARD HAITINK PLAYING THE EROICA. IT WAS VERY GOOD. THIS YEAR HAITINK HAS EMERGED AS A BEETHOVEN SPECIALIST.........OF COURSE HAITINK, 77 YEARS OLD, IS FAMOUS ALL OVER THE... Charles May THIS PAST SUMMER I HEARD/SAW THE BOSTON SYMPHONY AT TANGLEWOOD CONDUCTED BY BERNARD HAITINK PLAYING THE EROICA. IT WAS VERY GOOD. THIS YEAR HAITINK HAS EMERGED AS A BEETHOVEN SPECIALIST.........OF COURSE HAITINK, 77 YEARS OLD, IS FAMOUS ALL OVER THE WORLD, HAVING BEEN THE CONDUCTOR OF THE CONCERTGEBOW AMONG OTHER ORCHESTRAS. HE AND THE LONDON PHILHARMONIC HAVE RECORDED ALL THE BEETHOVEN SYMPHONIES, AND NOW THIS GROUP IS AT AVERY FISHER HALL TONIGHT PLAYING THE 4TH AND SIXTH SYMPHONIES. THE SIXTH, THE PASTORAL, IS MORE.FAMILIAR TO MOST PEOPLE THAN THE FOURTH, BUT THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR IT PLAYED BY A SUPERB ORCHESTRA, LED BY A FINE CONDUCTOR.. OF COURSE, THE AUDIENCE, AS THEY USUALLY DO, GAVE A STANDING OVATION. (I FIND THAT SO ANNOYING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY DO IT EVERY TIME. THEN THE STANDING OVATION LOSES ALL SIGNIFICANCE.) SOMETIMES, WHEN I GO TO A BEETHOVEN CONCERT, THE SHEER GENIUS OF THIS TITAN OVERWHELMS ME. I TRY TO IMAGINE WHAT EFFECT THESE NEW, POWERFUL COMPOSITIONS MUST HAVE HAD ON THE AUDIENCES OF HIS TIME, THE GRANDEUR, THE UNRELENTING, GLORIOUS SOUNDS, THE PLAIN COURAGE IT TOOK TO WRITE THIS NEW MUSIC, THE NEW DIRECTIONS IN WHICH HE WAS TAKING MUSIC. VIVA, LUDWIG!!!! 363 THE STAGE MANAGER CALLS THE SHOW tag:www.charlesmay.com,2006:/blog//1.24 2006-10-10T02:40:29Z 2006-10-10T03:03:31Z LIGHT CUE 247! READY 247. GO 247---GO TO BLACK! AND THERE YOU ARE . THERE IT IS. THAT'S IT. IS THAT WHAT DYING IS LIKE? HOW WELL THEATRICAL METAPHORS FIT LIVING AND DYING! LOVE AND DEATH, THE TWO EVERLASTING TOPICS... Charles May LIGHT CUE 247! READY 247. GO 247---GO TO BLACK! AND THERE YOU ARE . THERE IT IS. THAT'S IT. IS THAT WHAT DYING IS LIKE? HOW WELL THEATRICAL METAPHORS FIT LIVING AND DYING! LOVE AND DEATH, THE TWO EVERLASTING TOPICS OF ALL THE ARTS. BEETHOVEN, REMBRANDT, CARAVAGGIO....ALL OF THEM DEATH AND LOVE. MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC tag:www.charlesmay.com,2006:/blog//1.23 2006-10-05T02:43:12Z 2006-10-05T03:24:46Z WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS I DIE. HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS CONSTANT CONCERT PLAYING IN THEIR HEADS? ARIAS, RECITATIVES, HYMNS, LIEDER, POP SONGS, G & S, CONCERTI, SYMPHONIES ALL THERE PLAYING, LYRICS PARADING, VIOLS, CLARINETS.......OH. IT IS MADDENING AND... Charles May WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS I DIE. HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS CONSTANT CONCERT PLAYING IN THEIR HEADS? ARIAS, RECITATIVES, HYMNS, LIEDER, POP SONGS, G & S, CONCERTI, SYMPHONIES ALL THERE PLAYING, LYRICS PARADING, VIOLS, CLARINETS.......OH. IT