After some visits with the chiropractor, it was decided that he needs to get a closer look, so I had an MRI tonight. When I got to the imaging center and filled out the forms, they gave me what looked like a menu. After the initial confusion, the tech told me it was a list of Sirius Satellite Radio Stations that I could choose from. Apparently, they like to keep your mind off all the obnoxious THUD THUD THUD THUD PLONK PLONK PLONK PLONK noises inside the MRI chamber. Very kind of them. I chose the opera station, and was treated to a live performance of Die Walküre from the Met (sadly without Christine Brewer as Brünnhilde...*sigh*).
We'll see what the MRI has to tell the doctor tomorrow...
(On a happy note, I got to surround myself with good friends afterwards...which helped me take my mind off everything that's been plaguing my mind.)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
April without Recitals is to December without Christmas
April has been, like most Aprils it seems, a month chock full of recitals at your local university. Here are some of my favorite moments of the recital attendance:
- the masterfully-conceived figur of baritone Alan Naylor's recital
- soprano Alison Moritz's portrayal of five English queens by composer Libby Larsen
- baritone Max von Schlehenreid and mezzo soprano Meghan Garvin's ravishing duet
- a sweetly sung "Un aura amorosa" by tenor Anthony Heinemann
- tenor Joshua Stanton rocking out to Tosti
These recitals make me want to get my arse back on the recital stage. I am dying to explore more song repertoire, especially in the russian realm (got a taste of it on '06 and am wanting more). I've also been working diligently on Schumann's Liederkreis Op. 24 (Heine). I'd also LOVE to delve into Winterreise, though I don't see myself performing that one anytime soon. My voice teacher has mentioned the prospect of a recital series featuring his post-grad students, so this could happen in the near future. I can hope!
- the masterfully-conceived figur of baritone Alan Naylor's recital
- soprano Alison Moritz's portrayal of five English queens by composer Libby Larsen
- baritone Max von Schlehenreid and mezzo soprano Meghan Garvin's ravishing duet
- a sweetly sung "Un aura amorosa" by tenor Anthony Heinemann
- tenor Joshua Stanton rocking out to Tosti
These recitals make me want to get my arse back on the recital stage. I am dying to explore more song repertoire, especially in the russian realm (got a taste of it on '06 and am wanting more). I've also been working diligently on Schumann's Liederkreis Op. 24 (Heine). I'd also LOVE to delve into Winterreise, though I don't see myself performing that one anytime soon. My voice teacher has mentioned the prospect of a recital series featuring his post-grad students, so this could happen in the near future. I can hope!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Spinal drama!!!
Ok, so Vicodin only helps so much when your back is in excruciating pain. I can't even sit down or stand up without pitching a fit. Decided to take the damn day off and bypass my doctor's suggestion to revisit HIM if I didn't improve...because sometimes you have to take things into your own hands or Scheisse doesn't get done!
On the recommendation of a dear friend, I found a local chiropractor. After a consultation, the chiropractor decided to have me come in every other day for some conservative treatments. Such repeated visits would have scared the crap out of me this time last year when I didn't have insurance...so I count myself lucky for having it!
More info on this later?
On the recommendation of a dear friend, I found a local chiropractor. After a consultation, the chiropractor decided to have me come in every other day for some conservative treatments. Such repeated visits would have scared the crap out of me this time last year when I didn't have insurance...so I count myself lucky for having it!
More info on this later?
Monday, April 6, 2009
Back drama!!!
Oy, my back!!! I think I pulled something during all that comical crawling-around in Don Pasquale. Seriously, my back has been in SUCH pain lately. I had a short episode like this a few years back, but it went away after a massage. I guess I did something much worse. The pain is seriously impairing my ability to do just about ANYTHING.
As such, I got in the car (a feat in and of itself--lateral movements are a BITCH!) and went to the doctor. After a look, he said, quite plainly:
"Do you want narcotics?"
I found the statement a little funny, considering you usually hear the word "narcotics" on Cops in reference to someone who's about to be or already has been arrested for possession. Nevertheless, the doctor put me on Vicodin. While it DOES make the pain go away, I feel like it's a mere mask.
I feel like such a dumbass for letting my back get this unhealthy. They say that back pain is a life-long problem unless you're constantly doing something about it. I think this is a real wakeup call. More later...
