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Don Giovanni

I was vaguely aware that there was a marionette company in Seattle that did an opera production each year. And when it crossed my consciousness I would think, "well that would be interesting to attend sometime."

This year, we did it. And boy am I sorry we didn't take advantage of this sooner. First of all, the production is not for children. But, I wasn't sure who might show up at a marionette opera-- opera people? early music people? (a number of notable early music musicians were performing) -- puppet people? I'm still not sure. It was an older crowd - older even than the symphony crowd - but there wasn't anyone we recognized. We go to enough music in Seattle that we are familiar with a set of "usual suspects" that show up to various types of classical performance.

Donna Anna & Don Giovanni

The opera was Don Giovanni, done in its entirety, with only very minor cuts. Rather than sing the recitative, it was spoken, in English, much of it quite funny (and adult -- again this was not for kids). The English dialog helped move the drama along. But the marionettes were amazing dramatically. It's hard to explain how expressive they were--both in the spoken dialog and the aria singing. The singers (local favorites, including a couple from the Tudor Choir) were accompanied by a string quartet plus flute. They were seated, dressed in black, in front of the stage. The experience was so intimate--it felt like you were in someone's salon. It was an incredible theater experience.

They announced next year's opera, which is Don Quixote. Marionette opera is clearly something we're going to be looking forward to each year. Marionettes have a very interesting history in theater--particularly in Italy--which you can read about here.

I'll have Drake take some photos this weekend of me and the sweater I finally, finally finished. Darn that looped crochet trim almost had me beat. But I would not surrender. Not to the looped crochet trim!

Up next is a shorter, summery project:

Berocco Can-Can

The yarn is beautiful mix of silk, linen, rayon and nylon (I'll be making it in a denim blue color):

"Silk Demin"

Florez

Ladies and gentleman, I given you Juan Diego Flórez and his phenomenal high C's.

More about the performance (and his encore) here.

First, this post yesterday from Techcrunch: Who Did Six Apart Acquire?

Then this in my RSS feed, but then the actual post is nowhere to be found Team Vox blog:

Exciting news?

I've got two Typepad blogs, so if something new is up for their "paying customers" I'm all ears.

Mmmm... one of our favorites

Continuing with the pasta theme, my latest post over at the Ward Street Bistro is Pasta with Cauliflower.