About Me
- artandhockey
- Split personality. Liking the arts, especially opera, and hockey and Los Toros. I know, I know THAT one is non pc currently. But I can't help it saw some in Spain and got hooked, but good. But on the other hand right now opera and hockey are in the forefront!
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Monday, November 9, 2009
Hate the man, love his music...
In the case of HGO's LOHENGRIN (seen Sunday 11/8) it was LOVE at first sound for me. Better Half following suit in claiming"That's the best performance of an opera at HGO in some time"!
The five principals, were simply outstanding, and HGOStudio Alum Ryan McKinney as Herald appeared to have absorbed some of that magic. He sounded and looked impressive. A Wagner singer in the making?
Guenther Groissboeck, Bass, as King Heinrich, had a warm, rich voice and endowed the role with a humanity rarely seen. He gave strong dignity to his portrayal, that was truly astounding.
Simon O'Neill came out, and there it was, that sound of a real 'Tenor" as Heldentenor, burnished, clear, brimming with beauty, ringing with shining high notes. He held onto that magical power to sway hearts and ears throughout the performance.
Soprano Adrianne Pieczonka, an Elsa of unsurpassed beauty in sound and looks (yeah, she did combine the two) has an agile and flexible voice allowing her to switch between 'sound and fury' and 'sound and sweetness' with nary a glitch., projecting a glorious sound into the house OVER the strong orchestra.
Long time ago Studio Alumnus Richard Paul Fink, whom I've seen/heard as Telramund in a previous HGO production, was back. His portrayal of the ambitious, greedy, and, alas, hag ridden by his even more ambitious wife Ortrud, to become oblivious to honorable behaviour, gave a striking performance although, to my ears, his voice has lost some of the warmth for which he is admired.
Christine Goerke, Mezzo, sang Ortrud, witchy, ambitious wife of Telramund, with a very strong, albeit rather metallic sound, which may have grated on some ears. For me, her voice failed to sound out Ortrud's evilness. A woman who dabbles and tries to use black arts against Lohengrin's white power. But that is strictly my feeling.
The majority of the audience present (and it looked like a sold out house !) were rather more vocal in applauding Goerke and O'Neill, than Pieczonka and Fink.
Maestro Summers and the HGO Orchestra triumphed with Wagner's music. The winds did an out standing job. Having the orchestra pit fully open, unlike the real Bayreuth pit, also made a huge difference in the way the audience heard the music. Since the lead singers were equally strong they were able to project their voices almost effortlessly above the huge orchestral sound.
Say what one will about the human being Wagner with his biases, the musician Wagner must be admired.
An opera of over 4 hours with 2 intermissions, which flew by, leaving the audience wishing for more .... That is a marvellous experience.
Alas, ONLY 2 more performances, Friday Nov. 13 and Sunday Afternoon, November 15.
Leaving you with a snippet of music from Lohengrin.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The day after...
LOHENGRIN at the HGO on this afternoon after a work out in the pool to keep mind and body alert for the long opera by Richard Wagner.... ;-)
Wiener Philharmoiker play Wagner's Prelude to Lohengrin :
Saturday, November 7, 2009
The GOOD fight continues..Aeros 5 vs Rampage 2

Opera In The Heights.. Massenet's MANON
K. who is fluent in French (while I have only a smidgen), was favorably impressed with the singers' command of a language not too often heard. The program cites Thu Nhi D. Barrus as French coach and the result was excellent. Per Ms. Barrus, singing in French is rather difficult and even more so whilst giving proper emphasis to the meaning of the words.
CORRECTION: MANON WAS SUNG BY JACQUELIN THOMPSON!
I apologize...too many Jacquelins, there :-D!
It was the Ruby cast night with JACQUELIN THOMPSON not Jacqueline Noparstak as a very attractive and decisive Manon, Luke Grooms as DesGrieux, debuting in the role and at OH with great success! Both were outstanding in the Saint Sulpice Scene, where Manon 'seduces' Grieux away from his chosen career as Abbe, to prove to herself that her powers over men have not vanished.