IS MADDENING AND DELIGHTFUL...............THE ONSLOUGHT SELDOM STOPS, EVEN AT TIMES KEEPING ME AWAKE AT NIGHT. IT IS A CURSE AND A BLESSING, FOR I AM NEVER UNACCOMPANIED - WITH STRAUSS IN MY BACK POCKET AND SHOSTAKOVICH IN MY JACKET........... AND I DON'T REALLY NEED AN MP3 PLAYER. MY MOTHER WAS ANOTHER ONE WHO SANG ALMOST CONSTANTLY.........THAT'S WHAT I HEARD FROM THE BEGINNING, . AND SHE SANG INTO HER NINETIES. MUSIC IS MY LIFE AND EVERYTHING I DO OR PURSUE IS TINGED BY THIS. THE PRECEDING THOUGHTS MAKE ME THINK OF TWO DEAR FRIENDSD OF MINE EVELYN MONTGUE AND MILTON. THIS GREAT COUPLE ALSO ARE MUSIC DEVOTEES AND HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR ME AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE INSTITUTE FOR RETIRED PROFESSIONALS TO EXPERIENCE CLASSICAL MUSIC EVENTS THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE ABLE TO WITHOUT THEIR KIND DEDICATION.--- AND THE PRICE IS ALWAYS RIGHT. I'M SURELY GREEDY, FOR I HAVE A SEASON SUBSCRIPTION TO THE PHILHARMONIC, TO THE MET, TO CARNEGIE HALL(2) AND OTHER VENUES, AND STILL EVELYN AND MILTON FEED MY OBSESSION. THROUGH THEIR EFFORTS I HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE MOST WONDERFUL PERFORMANCES, AMONG THEM TRISTAN & ISOLDE WITH BARENBOIM CONDUCTING AND WALTRUD MEIER AS ISOLDE, AND SO MANY OTHER DELICIOUS CONCERTS. I JUST WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK THEM..................ATTENTION SHOULD BE PAID! MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC tag:www.charlesmay.com,2006:/blog//1.22 2006-10-05T02:43:12Z 2006-10-24T03:05:32Z WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS I DIE. HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS CONSTANT CONCERT PLAYING IN THEIR HEADS? ARIAS, RECITATIVES, HYMNS, LIEDER, POP SONGS, G & S, CONCERTI, SYMPHONIES ALL THERE PLAYING, LYRICS PARADING, VIOLS, CLARINETS.......OH. IT IS MADDENING AND... Charles May WHEN THE MUSIC STOPS I DIE. HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THIS CONSTANT CONCERT PLAYING IN THEIR HEADS? ARIAS, RECITATIVES, HYMNS, LIEDER, POP SONGS, G & S, CONCERTI, SYMPHONIES ALL THERE PLAYING, LYRICS PARADING, VIOLS, CLARINETS.......OH. IT IS MADDENING AND DELIGHTFUL...............THE ONSLOUGHT SELDOM STOPS, EVEN AT TIMES KEEPING ME AWAKE AT NIGHT. IT IS A CURSE AND A BLESSING, FOR I AM NEVER UNACCOPANIED - WITH STRAUSS IN MY BACK POCKET AND SHOSTAKOVICH IN MY JACKET. AND I DON'T REALLY NEED AN MP3 PLAYER. MY MOTHER WAS ANOTHER ONE WHO SANG ALMOST CONSTANTLY.........THAT'S WHAT I HEARD FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY TIME. AND SHE SANG INTO HER NINETIES.i SUPOSE I COULD SAY THAT MJUSIC IS MY LIFE AND EVRYHTHING I DO OR PURSUE IS TINGED BY THIS ORIENTATION. HE PRECEDING THOUGHTS BRING TO MIND TWO DEAR FRIENDSD OF MINE EVELYN MONTGUE AND MILTON THIS GREAT COUPLE ALSO ARE MUJSIC