Life

Celebrating independence, things converge: the birthday of a good friend, and finding a present, of a classical DVD, that invokes memory of an independent spirit. Viennese born conductor, Erich Leinsdorf, became a naturalized American citizen in 1942. In the era of great and legendary conductors, Leinsdorf found his talents identified and utilized by musical dynamos, Bruno Walter and Arturo Toscanini, and debuting, in his own right as dynamo, at the Metropolitan Opera House, at the age of 26.

…I don’t know why I bother; the aim should always be for “balance”, not something level and static. The autumn holiday chute from Halloween- which is now virtually stitched to Christmas shopping (gliding over Turkey and Stuffing), rapidly rattling us through New Years, into the back wash results of many manic compromises, debilitating family encounters, and possibly humbling overdrafts- has now idled into the slow grade of mounting another year..

..it was an incredible opening event, in DC, at Gallery Plan b last night; Rod Glover has struck out in a wonderful new direction, utilizing textures and char, leading an observer into an artist's envelopment of Nature; a dance that weaves associatively, between forest and fables; it is in perfect resonance with Paula Amt's new paintings, of structures and figures, in which are powerful character details;

I have to admit, the first star struck thought that came to mind was –‘..it really is red..’ –And there really was a scrum of photographers, crammed on step ladders, huddled shoulder to shoulder, shoved along a “red carpet walk-way”, down the center of a very white tent, affixed to the entrance of the Ziegfeld theater.

…in January 2006 my uncle gave me the play of a friend of his to read, comment on and, hopefully, assist in finding a conduit for... I read the piece, and enjoyed it. But the work had a British theme; it was a story around the ascension of George VI to the British throne, his stammer, and the help he received from an unorthodox Aussie speech therapist. I knew that a very good theatre producer friend of mine in London, Joan Lane, who is very well networked, would find the piece of interest. I sent it on to her.