Happy, Healthy, Joyful Christmas and Blessings for a Wonderful 2014!

The Winter Moon

* Its the sweet sultry taste of Winter on my lips,

the shadow of the pale moonlight on my eyes,

and behind the thin drapes of midnight clouds.

amidst the stars shining bright and clear,

smiles the radiance of the Winter Moon.

If I had seen Heaven, I would admit I had seen it,

hiding shyly behind the curtains of the night,

the Winter Moon at zenith, smiles down at me.

Its this breeze blowing gently,

mixing the scent of the Winter with the Moon,

and I stay awake,

my heart filled to the brim with Love,

appreciating the splendour of the Winter Moon!

(Amatulla Mohammadi)

Some of you know I have been a very sick Robin for (gasp) almost a month!  First the dreaded flu...and now it has morphed into a hellish head/chest cold!  I have not had the energy to complete writing my Christmas Cards (which always include a *Christmas Poem*...something that reflects my year...)....so, here is my card and poem... for those of you who did not receive one.  I hope you like the poem....and the card.  Please know I send my love to you ALL...

Happy Christmas!  Happy Holidays!  May 2014 bring you a year of health, strength and joy.

Love, always,

♥ Robin ♥

Moons and Sunsets

I've been ill with the Flu since I returned from the Valley of the Moon.  NOT FUN, let me assure you... still, that has not kept me from photographing some spectacular Sunsets and Moon-rises...

December 6th Sunset...  the same day Nelson Mandela died....

Peeking through the Fog...

Almost Full....., November 2013

La Bella Luna in all her glory!

December Crescent...

The Moon and Venus

Same Moon and Venus 20 minutes later..

Love, ♥ Robin ♥

The Valley of the Moon in November

Twilight

La Bella Luna

Autumn in the Valley of the Moon

I always treasure my time in the Valley of the Moon with Joyce and Mimi!  It is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. This November trip brought a myriad of *Weather*!  Northern California had a powerful Wind Storm the night we drove to Sonoma State University, where Weill Hall is.  We passed block after block with no street lights, no traffic lights... no *nuthin* except huge windy gusts, branches falling off trees, leaves swirling over our car....  but..we made it!  We saw the San Francisco Symphony perform a brilliant *Alpine Symphony* by Richard Strauss...  magnificent!  The concert began 45 minutes late because the buses carrying the Orchestra up from San Francisco were delayed...a huge tree blew down across the freeway, hitting a car...thankfully no one was injured.  En route home, we were stopped by a Policeman, who told us to turn back and drive the long way to Joyce's home because two power lines had blown down and were *live*...  whew!  We were very lucky to have made it there and back.

Weill Hall

 The wind continued for the next few days, but Mimi and I ventured out to walk and enjoy what remained of the Autumn Colours.

The day before I arrived, these trees were full of beautiful, Autumnal leaves...

Ah....so lovely...Mother Nature is such an Artist!

Of course, I HAD to visit the Woodpeckers....  their tree, losing leaves as Winter approaches..  would they say *hello* to me?

The Home of the Woodpecker Family

*There's that Girl with the Camera* again!*

*Stop taking our photos!*

Doing what he does best!

 Mimi, my *Hostess*!  She is the sweetest doggie.... 

  

*Is is time to go for a walk, Auntie Robin ? I'm READY!*

Her favourite thing (besides her *Mum* Joyce).....a tennis ball!  She can fetch for HOURS!!

Mimi's *Arch-Nemesis*.....*The Cat*!

Look closely, you will see Venus, sparkling brightly...

One night....I came across these three Bunnies..they were frolicking together.... look at those Ears!

  

 Last.... I FINALLY, after YEARS of trying, managed to capture Geese flying into the twilight....wish they were in formation, but they seemed to be having a leisurely time, lazily soaring up and over the Mountains, all the while *honking*...hmmmm..sort of *Symphonic*!  A-ha-ha!

