tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457836343396592663.post6361141598764361830..comments2024-02-24T16:45:20.380-08:00Comments on Operaville: Confessions of an Opera Addict, Part IVMichael J. Vaughnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17776890054945089322noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457836343396592663.post-49202079714591550532008-10-08T13:38:00.000-07:002008-10-08T13:38:00.000-07:00Barbara has this amazing quality of being as good ...Barbara has this amazing quality of being as good as she is, but having this astounding humility. She's never been able to break through to the next level - the SFOs, Houstons and Mets of the opera world - but I keep having to remind her of how good she really is, and that she's making money as an opera singer, which is pretty darn cool. The SF season has pretty darn cool, too - they're getting very adventurous this season!Michael J. Vaughnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776890054945089322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457836343396592663.post-28152909750571917112008-10-05T15:17:00.000-07:002008-10-05T15:17:00.000-07:00I love that my husband and I have season tickets t...I love that my husband and I have season tickets to San Francisco Opera this year. It does remind me of how insignificant I really am. :-)<BR/><BR/>Now the soprano ... never insignificant, eh? But I can't imagine anyone critiquing Barbara's breathing ... she's just such a wonderful singer!Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16172401944836258683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457836343396592663.post-71521515356417042652008-10-05T13:53:00.000-07:002008-10-05T13:53:00.000-07:00That's funny, and very true. I hadn't heard Barbar...That's funny, and very true. I hadn't heard Barbara sing live for a number of years, and after she made me weep like a little baby with her "Mi chiamano," she said, "Omigod! I totally messed up my breathing on two different phrases. I'm so embarrassed! I hope it wasn't too obvious." Like the average opera fan pays attention to breathing technique!Michael J. Vaughnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776890054945089322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457836343396592663.post-64447457232726707242008-10-04T21:56:00.000-07:002008-10-04T21:56:00.000-07:00Well ... I'm QUITE pleased that you didn't hear th...Well ... I'm QUITE pleased that you didn't hear the flub. Whew! Since you've been (are??) a reviewer I'll assume the best ... that what I did wasn't as huge an issue as I had thought. <BR/><BR/>Each of us is so focussed on ourselves ... I always feel as if it's all about me, even while knowing that it's not about me at all. Go figure.Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16172401944836258683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457836343396592663.post-41310511415447004412008-10-04T13:28:00.000-07:002008-10-04T13:28:00.000-07:00Yes! I sang Beethoven's Ninth with the Symphony, p...Yes! I sang Beethoven's Ninth with the Symphony, probably in '82, along with Rigoletto in '83, and I also remember Vaughan-Williams' Sea Symphony sometime. I didn't notice any oboe flubs at the gala, but then you know how ignorant we critics are about orchestral parts;-) (And I was stuffed on filet mignon at that point.)Michael J. Vaughnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776890054945089322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457836343396592663.post-50096884294748073062008-10-03T19:29:00.000-07:002008-10-03T19:29:00.000-07:00Yes, I played at the gala. (I won't bring up the f...Yes, I played at the gala. (I won't bring up the fact that I was extremely unhappy with my playing. Nope. Won't mention that!) <BR/><BR/>It was wonderful to hear Miss Divis sing again. I always loved it when she sang with us. <BR/><BR/>I've been in OSJ since the beginning ... and my how it's changed! It's my favorite gig. <BR/><BR/>I suspect you and I performed together; I landed in San Jose Symphony in 1975 and was there until its demise. (I was on English horn, though, so I didn't play everything.)Pattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16172401944836258683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457836343396592663.post-75096649102568482022008-10-03T17:37:00.000-07:002008-10-03T17:37:00.000-07:00How cool! It sounds like we're leading parallel li...How cool! It sounds like we're leading parallel lives. Did you play at the gala? Had a blast there - my date was Barbara Divis, who's an old pal (and one hell of a soprano!). Nice to see her get such a welcoming.Michael J. Vaughnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17776890054945089322noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7457836343396592663.post-86353885422190186832008-10-02T22:18:00.000-07:002008-10-02T22:18:00.000-07:00Gee, I just ran across this blog entry and I see y...Gee, I just ran across this blog entry and I see you're a local sort. I attended SJSU, but prior to when you were there, I'm sure (I'm class of '79). But still ... small world!<BR/><BR/>Oh ... and I play oboe in Opera San José. In addition, my father was a teacher and he had both Brian Boitano and Amy Tan in his English class during one of their middle school years. (I read your link to them in your bio.) <BR/><BR/>How funny. Well, to me at least.<BR/><BR/>In any case, I'm going to have to find your books now! <BR/><BR/>Cheers!<BR/><BR/>PattyPattyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16172401944836258683noreply@blogger.com