NUTS AND HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR ME AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE INSTITUTE FOR RETIRED PROFESSIONALS TO SEE CLASSICAL MUSIC EVENTS THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE GOTTEN TO WITHOUT THEIR KIND DEDICATION. I GUESS I AM GREEDY, FOR I HAVE A SEASON SUBSCRIPTION TO THE PHILHARMONIC, TO THE MET, TO CARNEGIE HALL(2) AND OTHER VENUES, AND EVELYN AND MILTON FEED MY OBSESSION. THROUGH THEIR EFFORTS I HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE MOST WONDERFUL PERFORMANCES, AMONG THEM TRISTAN & ISOLDE WITH BAREBOIM CONDUCTING AND WALTRUD MEIER AS ISOLDE AND SO MANY OTHER DELICIOUS CONCERTS. IJUST WANT TO ESPECIALLY THANK THEM........SAND BY THE WAY, THESE TWO ARE A LOT OF FUN, TOO. BUSY TIME tag:www.charlesmay.com,2006:/blog//1.21 2006-10-04T19:36:47Z 2006-10-04T21:18:40Z ANYONED READING THIS-----FEEL FREE TO SKIP. THIS PART IS FOR ME. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IF I DON'T KEEP A RECORD OF WHAT I'VE DONE, EVEN RECENTLY, I'LL FORGET THE DETAILS. SATURDAY, LILLIAN AND I ATTENDED A MOST REMARKABLE EXHIBITION... Charles May ANYONED READING THIS-----FEEL FREE TO SKIP. THIS PART IS FOR ME. BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IF I DON'T KEEP A RECORD OF WHAT I'VE DONE, EVEN RECENTLY, I'LL FORGET THE DETAILS. SATURDAY, LILLIAN AND I ATTENDED A MOST REMARKABLE EXHIBITION AT THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN. DALE CHIHULY, A WORLD RENOWNED ARTIST WHO CREATES SCULPTURE IN GLASS(AND WHO HAS EXHIBITED HIS WORKS WORLDWIDE) HAS TAKEN OVER THE CONSERVATORY AND OTHER BUILDINGS, WHERE ALMOST EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK THERE ARE BEAUTIFUL, COLORFUL, SURPRISING REPRESENTATIONAL OR ABSTRACT PIECES---CHANDELIERS, FLOATING GLOBES, GLASS BIRDS, SURPRISES EVRYWHERE....... AND I WENT RELUCTANTLY. GOD, WHAT I WOULD HAVE MISSED BECAUSE OF STUPID STUBBORNESS! I WILL NEVER FORGET THE FLOATING GLASS BALLOONS OR THE ROWBOATS FILLED WITH STRANGE BEAUTIFUL FISH, IBIS, FRUIT.(EXHIBIT RUNS TO OCTOBER 29TH.) SUNDAY, ANOTHER GORGEOUS FALL DAY, WE WALKED UP ALONG THE HUDSON TO THE 79TH STREET BOAT BASIN RESTAURANT FOR LUNCH. MONDAY, OCTOBER 2ND, WAS MY REGULAR SEASON TICKET NIGHT AT THE MET. THE OPERA, MOZART'S IDOMENEO, I HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE. IT'S "OPERA SERIA," A VERY SPECIFIC GENRE, YOUNG MOZART, STYLISTICALLY STATIC, BUT THE MOVEMENTS WERE SO WELL COREOGRAPHED AND THE SINGING SO GREAT THAT THE OPERA WAS QUITE EXCITING. CAST:ROSCHMANN, JEPSON,MAKARINA, HEPPNER. YESTERDAY, I WENT BACK TO THE BOX OFFICE TO EXCHANGE A TICKET AND ENDED UP WAITING IN THE "RUSH" LINE - ORCHESTRA SEAT FOR FAUST FOR TWENTY BUCKS! SO I SAW THE PREMIERE NIGHT'S PERFORMANCE. QUITE A SAVING OVER WHAT I PAY FOR GRAND TIER SEATING. NOT THE BEST SINGING BUT THE