Magical Santa Fe, Opera and of course....Bofie!

Ah....Santa Fe. She was just as magical, as lovely as I remember from my last visit four years ago.

The Church of Saint Francis....  a favourite place of mine to reflect, light candles, say prayers for everyone.

The Russian Sage is everywhere.....it's beautiful LILAC colour is gorgeous.

Of course, I immediately saw some things that reminded me of dear friends...

Chris and I were driving to the Plaza (the Downtown area) when  I spotted this car's license plate...."Quick"...I said, "Hurry and catch up so I can snap a photo for Lo"!

And.....of course, the real Raven!

I wish I had time to enter this gallery that featured authentic photographs of Frida.....

And...here she is....once again.... inspiring a window in Santa Fe!  Senorita *Emilita* gets around!

I have always adored this sculpture of Saint Francis and the Prairie Dog.

Hmmm....snowing in Santa Fe in June?

No....it's a Cottonwood Tree......every June, it blossoms and sheds it's snow-like blossoms everywhere. The streets, the curbs, one's hair is covered in it's magical whiteness!  I must have snapped 10 photos before I caught the *snow flurries*!

Another "Mim-fish"!  He looks like he is dreaming of the Ocean.....it is very dry here!

Okay....time to drive to the Opera....after all, this may be a holiday for me...but Chris is working!

The freeways are all designed with various Indian motifs.....

And here we are....pulling in to the Opera House parking lot....it's pretty empty - because the season hasn't officially begun....it's rehearsal time.

The Opera House is located atop a high hill - with vistas of the Sangre de Christo Mountains on both sides.

No one here but the singers, the Director, the Maestro, the designers, the Technical Crew....and me.

The official poster for *The Pearl Fishers*....the first rehearsal I saw.

The stage is open in the back..making for dramatic entrances and exits in the night.  Every opera begins at Sunset...and often you can see thunder and lightning in the distance....

Waaaay up stage, you can see a boat...this will be the form of transportation for the Princess Leila to arrive (from the sea) to greet her *people*...this opera takes place somewhere in the South Seas....

A piano rehearsal....no orchestra, and most of the cast not in costume....  except the *Princess* who was trying out her red veil as she is carried over the stage.

Second day of rehearsals...  the weather changed (it had been 90 and blazingly hot....but not humid...)......I was hoping for a thunderstorm and some rain....  but though the clouds threatened...the rain never appeared.

Chris' silver hair on the right side....  I had to take photos *stealthily*..... for those of you who know the story of *Tosca*...yes, she did *jump* off the Castel Saint Angelo at the back of the stage.....very dramatic!

Chris and me....rehearsals done for the week...off to see Bofie!

"Ah.....they're finally home!  It's so hot....but those tiles keep a big, thick-furred guy like me cool!"

Bofie has always curled his front paws like a cat!  He did this as a puppy too.

Monday, my last day in Santa Fe, Chris took me to the Plaza Cafe.....  where 

I could enjoy my FAVOURITE Blue Corn Pinon Pancakes.......  yummy!!!!

My last day in Santa Fe....giving Bofie a kiss.... one of millions we exchanged..

And that's it!  I hope you enjoyed visiting Santa Fe with me!

I know this is a long post....but, a-ha-ha, these are only a fraction of the photos ...and tomorrow, I return to *my* Opera House....so I wanted to share with you while the memories are fresh.

HAW!!!!

Love to all,

♥ Robin ♥


p.s. The Crescent Moon Header is also a photo I took at Dawn on my second day...

Off to Santa Fe

Tomorrow morning, I am off to Santa Fe!  This is, next to New York, my most beloved city.  I spent  11 glorious Summers here....  I haven't been in four years....my Ex (and Bofie) invited me to meet them this year...so, armed with a new camera, I decided to go! I will take a lot of photos of *my* Santa Fe...and look forward to sharing them with you.

Chimayo...a beautiful Church - which also has a fantastic restaurant next door.   

The Santa Fe Opera House....a truly unique and enchanting place to experience live Opera!  The sunsets are magical...and the performances don't start UNTIL the sun begins to set...sometimes, there are thunder/lightning storms - which heighten the experience.  I will only be there for a few rehearsals, bt it will be wonderful to be there again.

No trip to the Southwest would be complete without......Margaritas!   Deliciouso!

I'll be back in a week....and just MAY be able to post from there.....  (we'll see....more on this later).

Sending you all many hugs and much love!  Via con Dios!

♥ Robin ♥

Summer OPERA - here we go!

*Attila* by Giuseppe Verdi

It's *Attila* the Hun and his hungry hoards! Sacking, pillaging, raping....look out!

Yes, dear friends... it's time for my seasonal report on the goings-ons, Front-of-House and Back-of House at San Francisco Opera!  It's where I have been for (almost) two weeks....with a little free time to see Marianne and to go to one Symphonic Concert yesterday, featuring my beloved Maestro and our SF Opera Orchestra.

