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!
Well, what else could one label the news that Zingoni has signed somewhere in Germany?
Khudobin will be back here - tomorrow - even - maybe - in the net for the Aeros vs Abbotsford.Stars.
We shall definitely have to wait and see!
Although I, for one, am sad to see "Red Hot Pads" (alias Tordjman) heading back to the Condors in Bakersfield. He will, so it is said, be accompanied by Joel Broda, who has not been having a very productive time here.
Just spent a bit of time providing some "Viennese" insights to the planers of an event which will highlight Austria and Mozart, and Strauss, the Richard one, not the others. Here, some bits for your enjoyment on this dreary, drizzly cold afternoon:
The Wiener Philharmoniker conducted by, none other than my favorite Maestro, Carlos Kleiber recorded at the Musikvereinsaal with the Introduction to Zigeunerbaron by Johann Strauss, Jr.
Alas, to my knowledge no Sportspolka in honor of hockey has been composed, but if there had been I am sure it might sound like the one in honor of soccer, compsed by the second Strauss Brother, Josef
Knowing how electric or eclectic (?) Aeros goalies can be, a paean to them ...
here is a composition by the youngest Brother Strauss, Eduard "Die Electrische Polka"
And in hommage to Frederica von Stade: The 'Frederica Polka' by Johann Strauss, Sr:
ANOTHER Straus, named Oscar, came later with his operetta: 'The Chocolate Soldier':
And finally, the last but certainly not least, Strauss, the aforementioned Richard is represented here with a performance at the Spoleto Festival in Italy: 'Don Juan'
I had the privilege to attend the final dress rehearsal of Heggie's opera based on the novel (also made into a movie) by Sister Prejean,and afterwards the dead man kept walking. In my mind and in my soul!
The subject is not merely sensational, it certainly causes emotions beyond the visceral.
The visceral does appear first
There is some nudity, violence and profanity.
Compared to what one sees on TV and elsewhere, it's relatively minor.
One feels, as did the parents of the youngsters slain by De Rocher, a thirst for 'biblical' revenge!
One feels Sister Helen Prejean is predisposed to champion the murderer.
Which seems an affront to the desolated parents.
But as the work progresses one comes to realize that belief in God's mercy has a valid presence.
That the death of the murderer does not replace the lives of two slain youngsters.
And it does force one to confront the controversial subject of the death penalty.
As I have neither read the novel, nor seen the movie,
I came to this work innocent of any preconceived ideas.
What impressed me the most:
The truly spectacular 'tour de force' by Mezzo Joyce DiDonato as Sister Prejean. A role she fills with extraordinary beauty of expression, vocally and as an actor. She is on stage almost the whole time. She produces sounds that seem otherworldly...reaching heights I did note expect to
hear from a Mezzo.
.
Frederica von Stade, in one of her farewell appearances, sings De Rocher's Mother with a clarity of diction, that makes surtitles superfluous, in the photo she is pictured with Jake Heggie, the composer:
Phillip Cutlip, as De Rocher, manages rather well portraying a crude, defiant man, unrepenting until the very end, when strapped down, he does express his sorrow for the parents.
Suzanne Mentzer, as mother of the slain girl, strikes just the right vocal balance singing with emotional impact.
The cast, comprised of a large children's chorus, extras and
many cameo roles filled adequately, does surprise one with its size. Somewhat unexpected.
(And therein lies a problem, for me at least. An opera/movie can only make a bald and fixed statement. It may lack the shadings and interpretations the reader can bring to the book. Although a musical work can help that some. The composer, through his choice of music can emphasize emotions, events and actions. But it is, again, HIS choice).
But I digress, so back to the cast:
Measha Brueggergosman as Sister Rose displayed a pleasant sound, but was IMHO,
too often drowned out by the music and scarcely audible.
Now, this could be due to the fact, that some singers do not sing at full power in rehearsals. Beau Gibson, as Father Grenville, disappointed me (see above note re rehearsal)
but others may find his voice pleasantly adequate. Hector Vasquez sang the Warden with a suave and rich baritone sound.
Old and new Studio artists acquitted themselves well. Michael Sumuel as the forgiving motor cycle cop,
and Jon Kolbet as one of the fathers. Brittany Wheeler, Kiri Deonarine and Boris Dyakov blended well with the others. Maestro Summers kept polishing and tweaking orchestral sounds after the intermission,
in order to bring out the best of Heggies' music.
Ah yes, the music.
Strong, sometimes overpowering.
Full crescendo to suit the emotions on stage.
I think I heard a soupcon of Gershwin, a bit of Bernstein here and there.
There was some borrowing of gospel music, some of American folk and pop tunes.
Some subtly hidden, some openly copied.
Sister Prejean's music was ethereal. Wavering, as her 'human' disgust of the murderer made her doubt that she could help him find solace and salvation. But also firmly expressive conveying 'her' conviction in a merciful God.
I admit feeling a bit inadequate to put into words what I experienced whilst listening and watching.
The subject is controversial for sure.
When looking at the instant comments I see several hmpfs.. While I appreciate that you have read this post...thank you!... I would like to know what makes you, chers readers, say hmpf. Do you dislike any subject but hockey? Do you dislike my impressions? I would like to know. Afterall, opera causes subjective reactions. What I experience you may not and vice versa! So grit your teeth and write in a real comment.
"Honestly, neither of these two teams really deserved to win. It’s just that the Oilers deserved to win just a bit less than the Wild did – which was, in large part, due to the continued phenomenal play of Anton Khudobin."
"The Dreidel was great once again for the Wild, despite his “unorthodox” style that has probably taken years off of Todd Richards’ life over the last couple games. He was definitely playing his game again tonight and, were it not for a laser shot by Magnus Paajarvi (one of the few power-play shots that actually hit the net), we’d be talking about his second straight shutout right now".