PRODUCTION HAD MANY OTHER FINE ASPECTS..........A BARGAIN FOR SURE. CAST:VARGAS, ABDRAZAKOV, SVENSON. THOUGHTS tag:www.charlesmay.com,2006:/blog//1.20 2006-09-30T03:50:45Z 2006-09-30T04:23:59Z IS IT SANE TO FEEL SO HAPPY THAT YOU FEEL GUILTY ABOUT IT? WHAT HAS OUR SOCIETY TAUGHT US? CHILDREN ARE KILLING WITH ASSAULT RIFLES, YET PEOPLE ON THE BUS OR SUBWAY LOOK AT ME WANTING, YEARNING TO CONNECT. JUST... Charles May IS IT SANE TO FEEL SO HAPPY THAT YOU FEEL GUILTY ABOUT IT? WHAT HAS OUR SOCIETY TAUGHT US? CHILDREN ARE KILLING WITH ASSAULT RIFLES, YET PEOPLE ON THE BUS OR SUBWAY LOOK AT ME WANTING, YEARNING TO CONNECT. JUST A WORD, A TOUCH, A SMILE IS ALL THEY SEEM TO WANT. SOMETIMES I THINK I AM GOING CRAZY IN A WORLD GONE MAD. I LOOK DOWN AT THE AUDIENCE IN THE CONCERT HALL, CROWDING IN, HURRYING TO THEIR SEATS, HUNGERING FOR THE SOLACE OR THRILLS OF THE STRINGS, THE BIG SOUNDS. SHOSTAKOVICH , THE CELLO COMCERTO AND THEN SYMPHONY NO.5. MY LOVELY SEAT-MATE MARY, IS THERE BUT WITHOUT, WILLIAM, HER HANDSOME HUSBAND, RECUPERATING AT HOME. WHAT NICE, REAL PEOPLE! AND THE CONCERT WAS GOOD. WHY ARE SECOND MOVEMENTS, ADAGIOS SO DARN BEAUTIFUL? I WAS BACK IN NEW ORLEANS, COLLEGE DAYS, THE MAGNAVOX RECORD PLAYER IN ITS FRUITWOOD CABINET, MY FIRST AND MOST NECESSARY, MOST LOVED POSSESSION. MONEY-POOR BUT MUSIC-WEALTHY. AND THE FIFTH SYMPHONY WAS WHAT WE PLAYED ON IT, AND THE LIEBESTOD FROM TRISTAN AND ISOLDE. THE MEMORIES, THE PARTIES, THE SPAGHETTI DINNERS, GALLON JUGS OF GALLO! AND THE NEW ORLEANS OPERA COMPANY WHERE I SANG AND LEARNED SO MUCH. IT ALL CAME ALIVE AGAIN IN THAT MUJSIC. WE ALL DEPARTED THE HALL AFTER THAT INCREDIBLE FINAL ALLEGRO. AND I WONDERED, AS USUAL ABOUT WHAT THE REST OF THE AUDIENCE WAS FEELING, THINKING. THEY SURE APPLAUDED AND CHEERED. BUT I WENT AWAY, QUIETED AND THINKING MY USUAL BANALITIES. WHAT I WOULD GIVE FOR AN ORIGINAL THOUGHT! BUT I'M AFRAID THEY'VE ALL BEEN TOUGHT ALREADY. SOME THOUGHTS tag:www.charlesmay.com,2006:/blog//1.19 2006-09-27T13:24:50Z 2006-09-27T14:00:54Z I DO HAVE SOME RELUCTANCE TOWARD SITTING DOWN TO WRITE ON THIS WEB LOG.OH, THERE'S THE USUAL WRITERLY LACK OF DISCIPLINE, LACK OF INSPIRATION, LAZINESS. I SUPPOSE I'M MORE OF A PASSIVE PERSON THAN I USED TO BE IN MY... Charles May I DO HAVE SOME RELUCTANCE TOWARD SITTING DOWN TO WRITE ON THIS WEB LOG.OH, THERE'S THE USUAL WRITERLY LACK OF DISCIPLINE, LACK OF INSPIRATION, LAZINESS. I SUPPOSE I'M MORE OF A PASSIVE PERSON THAN I USED TO BE IN MY "CREATIVE" DAYS. RATHER THAN WRITE A CATALOG OF ACTIVITIES, WHAT I'D PREFER TO WRITE WOULD BE A RANT, A PASSABLE ESSAY, A DESCRIPTIVE PIECE, EVEN A NOVELETTE, IN THE STYLE, PERHAPS OF KINGSLEY AMIS. NOW I REALIZE, THAT LACKING THE MOTIVATION TO UNDERTAKE THE HARD WORK, I WILL BE WRITING FOR ME, RETURNING TO THE CATALOGUE OF MY ACTIVITIES THAT I SO DECRIED ABOVE. AFTER SPENDING MUCH OF THE