Dessay and Villazon in this scene, the most dramatic and 'grabbing' scene , IMO!
Keir Murray, Baritone, was a suave De Bretigny. George Williams, Tenor, subtly nasty as Guillot. Yoonsang Lee, baritone, did admirably as Lescaut and newcomer Daymon Passmore a gravelly voiced (boy, he IS a real basso profundo) Comte Des Grieux (the pere Grieux).
'Javotte' (Rachel Ross, soprano), 'Rosette' (Heather Scanio-Mezzo in her debut at OH!) and 'Pousette' (Stacey Weber-soprano, also in her OH!Debut) were an alluring trio of "demimondes", with Weber's voice the more outstanding, attractive clear and clean sound.
Rita Minter, soprano, played the Maid. Chorus men and women sang with great presence,
Mezzo Martha Elliott and Soprano Traci Davis in their. respective, 21st and 18th productions. The Costumes were in traditional and sumptious style.
The orchestra performed well, with just a small glitch early on by some of the winds.
Speaking with Concertmaster John Cramer afterwards, he assured me that this was an unfortunate and very isolated event.
The rest of the long opera (2 intermissions with a non musical scene change as well) Massenet's lovely music was performed without any further hitches, Maestro Weibel in his element, conducting the orchestra softly but passionately.
Correction: Jacquelin THOMPSON not Noparstak sang beautifully and acted well. When she ask for indulgence for some flaws, due to a light illness, I was astounded, since no flaws were audible. Maybe more discerning ears might have detected some, but amongst my group of friends in attendance NO ONE heard anything untoward!
Opera in the Heights MANON will be performed 3 more times next week, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with the Emerald cast on Friday, Ruby on Thursday and Saturday.
Visit operaintheheights.org for more information, if you enjoy Opera, Massenet and French. It IS well worth your time!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Bubbleless...
in the BUBBLES.
A team of researchers -- in Europe, where else, -- found that Champagne's bursting bubbles not only tickle the nose, they create a mist that wafts the aroma to the drinker.
"I love the idea that such a wonderful and subtle mechanism acts right under our nose during Champagne tasting. In a single Champagne glass, there is as much food for the mind as pleasure for your senses," said researcher Gerard Liger-Belair of the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne in France. Now science is looking at the source of those feelings.
Liger-Belair and his colleagues used high-resolution mass spectrometry to study the chemicals in Champagne and sparkling wines and in the bubbles and the mist they produce"
"Tiny Bubbles, In the wine, Make me feel happy, Make me feel fine."
Man in the Moon sings the Don Ho song.
Enjoy it with or without the real stuff!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Aeros out manouever Moose.. 4 to 1
One way to use antlers! Meanwhile Irmen #19 assisted by Stoner # 7 and Noreau # 26 made the first goal for Aeros.. with Aeros having had 5 SOG Moose 3 SOG.
More visits to the sin bin by Kalus # 32, Kassian, again (maybe that BIG BOY birthday card the Boosters sent him did the trick.. after all it showed lots of flexed muscles...LOL).
Moose sent, in place of goalie Machesney #1, their number 39 MacCutcheon (another Scot?) to sit for him, and Baumgartner #2 joined him for a minor.
Shortly Marco Rosa (ex Aero) with Moose # 19 assisted by Keane # 12 evened the score. Aeros 1 Moose 1.
At 1:51 in the Second Period, Irmen scored goal Nr.2 assisted by DiSalvatore Nr.14. Moose's Collins sat for a minor (hooking). Aeros could nor convert any of their power play opportunities, but retained their leading role in penalty kills.
Both Falk, who had relative little ice time, and Kassian really skated well, aggressively and fast, plus showed some talent in passing.More penalties in the 2, Aeros' Milroy # 23 sat for interference, and Moose's Funk #14 also sat for a minor.
With less than 1 minute Maxime Noreau scored an unassisted gaol, leading Aeros to a 3 vs 1 advantage.