Taken from the backstage camera as the stage crew changes sets from *Nixon in China* to *Attila*..  If you look really closely at the top left portion of the screen, you will see part of the "747" - life size - where the Nixons and Henry Kissinger deplane at Peking.  (Now, Beijing.)  I thought it was so amusing to imagine all the Huns deplaning and running a muck past all those impaled bodies,(next to the jet) to scale that mountain to the extreme right....

We have a real SUPERSTAR in the Opera World, Samuel Ramey, singing a small, but vital role in *Attila*...the Pope!  Twenty years ago, he sang the lead in *Attila*.    Mr. Ramey has been an operatic legend, singing in starring roles for over 40 years.  I couldn't resist taking a few photos of his beautiful, richly embellished *Papal Robes* - plus his costume name tag.

Mostly, the costumes are war-like, armour....breastplates, swords, spears....you get it! It's a violent story!

Here's a clip....(not our production....but you get it)!  It's a HUGE opera....80 people in the chorus alone....and when you add in the Orchestra, the Principal Singers and the supers...it's close to 200!  Yikes!

Yep...*Attila* is killed at the end by a (gasp) WOMAN!  The deliciously-named "Odabella"!

Our second operatic offering is 180 degrees different.

*The Magic Flute* by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

One of the *Magical* Beasts that Tamino, our hero, summons with his Magic Flute!

This is a whimsical, yet often poignant and meaningful fantasy..... it happens to be the first piece of music by Mozart that moved me....made me * understand and appreciate his genius*....  this production is full of bright colour and will bring joy to all the audience. It is being done in English, rather than German and is sure to bring delight to children and first-time opera goers as well as * Veterans* like me!

The Poster for *Magic Flute*  Pretty, cool, eh?

A sketch showing the *Evil, Two-headed Snake* that attacks Tamino !

Here is the real snake, under construction.... I saw it on stage for the first time last Saturday....it is huge, operated by on-stage men, who manipulate the heads, jaws etc.
I love it!  Him?  Her?  It?  Them?

We have another renown Opera Singer in this cast...Nathan Gunn.   Here he is in his *Papageno* costume. He's a bird-like person, who catches birds for a living!

Some of the costume sketches for *Flute*

Tamino - the Prince

The *Queen of the Night*...the mother of the Princess.

Monostatos - the *Evil Villain*

The *Creatures of the Forest* who come to Tamino's Flute Call.

Here's a video of Tamino summoning the animals (in this production, they are all Bears), but you can see how sweet the music is!

Don't they remind you of some of Mim's creations?  They do to me....and 
I came across this Fish....really  a *Mim-Fish* for sure!  Hmm...Mim, perhaps you could start designing costumes for operas!

Our third Operatic offering - and my favourite production ... 

*Nixon in China* by John Adams

Nixon and Chairman Mao discuss the world situation.

The set for the final scene...taken by my friend, Ann, during a rehearsal last week.

This clip (also not our production, but the Met's from 2011) shows Madame Mao, protesting while the Nixons are at the Chinese Opera. I am not a big fan of John Adams Operas...  but I find this one extremely interesting.  I was very young when these events occurred in the 70's...and though the opera is not 100% factual, I found it powerful and moving.

Some of those *infamous* red starred- hats from the production.

One of the *Stars*.......oops,  that's Me!  A-ha-ha!  I couldn't resist trying on one of the hats!

So....there was your first Opera post from 2012....  I hope you enjoyed it! 
This week, we will be in *Final Dress Rehearsal* Mode....next week, it all begins for real!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥ 

Two Blondes in the City by the Bay

 Here is Marianne, looking unbelievably fresh after an 11 hour flight from Amsterdam to San Francisco!

Of course, being Marianne, she came with wonderful gifts!

This gorgeous scarf for my handbag - from Hermes!

And this beautiful silk jewelry pouch from China....  gee, how did she know LILAC is my favourite colour?

We dashed off to do some SHOPPING!  After a bit, it was time to stop for a cocktail!  (A Ginger Manhattan and Pomegranate Martini!  Yummy!)

The last time we were here, it was raining...so it was especially lovely to sit, bathed in Sunlight!

Marianne writing a post card to our dear Lo in Rhode Island.

Then, time for more Shopping!  Then dinner at a favourite Thai Restaurant.  (See Marianne's Blog for photos.) 

The next morning....time for breakfast..

Then, a quick trek to the Post Office to mail a package of Licorice to a *certain someone*.....it was heavy!!!!!

Whew!  Then, it was time to say *Au Revoir*.....Marianne had a flight home to catch and I was off to another Opera Rehearsal.  Life is so amazing....how wonderful that our Blogs have enabled us to make such beautiful and meaningful friendships!

Marianne....I miss you already...but I know we will meet again!

Love to all,

♥ Robin ♥

My Colour Series - Pink

Continuing on with my series on Colours....these were taken during the last four months...and I am just getting around to

 sharing them!

Only 7 Million $$$!

Tossed out on the curb...waiting for new owners!

Pink Sunset.....

Lonely Pink Ribbon, dangling on a fence...

Pink Spring Blossoms....

Little Pink *Critters*

And last.....a *Pink Robin*......a-ha-ha...I couldn't resist!

Love,

♥ Robin ♥