RAINY WEEKEND IN DOORS, MONDAY NIGHT I WENT TO SEE THE LONG AWAITED PERFORMANCE OF THE SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY AT THE DANNY KAYE THEATRE. A MOST SUCCESSFUL AND ENJOYABLE EVENING, TOPPED OFF BY A SUPPER AT SEL ET POIVRE WITH A GROUP OF INTERESTING FOLK INCLUDING MY FRIEND, DEREK, TO WHOM I OWE SINCERE THANKS FOR HIS HAVING INTRODUCED ME TO THE SHAKESPEARE SOCIETY. YESTERDAY, WAS MY SECOND ACTING WORKSHOP OF THE SEASON AT THE STEIN CENTER, AS USUAL, AN ENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE FOR ME AS WELL AS FOR THE ATTENDEES, MY STUDENTS. TODAY I'M OFF TO THE BRONX BOTANICAL GARDENS WITH LILLIAN, A BUS TRIP THAT INCLUDES A TOUR AND LUNCHEON, THE TRIP ARRANGED BY THE TURTLE BAY ASSOCIATION. TOMORROW NIGHT, THE NY PHILHARMONIC....SHOSTAKOVICH. WONDERFUL! AIR LIKE WINE tag:www.charlesmay.com,2006:/blog//1.18 2006-09-23T01:48:45Z 2006-09-23T03:20:04Z YES, HOW THE HEART BOUNDS AND SINGS WHEN THE WEATHER IS AS IT WAS ON THURSDAY. FIRST, THE DEAN'S BREAKFAST--A"WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL THING." THESE SORTS OF GATHERINGS HAVE A SAMENESS ABOUT THEM:"DID YOU HAVE A NICE SUMMER? DID YOU... Charles May YES, HOW THE HEART BOUNDS AND SINGS WHEN THE WEATHER IS AS IT WAS ON THURSDAY. FIRST, THE DEAN'S BREAKFAST--A"WELCOME BACK TO SCHOOL THING." THESE SORTS OF GATHERINGS HAVE A SAMENESS ABOUT THEM:"DID YOU HAVE A NICE SUMMER? DID YOU TRAVEL? YOU'VE LOST WEIGHT!" FAMILIAR FACES. A FEW NEW ONES. THE FIRST MEETING OF A CLASS I'M ATTENDING, 20TH CENTURY FRENCH PLAYS, LOOKS TO BE FINE. RENEE WEHRMANN, A VERY SMART FRENCH WOMAN WHO WAS IN MY IMPROVISATION CLASS, IS THE COORDINATOR. THE FIRST PLAY IS ANOUIHL'S ANTIGONE, WHICH I HAVE DIRECTED SEVERAL TIMES. THEN THERE IS CAMUS, BECKETT, ETC.. AFTER CLASS I HAD A GOOD LUNCH WITH MY FRIEND,LARRY, AT A MOROCCAN RESTAURANT, OUR TABLE OUTSIDE FROM WHICH VANTAGE POINT WE COULD OGLE THE PRETTY GIRLS AS THEY PASSED, MANY, IT SEEMED, PARTIALLY EN DESHABILLE. BETTER THAN ANY DESSERT! WE THEN TRAMPED THE WEST VILLAGE A BIT, AND I WAS ABLE TO STOP AT MY "BEST KEPT SECRET,'' FLORENCE BUTCHER SHOP, WHERE YOU CAN PURCHASE NEWPORT STEAKS, PRIME, FOR LESS THAN YOU MIGHT IMAGINE. WE FOUND A WEIRD ANTIQUE MUSIC SHOP, SO CROWDED YOU HAD TO WALK SIDEWAYS TO ENTER, WHERE LARRY FOUND A MARTIN GUITAR-SIZED UKELELE WITH A REPAIRED CRACK IN IT FOR ONLY $800.(HE DIDN'T BUY IT. HIS WIFE, JANE, WOULD HAVE KILLED HIM, HE SAID. I REALLY TIRED MYSELF OUT ON THAT WALK, SO BEAT IT HOME BECAUSE I HAD TO BE AT ALICE TULLY HALL FOR THE NYCHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OPENING NIGHT. LILLIAN IS NOT A FAN OF STRING QUARTETS OR CHAMBER MUSIC, BUT I KNOW SHE WOULD HAVE ENJOYED THE VARIETY OF THE ECLECTIC MUSIC AND CHANGING ENSEMBLES....... THE VIVALDI, AND ESPECIALLY, THE DVORAK QUINTETS WERE JUST BEAUTIFUL. TODAY I WAS ABLE TO