The 3. period started out just as fast and furious. Aeros by that time had 24 SOG , Moose 9 SOG.
Both team skating very physically with lots of bodily contacts. Ex-Aeros Lammers (skating also for Moose as # 29) was 'dumped' and appeared a bit 'under the weather' as he skated off to the bench, he did not skate again for the rest of the period. At 4:52 Noreau (26) assisted by Daoust #38 and Gillies #18, made it Aeros 4, Moose still 1.
Machesney again received a penalty which was sat for him by Moose # 38 Darryl Smith, Nr. 2 Ramsey and Nr. 8 McIver, too served penalties. Aeros' Zingoni #10, later Gunderson # 5 and Rogers # 28 went to the box, and at the very end Zingoni, again, got a minor penalty for interference.
Khudobin stopped 14 of 15 SOG, Machesney 30 of 34 total SOG.
BUT Aeros held onto their 4 vs 1 score.
Scratches for the Aeros: Hilbert, Fraser, Almond, McMillan.
For the Moose: Pope, Salcido, McCue, Oberg, Nycholat Labrie, Desbiens, Leblanc.
With "Dimples" in gaol, "Dubie" was BUG.
And a handsome"old" friend, Rejean Beauchemin was BUG for the Moose as Nr. 30. Which he wore, too, as an Aeros last season.

Momentous occurrences on this date, November 5, 2009:
Coach Kevin Constantine's 1100 Game. BRAVO Coach. Quite an achievement!
And Brandon Rogers has a landmark 150 game as Aeros. BRAVO, Brandon Rogers, that's unusual.
The smallish crowd was quite vocal enough...with a bunch of kids taking on the job of 'claque' or cheering section..
GO AEROS...and
Go Number 10,
Go number 23,
each of the girls picking out her favorite number...:-D.
So ends this miserable day of the disaster at Ft. Hood.
I sure hope, on Military Night this Saturday, the Aeros will pause in silent homage to the victim of these gunmen. Am not speculating what made them do it. Awful and suspicious rumors are already flying around.
Until we have a real report .. I am keeping mum.
I do feel a lot of sympathy for the families and friends of these victims.
Ode on a Croc...
Just counted my crocks and the numbers stands at ONLY 20 pairs.
So, NO Imelda Marcos of Crocs, me! And they do come in 'fur'-lined! For winter in Houston just perfect. No tight boots to tug up! Just slip 'em on and go.
Why am I rhapsodizing about fur-lined crocs?
I have only 2, one brown, one black. So need to spice up with some cool new colors.. except pink! No, no 'winter white' or 'winter pink' for me, no sirree! What about this splashy number below, slate gray or is it slate blue with orange? Would brighten a dreary winter day, wouldn't they?

So I'm happy, that no longer am I living where the temperatures dip into the minuses...and support the 'well being of thermal underwear and polar parka manufacturers'!

So, you think it is so much fun...dashing through the snow?
Been there, done that and can attest it IS NOT really all that much fun. Especially, when one has to get up early to dig out the garage drive from under several feet of snow, just to spend hours driving (mostly slip-sliding in low gear) to work, when NORMALLY it takes 15-20 minutes! Changing tires from regular to snow or even adding chains to get traction! Seeing your breath turn into a white cloud of crystals, wearing snow flakes on your lashes, or ice crusts on eyebrows.
And shivering your way through the snow... winter wonderland, bah hum bug!
Just thinking on that, makes me COLD! As does the idea of Aeros NOT scoring.
So here's some Boney M. to warm up and doing it to great rhythms!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Post-election blahs
Am going to enjoy blue sky and sun!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Just have to throw THIS out here...
Being HALLOWEEN, the 'masks=jerseys' come off to reveal what?
A question was posed about the removal of the jersey. And Zidlicky NOT getting the proper penalty per rules:
47.13 Jerseys - A player or goalkeeper who deliberately removes his jerseyprior to participating in an altercation or who is clearly wearing a jersey that has been modified and does not conform to Rule 9 – Uniforms, shall be assessed a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and a game misconduct. This is in addition to other penalties to be assessed to the participants of an altercation. If the altercation never materializes, the player or goalkeeper would receive a minor penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct and a ten-minute misconduct for deliberately removing his jersey.