Yes. it was installed this morning and needs ONLY a few kinks to have worked out, which CAN be done from afar!
Of course it will have to be the Computer Wizard who'll do it.
Not yours truly-a somewhat technologically challenged blogger!
So I spent some time this morning surfing for funnies.
And found a few lol hockey ones.
Which I am posting here for your enjoyment.
After all No Aeros game tonight,
although the Wild do play!
Khudobin of The Wild! Getty Images
WITH Khudobin back in the net!
GO Khudobin, show them your mettle again!
You were "Born to be Wild"!
And here they are, the funnies, I mean.
Oh, horror, hockey jokes!
Wonders of Technology
Flying Wild!
Let's kiss and make up!
The family that skates together stays together?
Kick Skating?
Ice Beach Ball Goal
Hey guys, I am bored!
Credit for most of them to 'I can haz a cheeseburger' web site for want of knowing the REAL photographer
I am JUST quoting here from Russo's Rants, the blog about the Wild:
"Well, this was one of the most optional skates I've seen in a while. There were four skaters -- Bouchard, Stoner, Spurgeon(Ex-Aeros - good forthem! They showed up!my Italics) --and Staubitz - on the ice along with goalies Backstrom and Theodore. There were more coaches on the ice than skaters".
Somehow that statement rubs me the wrong way!
Here are these guys getting paid some pretty nice salaries!
Did the WILD organization FORCE these guys to play hockey? Of course not!
They want to be professional hockey players, they ought to behave like professionals. And part of being pros, is honing skills and - if need be - altering habits during practise.
It is so in all professions, practise makes perfect!
I guess, the other players are all soperfect they need not practise anymore?
RR also states that Scandella still suffers from a concussion!
And that Cody Almond was called up.
Also, that Khudobin most likely will start the next game! (all photos from various sources)
A little taste of Wild Play below, in case you have not seen it yet!
http://video.wild.nhl.com/videocenter/console?hlp=8471418&fr=false
Meanwhile, on the opera front: Rehearsals for DEAD MAN WALKING and LUCIA at HGO are well in hand. Opera in the Heights also is polishing its performance of DON CARLOS.
Am sorry to report a loss to the Griffins in shoot out: Aeros 2 - Griffins 3. Sorry for the Aeros, who battled valianty.
Earl getting a single handed goal on a break away.
O'Sullivan with Di Salvatore and Noreau the 2.
Both in the First Period.
The Griffins got one goal in the first, then evened the score in the 2 period. Neither team scored in 3. and OT.
Aeros had one PP - uneventful.
Griffins had no PP.
But with Smith as the referee we expected just that.
Few penalties called -
only when absolutely necessary as for the Bagnall/Keefe fight-below.
Cuma Down
Ouch!
Ministering to Cuma
And of course, he had to penalize Owens for Boarding (Cuma, the target photos above) plus a game misconduct. Happy to report Cuma was back on the ice shortly thereafter.
Scratches for Aeros: Broda,Buck, Fraser, Kalus.
Hackett and CO
Matt Hackett in goal did very well. Stopping the onslaught by the Griffins with their 37 shots, only alowwing allowing 2 in. But also the 3 in SO by Johnson, Tardiff and Minard.
Pearce, the "purple"hatted one, stopped 24 of 27! Not a bad result!
He was agile and on alert and had some spectacular saves, as well.
Pearce
Both teams (thanks to Smith) got away with a few
bad boys' pranks, shall we say:
Scuffle
Scuffles like these:
More scuffles
Both goalies did outstanding work. Both teams gave battle. Griffins to the bitter end coming from behind..so to speak.
In the photo below the expression on Ref Smith's face speaks volumes:-)
A knuckle biter decision: Ought I? NOT!
Pearce always watching.
Chilly and the T shirt Toss Hollering
Fans stunned. Some of you might recognise yourselves!
literally, I did. On the way to the garage someone ran in front of me and down I went - flat on my face. Nothing broken, not even my glasses. No injuries to speak of except to my pride, a slight scrape to my knee and a sore left hand.
So this is late a posting. And since elsewhere the game was discussed ad nauseam, I shall refer to it only as the O'Sullivan baptism (for the second time :-D in Houston). With his goal early in the First (with Falk,Di Salvatore), he fired up the team and the Aeros kept the pressure on the Griffins to the end and exited victorious. Most of the 'blame' for this win has to go squarely on Josh Tordjman who was incredible, letting in ONLY one goal (and that alas a shorthanded one by Meech with Andersson and Owens).
"The Man in the Purple" Pearce did also well, but could not stop the two pucks the Aeros slammed at him.The second a PP goal by Almond with (again) Di Salvatore and Noreau). Both teams put forth great efforts. Both goalies did well. While Tordjman stopped all but one, Pearce stopped all but 2 of the bigger SOG number! Aeros 2 and Griffins 1.
And the competition will continue this afternoon.
Without further ado, a few funny (lol) artandhockey speciality photos for your viewing pleasure-one can never have enough photos to titillate one's feeling of "Ah, they won".. right? A win that places Aeros now in much better contention for a play off spot. That win was really needed. Just a few numbers: Aeros in 4th after Rampage but Rampage have a 3 game advantage(42) over Aeros' 45. Both have 51 points, both trail Admirals, Rivermen. Aeros are followed by Stars, OKC with Wolves and Icehogs bringing up the rear. All these teams are separated only by a few points. It is THAT close a race in the division. May the Aeros' Star keep rising.
A Blur of Defense
Saved by Tordjman
Pearce got this one despite the efforts of Welman (welcome back !)
Battling for the puck in not quite the right spot :-)
still suffers from a concussion! 
most likely will start the next game! 