As such, I got in the car (a feat in and of itself--lateral movements are a BITCH!) and went to the doctor. After a look, he said, quite plainly:
"Do you want narcotics?"
I found the statement a little funny, considering you usually hear the word "narcotics" on Cops in reference to someone who's about to be or already has been arrested for possession. Nevertheless, the doctor put me on Vicodin. While it DOES make the pain go away, I feel like it's a mere mask.
I feel like such a dumbass for letting my back get this unhealthy. They say that back pain is a life-long problem unless you're constantly doing something about it. I think this is a real wakeup call. More later...
Thursday, April 2, 2009
REVIEW: An Evening With Patti & Mandy @ Fox
The other day, my dear friend Joy happily came across some comps for a concert that I had decided initially that I'd have to pass up for scrimpin' and savin' reasons.
In the past couple years, I've seen several of my favorite singers/personalities live, including Christine Brewer, Bryn Terfel, Susan Graham, Debbie Voigt, Margaret Cho and most recently Kristin Chenoweth. It's all so surreal! To finally know they exist not just on CD or television. You're actually in the same concert hall/opera house/theatre with them!! I know this seems so gauche of me, but it's an honest feeling I get...
...and I got it definitely tonight at An Evening with Patti Lupone and Mandy Patinkin. They'd not worked together since their monumental performances together in the original Broadway production of Evita...and it was like watching two old friends collaborating as if twenty or so years really hadn't passed by.
What I loved most about the evening was that it didn't feel like a conventional concert. Patti and Mandy treated the evening almost as if it were a classical recital, except the repertoire was not Schubert, Debussy or Copland...it was of equal giants in the musical theatre canon: Rodgers & Hammerstein, Kern, Loesser and Sondheim. Groups songs by these composers were woven into almost a Liederkreis of sorts. We were given a story to watch. I was very touched by Mandy and Patti's recapitulation of the Carousel story, especially.
Of course, the evening also allowed for some solo turns. Patti came out and knocked 'em dead with two solos instrumental in her early career ("Don't Cry for Me, Argentina") and her most recent work ("Everything's Coming Up Roses"). Mandy gave an inspired, borscht-belt reading of "Buddy's Blues" from Follies. It was a little disappointing, though, that he nixed "Oh What a Circus" this evening. The duo closed out the evening with the delightful ditty "Coffee in a Cardboard Cup," which I now am determined to sing with a willing duet partner!
It all flashed by so fast, yet with such pacing, I was never left wanting more. A truly wonderful evening of song!
In the past couple years, I've seen several of my favorite singers/personalities live, including Christine Brewer, Bryn Terfel, Susan Graham, Debbie Voigt, Margaret Cho and most recently Kristin Chenoweth. It's all so surreal! To finally know they exist not just on CD or television. You're actually in the same concert hall/opera house/theatre with them!! I know this seems so gauche of me, but it's an honest feeling I get...
...and I got it definitely tonight at An Evening with Patti Lupone and Mandy Patinkin. They'd not worked together since their monumental performances together in the original Broadway production of Evita...and it was like watching two old friends collaborating as if twenty or so years really hadn't passed by.
What I loved most about the evening was that it didn't feel like a conventional concert. Patti and Mandy treated the evening almost as if it were a classical recital, except the repertoire was not Schubert, Debussy or Copland...it was of equal giants in the musical theatre canon: Rodgers & Hammerstein, Kern, Loesser and Sondheim. Groups songs by these composers were woven into almost a Liederkreis of sorts. We were given a story to watch. I was very touched by Mandy and Patti's recapitulation of the Carousel story, especially.
Of course, the evening also allowed for some solo turns. Patti came out and knocked 'em dead with two solos instrumental in her early career ("Don't Cry for Me, Argentina") and her most recent work ("Everything's Coming Up Roses"). Mandy gave an inspired, borscht-belt reading of "Buddy's Blues" from Follies. It was a little disappointing, though, that he nixed "Oh What a Circus" this evening. The duo closed out the evening with the delightful ditty "Coffee in a Cardboard Cup," which I now am determined to sing with a willing duet partner!
It all flashed by so fast, yet with such pacing, I was never left wanting more. A truly wonderful evening of song!
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