I’m being heckled by the Anthology’s biggest fan (my mother)

Why? Because mama wants more dirt on the opera. And, as everyone knows, you shouldn’t let down your fans. So ma, here you are:

The two female leads were incredible. Absolutely, positively, shivers-down-my-spine incredible. Kate Aldrich (Adalgisa) and Hasmik Papian (Norma) shone so bright they made me desperately wish I could sing. (Said my husband to me once: “Oh. I always thought you sang like that as a joke.”)

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But I am a modern opera kind of gal. I love visual spectacle — outrageous costumes and conceptual sets. I would take the acrobatics and partial nudity of last season’s Rigoletto over a traditional interpretation any day.

Alain Coulombe Norma Vancouver Opera

I did love two things about about Oroveso’s costume (played by Alain Coulombe) — his cuffs and his overthrow (what do you call that? Technicolour dream coat?). Actually, his belt’s quite funky too.

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Like the ballet, the opera has a soft spot in my heart. I’ve been a fan ever since Ms. F. took our class as part of our grade nine Humanities class. There is something about a big-budget, high-talent production that is so magical. Overwhelming almost. Plus — this time I actually got to go backstage.

Manga by Roy Husada, the first photo is by Tim Matheson. The last one is my own.

November 30, 2009 by

Seems everyone is geeking out these days

Even the highbrow-est of highbrow arts: the opera.

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I’m at the newly beautified Queen Elizabeth blogging to you live as part of the Vancouver Opera’s Bloggers at the Opera night alongside Emme Rogers, Gus Digital and John Biehler.

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Got a backstage tour of the set for Norma, ripe with weaponry, torches and piles of fake skulls. (Even half an hour before the show everyone back there was calm, cool and collected. So unlike being backstage at the plays we used to perform in theatre class.) Take a look at more backstage photos here.

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My necklace? From a street market in Mexico. (Why I did not buy one in every colour, I do not know.)

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My dress? Straight out of the 80’s.

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My shoes? They’re Betsey Johnson.

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The opera? Dramatic. And now a tad more geeky.

November 28, 2009 by

Let’s take a moment

to look back on summer and laugh. Because it feels like it was forever ago, doesn’t it? I almost can’t remember a time it was light past 4:30 pm.

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I found the shot of Grace Kelly here. Speaking of the Princess of Monaco, I just re-watched Rear Window and fell in love with her costumes all over again. Have you seen it? They’re incredible, aren’t they?

November 25, 2009 by

Love! Betrayal! Singing!

Opera season opens on Saturday (yippee!). And I’ll be there (in my finest) blogging as part of the Vancouver Opera‘s Bloggers at the Opera initiative.

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I’m so excited and so honoured. Thank you very much, Vancouver Opera, for the invitation. Now I just have to figure out what to wear.

Manga image by Roy Husada.

November 24, 2009 by

Mmmwah!

That’s a big, cheesy Hollywood-style air kiss to each and every one of you. And a second mmmwah to those of you who love the Anthology so much you pass along these outrageous awards.

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Like the entrepreneurial Niki of A Haute Mess, who gave me the Haute Mess Award, which I’d like to give to: Design.Love.Fest, Solo Lisa, and A Beautiful Life.

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And the lovely Neira of Miss Niera gave me the Over the Top award, which I’d like to give to A Haute Mess, The Extrovert, and La Couturier.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! And a big thank you to those of you who follow the Anthology on Twitter and Facebook, too.

November 24, 2009 by

On the half shell

Unlike my sister-in-law Jaclyn, who has her jewelry neatly displayed, I strew my rings and things all over the house.

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Responsible? No. But now that I’ve got a bunch of oyster shells to store them in, my little piles of jewelry are so much more interesting.

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‘Tis the easiest thing in the world: I found oyster shells on the beach, cleaned them off, boiled them (to take out the ocean funk), et voila.

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Makes me wish I wore more pearls.

November 22, 2009 by

What would you wear to a tea party?

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The pinks and pastels of an antique china tea cup, bien sur.

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And what if it’s a virtual tea party like the one Dream Sequins hosted for her birthday? Well, I’d still wear the same thing. Follow this link to find out what other blogettes would sport.  Thanks so much for inviting me, D! And happy birthday!

November 19, 2009 by

I look forward to this every year

The Eastside Culture Crawl is like trick-or-treating with art. That you have to pay for. So actually it’s not like trick-or-treating at all. But still — meandering from artist’s studio to artist’s studio is such a lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

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It’s where I picked up this little portrait last year. I’ll be out of town this weekend so go for me, will you? And let me know how it is.

November 19, 2009 by

So nice

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I had to post it twice.

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Do yourself a favour and click through the tintype photographs by David Sokosh showcasing the new old style on The New York Times. The 90s are back. The 1890s, that is.

November 18, 2009 by