A player or goalkeeper who engages in a fight and whose jersey is removed (completely off his torso), other than through the actions of his opponent in the altercation or through the actions of the Linesman, shall be assessed a game misconduct penalty.
A player or goalkeeper who engages in a fight and whose jersey is not properly "tied-down" (jersey properly fastened to pants), and who loses his jersey (completely off his torso) in that altercation, shall receive a game misconduct penalty. If the player or goalkeeper loses his jersey despite the tie down remaining in tact and attached to the pants, the game misconduct is not applicable, however this must be reported to the League office so that the jersey and the tie down can be examined.
A player or goalkeeper who is involved in an altercation, when the opponent has been identified as an instigator, shall not be assessed a game misconduct penalty if his jersey should be removed by an opponent or an official in the discharge of his duties, regardless as to whether or not he was properly "tied-down" (jersey properly fastened to pants).
Now, that does remind me of the many times Mitch LOVE, so beloved by Aeros fans, did a strip tease on ice and did NOT receive these kinds of penalties... are the rule different in the AHL ....:-D
So, what do you, hockey experts, think? Try to stay 'neutral and non-profane' - regardless who your fave players may be, huh?!
The Royal oracle can't be always right..?
we missed the disaster of another Aeros' on the road loss against the Texas Stars...3 vs 1. One of the Stars goal was by Mathieu Beaudoin, I read this morning.

Alas, the powers-that-would-be up North, decided he was not formed "in their mold" (which is what?) and did not offer him a contract. So now he'll score AGAINST the Aeros, instead. Ah well, that IS hockey...'ups and downs'... hopefully NOT 'downs and outs' ;-) for the Aeros this season.
More injuries on the Aeros front, alas: Almond, Zingoni, now Hilbert, and Gillies may be a bit 'tender' too. A mirror image of what's happening UP NORTH?
Anton still BUG in Minnie , while Jaeger is BUG for Dubie.. for the time being?
Or will they call up another BUG?
Rejean Beauchemin perhaps?
(in the video clip Rejean Beauchemin ist the first white team goalie out of the tunnel - ignore the somewhat silly comments).
he may not be available to Aeros, too bad .. since he was "soo easy on the eyes" LOL.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Large turnout for OH Guild potluck Nr. 2...
Showing off the Boutique's new acquisitions
Modeling the new Lilac Tee = Beth Cunningham, Membership Chair
Maestro Weibel lauding the new casts for MANON.
Other guests stopped by and joined in for a while. The lit up Women's Club in the Heights was a magnet for quite a few "trick or treaters".. fortunately a thoughtful guildmember remembered to bring candy, none of the kids went away disappointed ;-)
MANON dress rehearsals (Emerald Cast on Monday and Ruby Cast on Tuesday) are open to the public and cameras are permitted :-D... so stop in and get a taste of MANON.. curtain at 7:30 PM. Opera in the Heights located in LAMBET HALL at the corner of Heights Boulevard and 17th Street. Performances Thursday 5th, Friday 6th, and Saturday 7th, and again Nov 12, 13 and 14. For information go to http://operaintheheights.org, tickets available on line!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Happy Halloween
Jamie Tardiff(Griffins) 'crashing' in on "Dubie"
Friday, October 30, 2009
Ja, so geht es...
Heute ist die Premiere der neuen Inszenierung von LOHENGRIN an der Houston Grand Oper. Werde 'reinschluepfen und mir ein paar Szenen ansehen/anhoeren, da ich ja am Mirgliedertisch fue die HGO Guild voluntiere.
Ob es so schoen klingt, wie...
das ist die Frage. Nicolai Gedda's Stimme ist schon wunderschoen und so klar in seiner Aussprache.
