B52s

In honor of the B52's concert I attended tonight (and because I'm too tired for a design post), attached here are 2 of their hit songs which were the last 2 they performed tonight at the 930 club. Enjoy!

Back to our regularly scheduled programing tomorrow!

My Napolean complex

No, not what you're thinking, although at 5'-9", I'm not much taller than Napolean was! Rather, I treated myself to this bust of Napoleon that is currently on sale here at restoration hardware.

The surprise was how big he is and a bit out of scale for my bookcase as planned. Thankfully he's not very heavy, hollow terra cotta, and he moved around several times in my apartment last night.

For now he'll live in my entryway - bonus is that he makes an excellent bookend!

On another note, this past weekend I had the pleasure of seeing the celebrated soprano, Renee Fleming in a recital at the Kenney Center. One of her encores was a crowd pleaser and I've attached a clip of it here: O mio babbino caro by Puccini.

If you ever have the opportunity to see Ms. Fleming perform, I would highly recommend it. This was the 7th time in 10 years I've had the priveledge and she never disappoints!

movie sets

This past weekend I watched A star is born from 1954 starring Judy Garland. The sets, in particular her house, are shockingly 'au courant'. I loved the cerused oak front doors with 3 panels and modern sidelight. Notice also the Mies van der Rohe Barcelona chair in white leather.

In the living room, this card table and chairs would be welcome in my own home, maybe minus the pink cushions. The barcelona stools in the living room were covered with a yellow nubbly looking fabric, you see the top of one here.

Excuse the poor picture quality, but here is a better view of the white leather barcelona chair up on the entry level while down in the living room the corresponding Barcelona stool has the yellow upholstery. Even the sofa looks as if it came from Room and Board last week, not 55 years ago!
However, the main reason to watch this movie is the superb acting and even MORE excellent singing. This scene is heart-wrenching and with fantastic sets - meant to show the Oscars of the time. Notice - eating and dancing: Who needs an after party?

And here as a special treat is 'The man that got away' sung by Judy Garland: You can see why she was such a star!

Definitely check out this excellent movie if you get a chance: nominated for 6 oscars. My only complaint would be that it is rather long at 3 hours, but nothing a remote control can't fix!

The apartment

"The Apartment" theme song (Jealous Lover)- Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

The theme song from the great 1960 film starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine is "Jealous Lover" - a song I love dearly and played about 100x on the piano while home this past weekend. The film won five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Original Screenplay. Enjoy!

Dancing and fashion....

I thought some of you might appreciate this video of Sophie Ellis Bextor performing 'Take me home' -not just for the fun dance music but for all of the beautiful outfits! It reminds me a bit of the fashion sequences in old movies like 'Funny Face'. Enjoy!

Deanna Durbin

I was recently talking to a friend about Deanna Durbin -the singing movie star from the 30s and 40s. We found out that we both have loved her since childhood! I came across a picture of her taken in the early 80s and was surprised to see she was totally recognizeable from herself as a teenager -check this out.Born in 1921, she started out with a studio contract in 1935 along with Judy Garland (the other teen singing actress!). After creating many movies though as the singing teenager, she wanted more sophisticated, grown-up roles which studios and audiences were reluctant to see her in. She retired then in 1949, married and moved to France where she continues to live in retirement.
This video below shows her at age 14 (with that voice!) in her first movie 'Three smart girls". Definitely check out any of her movies, they're delightful!

Denyce Graves

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing 'Carmen' with the beautiful Denyce Graves as the title character at the Kennedy Center. She's a favorite here in DC (as well as around the world) as she is a native Washingtonian. Carmen is among her signature roles. You all probably know the Habanera - here is Denyce singing it below at a concert.

Her best quality though is not her appearance nor her singing ability but her ability to ACT. She IS Carmen in this roll, bringing it to life. She brings more to a song than just diction, poise and correct notes -she brings passion and fire. Unfortunately I felt the rest of the production wasn't as fantastic as her abilities, but sill enjoyable.
Here she is singing her other title role, Delila from Samson and Delila with Placido Domingo- this has always been one of my favorite songs "My heart at thy sweet voice" by Camille Saint-Saens

Carmen is among my favorite operas as it's full of everything I love about the art: fabulous sets, intense music, dancing, costumes, high drama and a beautiful love story with a tragic ending.
The original Carmen from 1875 - the singer Galli-Marie

Basically -here is Carmen in a few seconds or less. Carmen is a beautiful Gypsy in Seville, Span in the 1830s. She can't make up her mind ever about what she wants in life other than to always be 'the boss' . Totally contrary: never satisfied with what she has and goes about charming man after man. A handsome soldier comes along who pays no attention to her so of course she must have him -and she does. However, the luck isn't in the cards for her and it ends badly (I can't give it all away!).The luck wasn't in the cards for the French composer either, Georges Bizet,pictured above. After the critics panned his newest opera, Carmen in 1875, he died 3 months later from a heart attack at age 36 - coincidentally it was also on his 6th wedding anniversary! It quickly became one of the top favorite operas of all time by 1880, however - even to this day people who don't know opera will recognize the songs from Bugs Bunny! If you ever get the chance to see this performed, please don't pass it up, you won't regret it!

Just for fun, to end, here is Denyce appearing on Sesame street with penguins!

Sarah Brightman

One of my favorite singers is coming to DC to promote her latest album, Symphony: Sarah Brightman. In 2 weeks time, I can't wait! I saw her last show 5 years ago here in DC for her 'Harem' album-it was really one of the best shows I've ever seen! Lots of amazing special effects, dancers, great music - a real SHOW! So if you're in DC -she's performing at the Verizon Center on November 19th. Hope to see you there! Enjoy the video above, a preview commercial for the album.

South Pacific

I have a confession: I love the music of Rogers and Hammerstein. Walking cliche.....maybe, but I don't care! I recently bought the album of the 'South Pacific' music with none other than my Kiri Te Kanawa (who was fabulous last night, by the way), Jose Carreras and SARAH VAUGHAN! You don't know music till you hear Sarah Vaughan sing Bali Ha'i or Kiri sing....well.....anything! If only they had all gotten together to sing the music of Carousel I would be ecstatic as it's some of the most beautiful music ever written in my humble opinion! Buy your copy today on AMAZON (the used copies are very very cheap!) and you won't regret it! It's the soundtrack to my Saturday.

I got the album cover picture from amazon so the least I could do is link to their product, haha.

Kiri Te Kanawa

In honor of going to see Kiri Te Kanawa perform this weekend, I'm posting her singing one of the most beloved opera arias of all time 'O mio babbino caro' from Puccini's Gianna Schicchi (1918). Even if you don't like opera, take a listen; it's short. The song title translated means 'my dear papa' and takes place in a comedy when the heroine tries to convince her father to let her marry her fiance after a big feud. The translation from wikipedia is

O my dear papa, He pleases me, and is handsome, handsome; I want to go to Porta Rossa to buy the ring! Yes, yes, I want to go there! And if my love were in vain,I would go to the Ponte Vecchio and throw myself in the Arno! I am aching, I am tortured! Oh God, I'd like to die! Father, have pity, have pity! Father, have pity, have pity!

She is my favorite singer for the smooth tone of her voice and the sort of distinctive 'twang' she has-so beautiful. I can't wait for the weekend!

Rain on me

This song 'Rain on me' from Cyndi Lauper's new album is really beautiful and I wanted to share it with all of you. Enjoy!