"Latin Lovers" in Paris....

The Mimi of Daniella Carvalho (Brazil) and Rodolfo of David Guzman (Colombia) did deliver sparks on stage at The OH! last night, as presaged by many who've seen this cast before me.
As Marcello, Charles Stanton (USA) brought strong acting and a mellifluous baritone to the duets with the Musetta (Alyssa Bowlby)(Photos by Gwen Turner Juarez-many thanks)
It was another sold out house. This La Boheme at The OH! was the most exciting production, yet, I have seen there. All soloists are outstanding, the chorus women, children and men well coordinated by Chorus Master Fuller, the orchestra played truly well, Maestro Weibel conducted with a deep understanding of Puccini (IMO). What makes THe OH! so unique is the location (a Landmark Old Church building) holding just over 300 people. And the way the audience actually IS in the opera, is part of the crowd scene at the Cafe Momus (La Boheme) is simply exhilarating for anyone. In any given opera: singers, chorus may sing from the aisles, from the balcony, may rush on stage past delighted guest, who are just a handswidth from the larger than life singers (if seated in the first row, LOL) or so close to some orchestra members to feel the vibrations of the strings and the echo of the brass (;-)..you get the idea!
An experience that is so inviting, so involving..you are really THERE, with the singers and players, unlike being across the gulf of an orchestra pit elsewhere.

And sparks were delivered by Aeros in San Antonio...

Aeros 5 Rampage 3.

All I heard from Better Half who followed that game: Rau-"WOW" with 2 goals, "Dimples" Khudobin with an assist!! And "Andy Handy" Hilbert' great game....am not going into the game scores, etc. for that AHL and the Aeros sites have detailed information for my truly interested readers.

As I posted before, with Hilbert, Zingoni and others healthy all season, the team jelling as they seem to promise so early in the season (Sept/Oct/Nov), playing all along as they have played the last 3 of 4 games (all wins) a Play Off spot would have been assured, again! Maybe not a Cup win (who can again out play the Hershey Bears ?) - but a spot in an early round, that, YES!

But, as it were all season..an Aeros game starts out well in a 1. Period, survives a 2. period and either collapses in the 3. or, as lately, revs up in the 3. and may make it.

Tonight it's off to University of Houston to see the Houston premiere of a new American opera"Elmer Gantry"-composer Robert Aldridge, libretto Herschel Garfein based on the novel by Sinclair Lewis, of which more tomorrow.The clip below form the 2oo7 Nashville opera premiere. Opening an opera with"She's half naked" ought to wake some interest eh?

U of H never shies away from controversial subjects and/or interpretations of such, LOL.

Perhaps, this take on an old fashioned survival meeting with rousing singing should have been presented last fall and cause a rousing on the Aeros then.. just kidding!

The Good, The Bad, The Indifferent...UPDATE

Let's get The Bad out of the way;-).Another game gone!
Aeros lost to Peoria 2-4. The only lonely goal in the 3. period by "Speedy" DiSalvatore with Hrkac and Earl. Anything more...not important.
The guyz better now just play for the h... of it to keep their skates sharpened and bodies toughened?
Aeros achieved, for better or worse, sole possession of the cellar in the West. A season best forgotten, eh?
Just in: Another loss to Peoria 4-5, in a shoot out. Dubie in goal, huge efforts by Milroy, Rau-WOW (2 goals) and Noreau. Daoust 2 assists. Others Zingoni 2 x, Kalus 2x and Hilbert 2x

Now The Good:
Orchestra under the baton of Maestro William Weibel
The friends(Emerald Cast) in their garret,
with the landlord=local tenor George Williams.

Cafe Momus with Musetta, left; Mimi and Rodolfo, Center; Marcello, right front;
Schaunard, Colline, etal, center stage rear.

Marcello, Rodolfo(Ramos-RubyCast)
Colline-Resika
I saw La Boheme at Opera in The Heights, the Ruby cast, last evening.
In this very strong, well matched cast, Mimi=Cretan soprano Crystallia Spilianakis sang oppositethe Rodolfo=Texan Tenor Gerardo Antonio Ramos..she, a frail Mimi with dark locks and soaring soprano; he, a blond romantic poet with a firm and clear tenor. Together they filled Lambert Hall to the 'rafters and let them ring'!
Helped by the Baritones, Schaunard=suave Keith Murray,Houston, Marcello=Brian Shircliffe of the smoldering look,Houston, and resonant Bass Colline=Nathan Resika, NY and the very sexy Musetta=Alyssa Bowlby,NY, a strident soprano with dramatic talent. Certain fine local singers filled various cameo roles, and the chorus (adults and children) did remarkably well.
The staging - a chameleon set - switching between the garret of the young men and the fun filled Cafe Momus - was simple but stunning. In act II, Cafe Momus, one of Houstonian artist John Ross Palmer's "Carnivale" paintings gave it a most authentic touch.
From all I've heard about the Emerald Cast, the two soloists Mimi=Brazilian Soprano Daniella Carvalho and Rodolfo=Colombian Tenor David Guzman (he of the Dubie clone look ;-) for Aeros fans reading this) were equally outstanding..that treat I am keeping for a later performance on 4/8.
Come and join me!!
All photo credits go to tedviens, GwenTurnerJuarez and Mauro Luna-taken at the open dress rehearsals.

And The Indifferent:see update above.
Aeros will face Peoria, again, this afternoon. Really will not be too exited about listening to 'Voice of The Aeros' trying hard to sound positive.Definitely not paying to stream-view it on AHL Live hockey. Heading out to Memorial Park for "art in the sun" fun ;-)! ALAS back in time to hear about the loss on SO! And the win over Wolves by Texas Satrs (no goal Wolves at all, former 'soft spot' MB, one assist!
On diverse blogs for Aeros and/or Wild, a red threat seems to be running through all, fans are disappointed, unhappy with results blaming management and upset about ticket prices for what, just mediocre hockey.