What a week! Following the celebration for my Mama's birthday, which was low-key but delightful, I was up at 4am on Saturday to be driven by my brother to Heathrow airport to begin my long journey back to Portland. He insisted we arrive at the airport two full hours before the flight, telling me woeful tales of long lines at check-in, full body-scans at security and therefore the need for a large chunk of time. As it turned out, within 30 minutes of him depositing me on the sidewalk near to the terminal, I had checked in and checked my baggage, been through security, had a cup of coffee and found a free internet service. Heathrow Airport is now a thing of beauty - clean, efficient and open 24 hours a day. Care for breakfast before your flight? Certainly. In addition to a sandwich shop and a full cafe there is a seafood bar at which you can have champagne and caviar before you leave - and it opens at 6am. Please compare to O'Hare airport where I landed some twelve hours later where all that was on offer was Quiznos and Macdonalds. So, don't come to me telling me how bad English food is! The first two sectors of my flight (London/Dusseldorf/Chicago) were on Lufthansa. The flights departed and arrived on time and in-flight service was exemplary. Chicago/PDX was on United Airlines. They had over-sold the flight and I had to be quite firm with an agent before a seat was found for me. We departed a little late because an engineer had to come aboard to "re-set a couple of circuit breakers" (per the captain). Nevertheless I arrived in Portland pretty much on schedule. United Airlines had decided, however, that my luggage should take a more circuitous route. When I reported it lost, the airline had no record of it whatever. "That's strange. It doesn't even seem to have been scanned at Chicago" I was told. Great. I am glad to report the story does have a happy ending and my bag was delivered to my door yesterday. I am happy to be home but in the throes of that joy of all long-distance travelers, jet lag. I was awake most of last night and am now operating on just three, caffeine-fueled, cylinders. Still, it's good to be back.

Così fan tutte

One of my first tasks when I was settled at home was to check in with my chum Ryan MacPherson, who is performing the role of Ferrando, to see how rehearsals for Così are going. "Awesome" was his assessment. Less than three weeks to opening night. I find Così a rather strange opera. Bob Kingston and I will be sitting down to chat about it sometime in the next week or so and I shall post the video of our discussion here, as usual.

Portland Opera's 2010/2011 Season - A Season of Fantasy or Reality

Next season's offerings were formally announced while I was in London. Each of the three main-stage operas is notable for at least one smash hit: Vesta la giubba (Pagliacci), O Fortuna (Carmina Burana), Nessun Dorma (Turandot) and (Hansel and Gretel) Engelbert Humperdink's "Please Release Me. Let Me Go". I am particularly looking forward to Carmina Burana which I have never seen staged.

Golden Globe Awards

I zoned-out in front of the television for an hour last night watching the Golden Globe Awards and switched on just in time to hear Paul McCartney, who was presenting the award for best animated feature, say "Animated movies are not just for children. They are also for adults who take drugs. So, here are the nominations made by drug-taking adults..." I thought that was quite droll but I suspect there was some wincing in the transmission control room. Up! was the winner. It was one of the few non-opera movies I saw this year and I loved it.

Carmen

I gather the Met HD transmission was well received and sold more tickets than any previous show. The word I get is that Garanca was hot (duh!) and Alagna sounded and looked great. Mariusz Kweizien, who I had heard sing Escamillo a couple of weeks ago and I thought he was very weak, dropped out and was replaced by Kiwi barihunk Teddy Tahu Rhodes. I had hoped I might get to see the repeat showing of this opera in a couple of weeks time but it coincides with the final dress rehearsal of Così so I guess I shall just have to wait for it to appear on the MetPlayer.

Opera Theater Oregon - Das Rheingold

Put this one on your calendar NOW. Starting February 17th, Opera Theater Oregon will be presenting their take on Wagners masterpiece at the Clinton Street Theater. To quote from OTO's website: "Don't know 'The Ring'? Picture Lord of The Rings in Malibu with Davis Hasselhoff as Frodo." Wagner meets Baywatch?? Oh, yes! Further information and tickets available here.

And on a personal note.....

I would like to take this opportunity to say a big 'thank you' to all of you who sent my mother birthday greetings. I was touched and delighted that so many of you did this. Because I had no Internet access at her home, each day I would travel to the nearby public library and print offthe latest batch of comments and read them to her. She being someone who is still awed by the powers of the Internet (I am,too, actually) was almost overcome by your thoughtfulness. Let me give her the final word.

aaaaawwwwww....

I have just received the news that the An Evening with the Stars of Così fan tutte concert which is to take place at the Scottish Rite on Thursday of this week will now benefit the Haiti relief effort. Fifty percent of the proceeds from the concert will be donated to Mercy Corps. Props to the management of Portland Opera (of which I am, for the avoidance of doubt, no part) for taking this initiative. If you needed any more incentive to attend this concert, well, you just got it. Information here. And then, when you have satisfied, albeit temporarily, your opera jones...

"Songs For Haiti"

Local musician, director, writer and all-around Energizer Bunny, Stephen Marc Beaudoin, has managed to gather a stellar cast of performers to appear at the Aladdin Theater on Thursday 21st January (i.e. this coming Thursday!) to raise funds to help the aid effort underway for Haiti. Those appearing will include Thomas Lauderdale, Portland Cello Project, Storm Large, and Oregon Symphony concert master Jun Iwasaki. Stephen, this is a wonderful thing you are doing and I have no doubt it will be a huge success. I'll be there, of course, and will write about the concert here next week. Tickets go on sale tomorrow. You need to be there. I think this is going to be a legendary affair while doing great good. MORE INFORMATION HERE.

Have a happy and productive week!