CALL VIVIAN GLICK - IN HOSPITAL FOR SURGERY, AND TO WISH HER WELL. HAPPY TO SAY SEE SEEMS FINE. VIVIAN AND HER HUSBAND, BOB, ARE AN EXTREMELY WITTY AND INTERESTING COUPLE WHO SIT NEXT TO ME AT ROUNDABOUT THEATRE. I'M A LITTLE STIFF HERE AND THERE(NOT JUST MY STILTED PROSE STYLE) FROM THE GYM TODAY. HERE I SHALL STOP AND REVIEW THIS ENTRY NOTING THE VACUOUS, VAIN AND VAPID QUALITY OF MY OUTPUT. HEY, I JUST REALIZED WHAT THIS KIND OF WRITING REMINDS ME OF.............THOSE TERRIBLE MIMEOGRAPHED LETTERS PEOPLE USED TO SEND AT CHRISTMAS.DO THEY STILL DO THAT? I NEVER DID. BUT LOOK............. MIDDLE AMERICA JUST CAUGHT UP WITH ME! ANOTHER BUSY DAY tag:www.charlesmay.com,2006:/blog//1.17 2006-09-21T03:01:06Z 2006-09-21T03:41:30Z THIS DAY BEGAN FOR ME WITH TH RECOMENCEMENT OF THE MEN'S LUNCH -BUNCH, AND IT WAS A GOOD MEETING. THE MATTERS DISCUSSED HAD TO DO WITH AGING, DEATH OF FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES AND COPING. SOUNDS A MITE DEPRESSING AND... Charles May THIS DAY BEGAN FOR ME WITH TH RECOMENCEMENT OF THE MEN'S LUNCH -BUNCH, AND IT WAS A GOOD MEETING. THE MATTERS DISCUSSED HAD TO DO WITH AGING, DEATH OF FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES AND COPING. SOUNDS A MITE DEPRESSING AND MORBID, EH,WHAT? BUT WE DO SEEM TO NEED TO DEAL WITH SUCH MATTERS, AND THE GENTLE AND SOMETIMES INSULTING JOSHING THAT GOES ON, SOMETIMES AIMED AT OUR GOOD-NATURED CHAIRMAN, FRED CUBA, BREAKS UP THE SERIOUSNESS. THIS IS PERHAPS ONE OF THE BEST ACTIVITIES OF THE IRP. ONE WOULD BE HARD PUT TO FIND SUCH A FINE GROUP OF MEN SUCH AS THE ONES IN THE LUNCH BUNCH. THE NEXT THING WAS THE FIRST CLASS MEETING OF THE RISE OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE STUDY GROUP AND IT DIDN'T GO SO WELL, BUT I'M HOPING THE CLASS WILL IMPROVE. IF NOT.............I'M OUT OF THERE. I'M MUCH TOO OLD TO WASTE TIME. IF IT AIN'T FUN, I AIN'T DOIN' IT ----NO MORE OF THAT NONSENCE! "THE NEXT THING" WAS THE CONCERT OF THE NYPHIL AT LINCOLN CENTER. I MUST AVER THAT LORIN MAAZEL HAS PROBABLY THE BEST, CLEAREST STICK TECHNIQUE I'VE EVER SEEN. IT'S A MARVEL AND A JOY TO SEE. AND HIS INTERPRETATION ARE RIGHT ON THE MONEY. MY SEAT WAS IN THE SECOND TIER IN A SIDE BOX, BUT O.K. NOT AS GOOD AS MY REGULAR SEASON SEAT, BUT I'VE SAT ALL OVER AVERY FISHER HALL. AND THE PRICE WAS RIGHT. I SAT WITH SHARON, ARNIE, AND DOLORES. THE PROGRAM WAS THE OVERTURE TO OBERON OF VON WEBER, MOZART ARIAS, SUNG VERY BEAUTIFULLY BY HEIDI GRANT MURPHY, SOPRANO, AND THE GREAT MAHLER FOURTH SYMPHONY..................AND A FINE PERFORMANCE. "THE NEXT THING"---WHEN I GOT HOME THERE WAS A CALL FROM RUTH EDGE, A SOPRANO TO WHOM I TAUGHT VOICE IN MY NEW JERSEY DAYS. THAT'S `13\14 YEARS AGO. I WILL CALL HER TOMORROW OR THE NEXT DAY. ONE OF THESE DAYS, I'LL DO SOME GOOD, DESCRIPTIVE WRITING AND SURPRISE MYSELF AND ANY VICTIM WHO READS IT!!!