Habe gehoert,dass es keinen Schwan geben wird, angedeuted oder aus Papiermasche...so kann man also nicht, wie Leo Slezak anfragen "WANN GEHT DER NAECHSTE SCHWAN?" :-D
TOO quiet on the Aeros front...
Which I will miss since I volunteer at HGO 'womaning' the Guild's membership table during the opening night of LOHENGRIN and that one has an early curtain..6:30 PM - so have to be on 'duty' by 5:15 PM to set up, etc.
I know people have asked: 'Why OPERA and HOCKEY and LOS TOROS?'
And the answer is always: passion, excitement, drama, 'sound and fury' ;-)
and .... and.... and....
As I mentioned in an earlier post the Czech Olympic National Team won in Nagano, and I've just seen a reference to that in one of the other hockey blogs.
Inspired by his/her hockey team's win...someone with a great sense of humor decided to write/compose an OPERA :"NAGANO".
If you look carefully, the 'soi dissant' goalie unfolds a (I am assuming) Czech Flag in a matador fashion and the "opposing skater" runs at it like a bull! Only to miss it.... and that is only the first part of the video.
It is sooo funny and the music and singing not too bad,
plus the street dancing parts are amusing as well
For 3 more parts go to YouTube see below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NuF0PtCZ8w
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwYV_5xh6Ho
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mud8tVYpPm8
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Old bones...
Even crawling out of bed and pacing the floor didn't help much. Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Muss mal wieder ...
Gatte Erwin Rummel hat sich als Maler entpuppt.
8 days without local hockey ....
But there's plenty to do as volunteer on the arts and opera front.
Plus Austrian National Day Celebration (celebrating the departure of the "FOUR IN A JEEP" from Post WWII Austria on 15. October 1955).
And I really must get to review "Playing Naomi", the first novel by Erika Rummel.
It's a somewhat convoluted story, a story within a story with plenty psychological over- and undertones.
A bit biographical.. that's just my feeling, as the proverbial 'THEY' say 'most writers inject some personal experiences and feelings into their works'.
A hint of Oedipus, maybe.
A hint of multiple personalities in play.
Obsessions/hatred by son for/against mother!
Youthful female partner for female lover.
Sexual obsession by male for female icon which is fulfilled.
Female assistant to reclusive icon feels lost without her, and transfers her obsequious behaviour to the actress hired by recluse to pose as her!
Playing the role of Naomi in the end takes over the life of the 'actress' hired to do so.
Made me feel like it would serve well for Benjamin Britten Opera (akin "The Turning of the Screw" - to be presented shortly by HGO).
A bit of Hemingway's writing style present, perhaps?
But well and tersely written.
It's really quite hard to put down until the finish.
Recommended for readers who wish to be challenged and enjoy plots!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Aeros 4 Hamilton Bulldogs 3 in SO
I predicted an interesting game and it was! VERRA interesting!
Both teams scored in the first and third periods, went scoreless in the 2.
Aeros as of tonight are placed best in the AHL in Penalty kills.
Bulldogs came out aggressive and forceful. Aeros responded well.
"The Scrapper" Daoust, again seemingly on the ice all the time.
I see him skate to the bench, and by the next blink of the eye, he's back skating his heart out and 'scrapping' away, fearlessly and skating with a unusual feeling of the ice and the play, I have not seen in a long while.
1. Aeros goal by Smith with Daoust assist at 10:44 in the first period
2. Aeros goal by Earl, assists by Falk and Milroy at 11;41 in the third,
3. Aeros goal by DiSalvatore, assisted by Rau (WOW) and Gillies at 16:22 in the third.
Bulldogs goals: 1. by Weber with White at 12:30,
2. by Pyatt, Subban and Anderson at 10:54 in the third and
3. by White with Belle and Russell following closely.
Neither team could convert Power Plays into goals.
The game went into a 5 minute Overtime with no scores and ended in a shoot out.
Shoot Out:
Bulldogs start and Pyatt scores a first goal, Aeros DiSalvatore misses,
Trotter scores goal 2 for Bulldogs, Hilbert misses, Bulldog Darche misses, and then
comes "The Scrapper" DAOUST = Score, Bulldog Maxwell misses,
followed by RAU-WOW= Score , Bulldog Glumac misses and
GILLIES = gets the winning goal for the AEROS.
