Animal Wednesday - The Ride of the "Walkure"....oops..."Hummingbirds"!

I thought this would be the perfect post for this Animal Wednesday.....symbolic of my "taking wing" tomorrow morning and soaring Eastward to attend KJ's YART Fair!  It seems amazing that I will be seeing many of you in person - and soon!

HAW to everyone!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

San Francisco Opera's "Werther"

Well, seeing this opera again (after a 25 year absence) was a delightful surprise!  When it last played here, I was so young and the complex intricasies of Life, Love and Fate - hadn't really touched me.  So, when I sat down in the Opera House to witness the first rehearsal, I thought I would be bored and unmoved by the story....  HA!  What astonishment to find that I now can relate to this sad, yet powerful story. 

"Werther" (pronounced: Ver-tear) is a French Opera (Jules Massenet)...but based on a story by the brilliant German writer, Goethe.  This is a modern, hi-tech production - lasers, videos....but with just enough period authenticity to draw you in and hold you fast.  The cast....amazing...led by the astounding Mexican Tenor, Ramon Vargas.  Well sung, well acted, well conducted....all one can ask for.  The plot (in a nutshell): Boy Meets Girl, They fall in love - but - she is already engaged to another.  Girl marries her Fiance.....Boy kills himself.  Girl realises she really did love him.  Too late!


Here's a brief clip of some of the singers..



And a few photos....

At Sunday's Matinee...I stood up and gave the cast and the conductor a standing ovation.....something I rarely do......ah, Mon Dieu!  Tres Belle......Tres Triest......Tres Magnificque....

My Dates for the Willow Ball

Oooh....I am a lucky girl.....all three men who I invited to be my dates - accepted!  And, I am thrilled to be sharing a fourth man, John Fowles, with my dear friend, Amanda.

Here are "my guys"...

Franz Lizst......oh-so-famous, oh-so-talented, oh-so-handsome Hungarian pianist and composer.  He has agreed to play a few selections on the piano for us....Willow, please make sure my "Franzchen" has a beautiful sterling silver

candelabra with some Lilac-coloured candles (my favourite) atop the piano....

I had planned to hire a driver for us....but Franz, (ach Du, mein Leiber Mann), has insisted on driving us in the Bentley. What's a girl to do...but agree!

Konig Ludwig II von Bavaria...... not only handsome and rich, but a lover of Opera....and especially Wagner Operas.  He was solely responsible for the building of the Bayreuth Festspiel Haus. He loved taking sleigh rides on snowy moonlit evenings in the Bavarian Alps... and....a lover (like me) of Swans!

Last, but most certainly not least, Anthony Minghella.  Famed director of "The English Patient", "Cold Mountain", "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and "Truly, Madly, Deeply" (to name a few).  He also directed a stunningly beautiful production of "Madama Butterfly" at the Metropolitan Opera.  Charasmatic, humorous,
intelligent...

Oh....well, there is one more lovely man....who has promised to dance a tango (or two) with me and also partake of some champagne and (perhaps) some pate....John Fowles - noted English Author - and lover of Fate and all things mysterious....he wrote (among others)..."The French Lieutentant's Woman", "Magus", "Daniel Martin", "The Ebony Tower"....  John, being the lover of women that he is.....also agreed to take the lovely Amanda....so we are going to "share" him....  Amanda, when I am dancing with John, I know any of my other fellows will be thrilled to dance with you!

I guess I seem like a "wild child" with four men....but now that I am newly-single....  I need to live a little and PARTY! 

Only six more days....

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Ay-yi-yi-eeda Update!

No Opera posts from me for week or so....but, our season is rolling along.....now juggling three very different operas ....."Aida", "Werther" and "The Marriage of Figaro".  Here are a few of those "backstage Aida glimpses" of some of our cast - as you would NOT see them if you were sitting in the audience, watching a performance,  Hope you enjoy these!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Below, some photos from the Final Dress Rehearsal....

This last one is the entire Chorus (and our Chorus Master) practicing their Curtain Call.  (Mind you, this does NOT include the Principal Singers nor the 100 + Orchestra...)

The Raven Versus the Pig!

This is too funny..... Raven-Sisters, we all KNOW who is going to win the egg-eating contest, don't we!

HAW!

♥ Robin ♥

Autumn Arrives Early

September usually ushers in our best weather of the year....call it "Indian Summer" or "Early Autumn".... it generally is the warmest, bluest-sky time to visit San Francisco. Of course, as many of you know who follow my blog....this year has been different. No Spring..no Summer....

And today, more than a month before our rainy season usually begins....it rained. By the time I left my shift at the de Young, the rain had faded into drizzle... but all around me are the unmistakeable signs that Autumn is here. I was trying to capture not only the brilliant purple beauty of the flowers, but also the carpet of them already lying on the ground.... darn, I didn't quite nail it...

But, I did nail Mr. Squirrel, having his afternoon repast in Golden Gate Park, after a long day of burying nuts and other edibles to keep his tummy full during the long Autumn/Winter months.

I am ready for this most magical of Seasons! How about you?


Love,

♥ Robin ♥

Animal Wednesday - Horses Just Want to Have Fun

A fellow horse-lover sent this to me......and I HAD to use it for Animal Wednesday! I hope you like it as much as I did! It shows that ALL animals do like to play..and can act just as silly (and adorable) as "humans"!

HAW!

♥ Robin ♥