OPERA GOERS

 

One of the nice, unusual things about our Opera Theatre is that it takes place on the leafy campus of a small university. There are broad lawns and gardens. Many people come early and have dinner al fresco. The crowd can be interesting. These two look like a mismatch. She was looking for attention. What you can't see here is that she was wearing just-under-the-knee black leather boots with three inch chunky heels. She made her point.                

A 50TH OPENING NIGHT

Curtain calls at the opening night of the 50th season of Opera Theatre of St. Louis, arguably the best regional opera company in the U.S. The production of Die Fledermaus was spectacular, top singing throughout the cast, witty staging and laugh out loud comedy. Looks like a great season.                  

STL DPB BACK HOME - OPENING NIGHT

It's not to everyone's taste, but last night was a big deal to me and Mrs. C, and one of the jewels of this town - opening night of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. It runs in May and June with four productions in repertory, always getting national attention. We started with an old chestnut, Rossini's The Barber of Seville. I've been going to operas for a long time, seen a lot of Figaros, but I've never been to a production as good as this. Just sparkling, surrealistic, brilliantly sung and staged. It was like Rossini set sail on the Yellow Submarine.               

Another Opening Of Another Show

We have an awfully nice artists' cooperative and gallery called Soulard Art Market. They have monthly shows in which I occasionally participate. Nobody ever buys my stuff. It's either too weird or too expensive. I've got, um, certain standards, print with high quality ink and paper and use acid-free mats and UV resistant acrylic. You get what you pay for, except nobody wants to pay that much.

There are three of my pieces in the show (this, this and this) that opened Friday night. The theme was From The Pavement, anything to do with the streets. The man in the top picture is studying my work (buy it, dammit, buy it!). Madeleine went to her first art show. We'll have more about her reaction to the exhibits in tomorrow's Madeleine Monday after some colorful subjects.                   

Another Saturday Night In The Lou

There was an opening at Art St. Louis last night of a show called Misperception. Having weaseled my way onto the gallery wall, it was appropriate for me to show up.

The two women above were interesting. The one on the left had a piece nearby mine, that wonderful photograph in the first and second pictures. We introduced ourselves. She told me that she was a professionally trained, world-famous artist who rarely showed in St. Louis (she's from the area). Well, then. I told her I was a semi-trained, mostly unknown amateur who was happy to have something in the show. Chacun à son goût.

Never did understand what the woman on the right was about. In the end, I thought she might have been one of the works in the exhibit.

Afterwards, Carolyn and I went to Layla's, a Lebanese restaurant, for dinner. The unexpected entertainment had more visual appeal than most of the stuff at the gallery.      

Labor Of Love

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The opening night reception for the Labor of Love art show took place last night at Soulard Art Market. As I mentioned yesterday, I have one photograph in the show. It was never explained whether the labor of love referred to the process of creating art or the subject of the work or art. I went with the second approach in a photo of chanting Tibetan Buddhist monks.

There was a big crowd and a lot to see. It may have been too intense for some people.

How mixed up can architecture be? See today's post on Downtown St. Louis 365.