Aeros 4 vs Hamilton 3.
Both goalies were excellent.
Desjardins stopping 26 of 29 Shots on Goal during regulation and 2 of 5 in the shoot out.
Aeros goalie "Dubie" Dubielewicz stopped 28 of 31 SOG in regulation, and 3 of 5 in the Shoot out.
Aeros appeared confident most of the time, except in the second period (almost predictable)when they seem to slow down. Perhaps a bit too much aimless playing of the puck back and forth.
The Glass at section 112 had to be replaced twice, so much rough play took place at the boards near the Bulldogs (1 and 3 periods)/ Aeros goal (2) both teams playing very aggressively.
Goalies and players 'rendez vous'ed in pile ups' within their respective nets ;-).
Sticks broke incl. Desjardiens' he had to play with just a regular stick for a while. Aeros could not get puck into net despite the 'skinny' stick :-)Nets were knocked off their pins. Players sprawled and tripped (not lightly for sure) but no major incidents.
Once Dubie was tripped up by Bulldog player and sent sprawling, but since refs have no eyes in the back of their heads this was not noticed, except by the fans in that end zone (2. period) who boo'ed loudly, alas, to no avail! Now, it seemed to me, that "Dubie" carried on several 'intimate' :-) conversations with officiating persons....was he grousing about something or someone? Was he schmusing them up, what did he say?
Aeros: Zingoni (well he was present at a radio commentator), Almond, Gunderson, Fraser and Kassian, who has not gotten much ice time thus far this season.
Bulldogs: Masse, Nielson, Desharnais, Kostitsyn
FOR MORE EXPERT OPINIONS GO TO THE T3I BLOG
OR THE AEROS OFFICIAL SITE.
Next game November 5 at the TC.
Back Up Goalie confirmed
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000-01 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 11 638 41 0 0 3.86 4 6 1 362 0.898
2001-02 Medicine Hat Tigers WHL 1 60 4 0 0 4.00 0 1 0 35 0.897
2001-02 Vancouver Giants WHL 47 2399 200 2 0 5.00 7 30 4 1325 0.869
2002-03 Saskatoon Blades WHL 50 2771 120 0 1 2.60 23 18 4 1139 0.905
2003-04 Saskatoon Blades WHL 1 65 2 0 0 1.85 0 0 1 22 0.917
2004-05 Fresno Falcons ECHL 37 2048 85 1 2 2.49 19 9 6 1081 0.927
2005-06 Fresno Falcons ECHL 37 2232 98 1 0 2.63 21 6 8 1020 0.912
2006-07 Long Beach Ice Dogs ECHL 34 1715 96 6 0 3.36 11 17 1 851 0.899
2007-08 Utah Grizzlies ECHL 5 245 23 0 0 5.64 0 5 0 103 0.817
2007-08 Texas Brahmas CHL 22 1240 52 0 0 2.52 13 6 1 605 0.921
--

Monday, October 26, 2009
Aeros loosing 3....
was called up to Minnie to be BUG for Backstrom. Sure hope he gets some real ice time and not just 'benchtime'. Good for Anton, he has earned it. So Aeros are back to DUBIE.
has a broken wrist and is being flown to Minnie for treatment, because, ya know Houston's Doctors just aren't good enough ;-), eh! Maybe he has brittle bones, he had a foot/leg injury at camp in Minnie earlier!
who was injured last season before being signed to play here, also is injured with an undisclosed kind and no way to know for how long he'll be out. A back up goalie BUG-Jaeger from Ft. Worth ? will be needed, since Brust is still out as well.. shades of last season in the goalie line?
And tomorrow night the diminished (Or will someone else be recalled?) AEROS face the, thus far, undefeated Hamilton Bulldogs....It might just be a very interesting game... win or loose, but definitely interesting.
Maybe even hair raising...





