"I'm done with opera!" tenor José Carreras is quoted as telling the Times in London in a recent interview. However it would seem his manager didn't get the memo because he is reported as saying Carreras would perform again "if the right production came along". If you can't remember who Carreras is try to picture the Three Tenors; Pavarotti was the 350 pound behemoth with the golden pipes, Domingo was the good looking one with charm, looks and a wonderful quality in the upper range of his glorious voice and Carreras....Carreras was the luckiest damn tenor in the world! And now? He is angling to become the Brett Favre of the opera world. I guess we'll just have to see whether he shows up for tenor mini-camp in the fall. The picture this week shows Favre giving his all to the last bar of Nessun Dorma.
Twitter Operaplot
The entries are in and we await the decision of Danielle De Niesse to see whose 140-character synopsis is judged the cleverest/wittiest or whatever. I said I would post those sent to me and here is a selection:
Locally, Operaman reader Lea offered, inter alia, this summary of Fidelio:
I'm deeply in love w/ F. Oh, he's a woman? No problem. Oh, she frees her hubby from prison? Wait--where's MY happy ending?
I like that one lots, Lea. Brava!
Meanwhile Grrlpup decided that Dido and Aeneas boiled down to:
@ aeneas, u fairweather friend! i say i do, u leave me for real estate?? Now mine is dust. ur so dam mercurial…but remember me.
Yes, that's it in a nutshell isn't it? Good job, Grrlppup.
Gentle readers, meet Priscilla Barrow! She teaches general music at two public schools in D.C. and has been doing so for 22 years. Just imagine how many students have developed a love for music at her instigation and with her encouragement. Of course she did it mainly for the fabulous pay and lifestyle such a vocation provides public school teachers. Priscilla you are my hero! We are all very excited for you and hope that you have a wonderful time.
Operaplot
I apologise for not providing your weekly opera fodder on Monday as I usually do but I will not be able to post my blog until Wednesday as there is exciting news to announce but I don't believe I will have confirmation of certain important matters in time to post today. So - be sure to check back here around noon tomorrow!
Local News
I am fascinated by new gadgets particularly electronic stuff and computer software. With the latter I tend to be what is known in the trade as an early adopter. Some computer programmes have stuck with me over a lengthy period - Livejournal for instance is a 'community' site where I read and/or post stuff most days. Others have come and gone through my hard drive in the blink of an eye. I have never been in the thrall of Facebook, MySpace or Twitter- particularly Twitter which allows one to send messages to one's friends but with the limitation that they must not exceed 140 characters in length. As someone who has been accused of never using one word when six will do, you may imagine such brevity ill suits my style. But this week all that may change. Why? Because of a competition which I am going to enter and I would encourage you to do so as well. Here's the deal: Miss Omniscient Mussel in her eponymously-named