I hope you enjoyed visiting the Valley of the Moon with me!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

A Tale of Two Operas

Once upon a time, there was a fantastic eons-old legend brought to musical life by my favourite composer, Richard Wagner.  He named it *The Flying Dutchman*....the synopsis was a Dutch Sailor, trying to navigate through a monstrous storm, prayed to Satan to help him.....  Satan agreed, but exacted the curse that he was to sail the Oceans continuously....except for every seven years, when the Dutchman (and his crew of dead men) was allowed ashore).  If he found a woman who could be faithful (until death) to him alone...he would be redeemed and allowed to die and finally find peace. The legend of the Dutchman has him in a ship with blood-red sails...a pale man, in dark garb... 

Most of you know I adore all Wagner Operas....they are not done with the regularity of Mozart or Verdi, because of the vocal stamina needed to sing them.  I knew *The Dutchman* was to be performed at our SF Opera for well over a year...and starring one of the best (and most handsome) Bass-Baritones, Greer Grimlsey.

So, for the first on-stage rehearsal, back on 9th October, I sat down...eager with anticipation to hear the familiar music...see the familiar ship... imagine my surprise, when I saw......Skeletons!

Zombies!

No Galleon....but a Blood-Red Space Ship!

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry.... it was all the bad-dream of a Romanian Director....Petrinko Ionesco.

I happened to be sitting across the aisle from Monsieur Ionesco and his Romanian *Crew*....(some of who sported identical Ionesco-mustachios)....when I laughed out loud, they turned and glared at me.....
I merely shrugged my shoulders!

At one point, the Dutchman was dressed like this....and these two were his doubles...not sure why there were three *Dutchmen*... in fact, not sure if ANYONE knew...

His *idea* was to have the Dutchman and his crew be Space Aliens....landing on a  Norwegian Fishing Boat of Captain Daland. 

Anyway, we were subjected to three days of this horror...I witnessed arguments between Ionesco and our *Dutchman*, our Maesto and ultimately, our General Director.  This *Dutchman* was quickly turning into a laughing fiasco...the WORST production I had ever seen!  I came home every night depressed and saddened.  

On the fourth day, I entered the Opera House to find our General Director calling everyone to the front of the stage....and he informed us Monsieur Ionesco and team had *left*...(i.e.  fired)!  I was so happy....(and you know I am not one to hold back on my emotions), I ran over to Mr. G, hugged and kissed him and said "THANK YOU"!

A relief....because now the Singers could SING...not be encumbered with ridiculous *Alien* Costumes and Masks...  BUT, also a challenge because 70% of the staging for Principals, Chorus and sets had to be redone...in three days!

*Dutchman* opened on October 22nd...it closed last night (November 15th)...

The Dutchman's non-Zombie, but still dead crew!

Captain Daland, the wonderful Icelandic Bass, Kristinn Sigmundson

Captain Daland and Crew....ah...so nice not to have a Spaceship in the background!

Senta (our obsessive Heroine) sings the Ballad of the Flying Dutchman

Senta and her would-be fiance, Erik.

I mean..really, wouldn't you choose the Dutchman?

The Dutchman thinks Senta has betrayed him with Eric....and departs....BUT....as in most Wagner Operas, Senta remains true and throws herself off a cliff.....the Dutchman and she are reunited in the Cosmos....  ah....lovely!  

On our Opening Night....I created this *Table Decoration* from alphabet Cookies... I even made an umlaut!  A-ha-ha! (I forbade the Orchestra, Chorus and Principals from eating it - until after the intermission!  A-ha-ha!)

And you know, I MUST *Model* some of the hats from the production!  Here I am, wearing the Steurmann (Steersman) Hat!

Last....I was lucky enough to be invited to a Cocktail Party at the German Consulate where *The Dutchman*, himself was the guest speaker!    We had a nice tete-e-tete and he gave me a *Scoop*...he will be returning to SF Opera in 2 years to sing a totally different Wagner Role...Hans Sachs in *Die Meistersinger*.  We shared a giggle about the *Zombie Apocalypse* rehearsals!

Last Friday was the final performance... for me, witnessing what was on the stage back in early October, and what was the concluding performance was a miracle...a testament to a wonderful Opera. GREAT singers and orchestra.. the thrill of Opera....there's nothing like it!

I cannot leave you without sharing a bit of the music from the fantastic Opera!