KarenSews2
04-02-2006, 01:58 PM
My friend got free last-minute tickets to the Friday night show/concert of B.J. Ward at Clowes Hall (Butler Univ) in Indy. The show is called Stand-up Opera. Ms. Ward combines her wonderful operatic talents with stand-up comedy. Kind of a Victor Borge of opera. Her credits are many, including being the voice of Velma on Scooby Doo. She was great! The first aria ended with her falling to the floor, then rising to one elbow to say, "There is NO need for a note to be THAT HIGH!" She did all the arias seriously, and poked fun only between songs. Her usually deadpan (brilliant) accompanist was sometimes drawn into the fun, such as when they were doing "Turandot in 7 minutes," and he became some of the characters. The best was when he was a blind character, so he put on sunglasses. Then, when he started to play, he did a Stevie Wonder kind of sway! VERY funny! If you get a chance, check her out. She's performing Apr 8 at Wright Auditorium in Greenville, NC.
Last night was the spring concert of Indiana University's Singing Hoosiers. This group goes back over 60 years and is steeped in tradition. They did quite a variety; everything from opera choruses to current show tunes. My friend's freshman son is in the group, and her other son, a senior at Purdue, came down, too. It was hard on him due to the HUGE IU-Purdue rivalry!
The concert was mostly very good, but it was WAYY to long! You automatically know that when the list of songs take 3 pages in the program!
There were a few "what were they thinking" moments, but overall, it was enjoyable. One of the distractions was one of the male dancers who graduated high school with Bailey. Even then, if you looked up the word "overacting" in the dictionary, you'd find his picture! :eek:
A highlight of the show was a girl who did a solo of Taylor the Latte Boy. I had never heard the song before, but she AND the song were adorable. What fun to see all those kids (some non-music majors) performing their hearts out!
Then, this evening, I have a 3-hour rehearsal myself, getting ready for an Apr 22 concert. I'm enjoying singing, but this guy's rehearsal techniques are driving me NUTS!! I don't really know what the level of musical knowledge is in the group, but he spoon-feeds EVERYTHING! We were JUST finishing (FINALLY) learning the Latin text for a Mozart movement, and I timed it. We spent 50 MINUTES! He reads the text, then he translates, and reads it again. Then he reads a portion that we repeat. THEN we sing in on a unison note in our own rhythm, and FINALLY as written! And don't even get me STARTED on how he has us chopping off notes! I THINK if Mozart WROTE a quarter note, he WANTED a QUARTER NOTE!!!
I just have to keep repeating, "it's NOT my rehearsal...it's NOT my rehearsal!" Even in high school, I have never experienced being treated as though there is no musical knowledge in the room! OK...I'm finished with my rant. Maybe tonight we can sing...
PS Thanks to my Rudie friends near and far who wrote or called to check on me! Reports of tornadoes in Greenwood, IN were national news, evidently, and things are fine here at the shelter. Just kidding. The damage was east of where we live, but the lightning show on the way home Friday night was fabulous! Never mind that I got DRENCHED getting the car after our dinner before the concert. As my mother used to say, I'm "sugar nor salt."
Thanks for your concern! Hugs
Last night was the spring concert of Indiana University's Singing Hoosiers. This group goes back over 60 years and is steeped in tradition. They did quite a variety; everything from opera choruses to current show tunes. My friend's freshman son is in the group, and her other son, a senior at Purdue, came down, too. It was hard on him due to the HUGE IU-Purdue rivalry!
The concert was mostly very good, but it was WAYY to long! You automatically know that when the list of songs take 3 pages in the program!
There were a few "what were they thinking" moments, but overall, it was enjoyable. One of the distractions was one of the male dancers who graduated high school with Bailey. Even then, if you looked up the word "overacting" in the dictionary, you'd find his picture! :eek:
A highlight of the show was a girl who did a solo of Taylor the Latte Boy. I had never heard the song before, but she AND the song were adorable. What fun to see all those kids (some non-music majors) performing their hearts out!
Then, this evening, I have a 3-hour rehearsal myself, getting ready for an Apr 22 concert. I'm enjoying singing, but this guy's rehearsal techniques are driving me NUTS!! I don't really know what the level of musical knowledge is in the group, but he spoon-feeds EVERYTHING! We were JUST finishing (FINALLY) learning the Latin text for a Mozart movement, and I timed it. We spent 50 MINUTES! He reads the text, then he translates, and reads it again. Then he reads a portion that we repeat. THEN we sing in on a unison note in our own rhythm, and FINALLY as written! And don't even get me STARTED on how he has us chopping off notes! I THINK if Mozart WROTE a quarter note, he WANTED a QUARTER NOTE!!!
I just have to keep repeating, "it's NOT my rehearsal...it's NOT my rehearsal!" Even in high school, I have never experienced being treated as though there is no musical knowledge in the room! OK...I'm finished with my rant. Maybe tonight we can sing...
PS Thanks to my Rudie friends near and far who wrote or called to check on me! Reports of tornadoes in Greenwood, IN were national news, evidently, and things are fine here at the shelter. Just kidding. The damage was east of where we live, but the lightning show on the way home Friday night was fabulous! Never mind that I got DRENCHED getting the car after our dinner before the concert. As my mother used to say, I'm "sugar nor salt."
Thanks for your concern! Hugs