It's 4 a.m.-ish on Sunday. Time for another "? of the Week."
Nico Castel.
Nico Castel is a language coach and character tenor who sings with the Met. He also does Master Classes for singers. I have never actually met him, but when I do, I am going to shake his hand and thank him for his fantastic series of Opera Libretti Translations.
What Mr. Castel has done is to take the librettos (or words) of famous operas. He then translates them "word for word" and adds International Phonetic Alphabet (or IPA) translations underneath that. Additionally, he will add a line if the grammer does not work well in English that clarifies what each character is saying. Not only that (whew, I'm getting out of breath), if there is an obscure reference to something specific to the setting of the opera, Mr. Castel adds a footnote that explains what the words mean.
As I start my book on the role of Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore, I am sitting down with Italian Bel Canto Operas (vol. 1) and translating the entire opera. Every single word. Without this Mr. Castel's series, the work would completely be overwhelming, but this book makes the process relatively efficient and painless.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
? of the Week- April 17, 2011
This week, birds were chirping and I left the house with only a windbreaker on. The city lost some of its winter scowl and the trickle of mid-town winter tourists are beginning to turn into a flood. By next week all the hotels will be booked with people experiencing the joys of Spring in the City-- my "? of the Week."
Let me be frank, all is not well in the opera world right now. There are challenges all over the the country. Good singers are losing their jobs and the business is contracting.
Despite all that, Spring is here and with it Hope.
Let me be frank, all is not well in the opera world right now. There are challenges all over the the country. Good singers are losing their jobs and the business is contracting.
Despite all that, Spring is here and with it Hope.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
? of the Week- April 10, 2011
Macaroons.
Not just any Macaroons, though, Buttered Popcorn Macaroons. Invented by my little neighborhood bakery, Desserts by Michael Allen, this is the item that is going to make them famous. You heard it here first.
When my family and I moved to New York, we made every effort to explore the city in as much depth as possible. I'm proud to say that, over the course of a number of years, we explored neighborhoods as far south as Sheepshead Bay and Coney Island to Arthur Street in the Bronx. We drove out to the wineries of Long Island and travelled through upstate to Patterson and Connecticut.
Our neighborhood does have fantastic Caribbean food and fried chicken (served from behind bullet-proof glass at some establishments). We have tried our local Halal buffets and we shed a tear when Kush Cafe changed to the Hill Cafe. We lost a real gem of Pan-African French food.
Through the years, though, Desserts by Michael Allen has been a stalwart. We visit them whenever we can and I had my birthday treats from them for the past few years. With their invention of this macaroon, I really believe that this bakery could become a genuine attraction, possibly as legendary as Red Velvet from Cake Man Raven or Magnolia for cupcakes or Sullivan Street Bakery for foccaccia.
And so, to you, my delicious buttered popcorn macaroon, I congratulate your elevation to "? of the Week."
Not just any Macaroons, though, Buttered Popcorn Macaroons. Invented by my little neighborhood bakery, Desserts by Michael Allen, this is the item that is going to make them famous. You heard it here first.
When my family and I moved to New York, we made every effort to explore the city in as much depth as possible. I'm proud to say that, over the course of a number of years, we explored neighborhoods as far south as Sheepshead Bay and Coney Island to Arthur Street in the Bronx. We drove out to the wineries of Long Island and travelled through upstate to Patterson and Connecticut.
Our neighborhood does have fantastic Caribbean food and fried chicken (served from behind bullet-proof glass at some establishments). We have tried our local Halal buffets and we shed a tear when Kush Cafe changed to the Hill Cafe. We lost a real gem of Pan-African French food.
Through the years, though, Desserts by Michael Allen has been a stalwart. We visit them whenever we can and I had my birthday treats from them for the past few years. With their invention of this macaroon, I really believe that this bakery could become a genuine attraction, possibly as legendary as Red Velvet from Cake Man Raven or Magnolia for cupcakes or Sullivan Street Bakery for foccaccia.
And so, to you, my delicious buttered popcorn macaroon, I congratulate your elevation to "? of the Week."
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Upcoming gig: Opera Fairbanks' L'elisir d'Amore
I am thrilled to announce that I'll be heading back to Alaska this summer. I'll be singing the starring role of Nemorino in L'elisir d'Amore, by Gaetano Donizetti. I'll be joining Jamie-Rose Guarrine as Adina and Paul Plishka as Dulcamara.
Find out more at http://www.operafairbanks.org/.
I'll have more details shortly but the show goes up on July 14 and July 16 in Fairbanks.
Find out more at http://www.operafairbanks.org/.
I'll have more details shortly but the show goes up on July 14 and July 16 in Fairbanks.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
? of the Week- April 3, 2011
Two weeks in a row? Is this possible?
I have learned over the years not to speak in absolutes. As soon as I say one, the universe points, laughs and takes me down a peg. A few choice examples: I'll never marry a vegetarian, I'll never become a Catholic... Do you catch my drift?
Funny that I mention being married to a vegetarian, because it leads me to my "? of the Week".
Pukk
Located in the Lower East Side of New York City, Pukk is an entirely vegetarian restaurant that serves Thai cuisine in an "oh so trendy" setting. When we were less family-inclined, we got to try out the restaurant and we loved the blend of super-trendy vibe and tasty asian fare at a really great value. I would not say that it was the best Thai I had in my life, but it is really quite good and it is nice to go to a restaurant where my wife can choose anything off the menu.
Over the years I learned to love faux-meat and it (nearly) replaces the real thing for me. It doesn't quite do it, though. I'll never become a vegetarian.
I have learned over the years not to speak in absolutes. As soon as I say one, the universe points, laughs and takes me down a peg. A few choice examples: I'll never marry a vegetarian, I'll never become a Catholic... Do you catch my drift?
Funny that I mention being married to a vegetarian, because it leads me to my "? of the Week".
Pukk
Located in the Lower East Side of New York City, Pukk is an entirely vegetarian restaurant that serves Thai cuisine in an "oh so trendy" setting. When we were less family-inclined, we got to try out the restaurant and we loved the blend of super-trendy vibe and tasty asian fare at a really great value. I would not say that it was the best Thai I had in my life, but it is really quite good and it is nice to go to a restaurant where my wife can choose anything off the menu.
Over the years I learned to love faux-meat and it (nearly) replaces the real thing for me. It doesn't quite do it, though. I'll never become a vegetarian.
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