Oberon's Glade

Category: Blog

  • The Hopes And Fears Of All The Years

    Little town

    Emmylou Harris ~ O Little Town of Bethlehem

    O little town of Bethlehem
    How still we see thee lie…
    Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
    The silent stars go by.
    Yet in thy dark streets shineth
    The everlasting Light…
    The hopes and fears of all the years
    Are met in thee tonight.

     
    For Christ is born of Mary
    And gathered all above
    While mortals sleep, the angels keep
    Their watch of wondering love.,
    All morning stars together
    Proclaim the holy birth
    And praises sing to God the King
    And Peace to men on earth.
     
    How silently, how silently
    The wondrous gift is given!
    So God imparts to human hearts
    The blessings of His heaven.
    No ear may hear His coming,
    But in this world of sin
    Where meek souls will receive him still
    The dear Christ enters in.

  • Alto Rhapsody

    Index dv

    Dunja Vejzovic – Brahms ~ Alto Rhapsody

  • @ The Guggenheim: Hilma af Klint

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    Above: Svanen by Hilma af Klint

    Presenting one of the most fascinating art exhibits I’ve ever had the chance to experience, The Guggenheim’s gone all out to bring us a panorama of works by the Swedish artist Hilma af Klint (1862-1944).

    Born in Stockholm in 1862, Hilma af Klint started out as an academy-educated painter of landscapes and portraits, including some striking botanical pieces. The Spiritualist movement and an interest in scientific progress led af Klint to visualize a world beyond daily realities. She began creating radically abstract paintings in 1906.

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    Feeling that her art would be beyond comprehension during her lifetime, she shunned exhibits of her work and avoided publicity-seeking. af Klint passed away in 1944; she remained an unknown until the 1980s.

    The Guggenheim’s exhibition thrilled me, and I hope to return for another look at af Klint’s magnificent work. Although the slanting floor of the long, winding Guggenheim gallery threw off my equilibrium (and similarly affected my friend Deb Hastings, who was with me), this is art that one could study for hours and still not grasp it all. 

    Much of the magic of af Klint’s work is in the details; here are a few examples:

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    Some of af Klint’s largest canvases are displayed on the museum’s main floor:

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    Her colours dazzle:

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    But photos don’t do the work full justice: you have to be there.

    The Guggenheim exhibit, titled Paintings for the Future, runs thru April 23rd, 2019.

    Quote hilma-af-klint

    ~ Oberon

  • Gladys Ripley

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    Gladys Ripley – Elgar~Where Corals Lie

     

  • Hamilton’s House

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    Wednesday September 19th, 2018 – Having lived in New York City for twenty years, and been a frequent Gotham visitor since the 1960s, it’s always fun to discover places here in town that I did not know existed. I happened upon Alexander Hamilton’s house – officially called Hamilton Grange National Memorial – one day in August while visiting a friend who was recuperating from surgery. The house was not open to visitors that day, but it looked so distinguished sitting there in its grassy park that I knew I wanted to return and investigate.

    I was pretty sure my high-school friend Deb Hastings would be interested in this landmark; I suggested we head there the next time she came into town…which turned out to be today.

    Hamilton’s house is located on 141st Street at Saint Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan. With the success of the musical HAMILTON, the house has become something of a tourist destination. Deb saw HAMILTON and loved it. Myself, it interests me not at all.

    After strolling around the exterior…

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    …we went into the visitor’s center for our “un-guided” tour, which started at noon. Only another woman and her teenaged son were in our ‘group’…the boy reminded me so much of my first lover, TJ.

    Films shown at such landmarks are not always of great interest, but the two we watched here were excellent: the first about Hamilton’s life (and death) and the other about the incredible feat of moving the house to its present location from a couple of blocks away.

    We climbed a steep, narrow staircase to the main floor, where three period rooms are open to the public:

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    The dining room…

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    …sitting room…

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    …and Hamilton’s small study, with a little writing table, above…

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    …and a large desk.

    More images from our visit:

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    Sitting room carpet detail

    Though our tour was not guided, a woman from the National Parks Service was on hand, and she answered Deb’s questions in detail. We then walked up the hill to Amsterdam Avenue and had a delicious lunch at the Grange Bar and Eatery.

    {The statue shown in the photo at the top of this article stands in the churchyard at St Luke’s Episcopalian, adjacent to where Hamilton’s house was located prior to its being moved to the current location.}

    ~ Oberon

  • Hamilton’s House

    L1970579

    Wednesday September 19th, 2018 – Having lived in New York City for twenty years, and been a frequent Gotham visitor since the 1960s, it’s always fun to discover places here in town that I did not know existed. I happened upon Alexander Hamilton’s house – officially called Hamilton Grange National Memorial – one day in August while visiting a friend who was recuperating from surgery. The house was not open to visitors that day, but it looked so distinguished sitting there in its grassy park that I knew I wanted to return and investigate.

    I was pretty sure my high-school friend Deb Hastings would be interested in this landmark; I suggested we head there the next time she came into town…which turned out to be today.

    Hamilton’s house is located on 141st Street at Saint Nicholas Avenue in Manhattan. With the success of the musical HAMILTON, the house has become something of a tourist destination. Deb saw HAMILTON and loved it. Myself, it interests me not at all.

    After strolling around the exterior…

    L1970571

    L1970568

    …we went into the visitor’s center for our “un-guided” tour, which started at noon. Only another woman and her teenaged son were in our ‘group’…the boy reminded me so much of my first lover, TJ.

    Films shown at such landmarks are not always of great interest, but the two we watched here were excellent: the first about Hamilton’s life (and death) and the other about the incredible feat of moving the house to its present location from a couple of blocks away.

    We climbed a steep, narrow staircase to the main floor, where three period rooms are open to the public:

    L1970532

    The dining room…

    L1970561

    …sitting room…

    L1970546

    …and Hamilton’s small study, with a little writing table, above…

    L1970548

    …and a large desk.

    More images from our visit:

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    L1970524

    L1970529

    L1970551

    L1970556

    L1970559

    Sitting room carpet detail

    Though our tour was not guided, a woman from the National Parks Service was on hand, and she answered Deb’s questions in detail. We then walked up the hill to Amsterdam Avenue and had a delicious lunch at the Grange Bar and Eatery.

    {The statue shown in the photo at the top of this article stands in the churchyard at St Luke’s Episcopalian, adjacent to where Hamilton’s house was located prior to its being moved to the current location.}

    ~ Oberon

  • Martina Arroyo as Valentine de Saint-Bris

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    The inimitable Martina Arroyo sings Valentine’s Act IV aria from Meyerbeer’s LES HUGUENOTS.

    Martina Arroyo – Je suis seule…Parmi les pleurs ~ LES HUGUENOTS

  • US Open Qualifiers ~ 2018

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    Above: Vera Zvonareva after her win today

    Thursday August 23rd, 2018 – The US Open is just about the only thing that will get me out of Manhattan nowadays. This summer, the Open is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

    I had skipped the first day of the Qualifiers this year as the lineup of players did not include any of my particular favorites. The second day’s schedule was really appealing, but a predicted 3-hour rain gap at mid-day made me think twice about trekking out to Flushing; in the event, the rain never materialized.

    But I lucked out today: it was perfect in terms of weather – not too hot, mix of sun and drifting clouds, and a persisting breeze – and many players I wanted to see were having their second-round matches.

    The Tennis Center looks very glossy now, and very commercial…lots of shopping, and ‘trendy’ food and drink possibilities abound. Hordes of people come to this week of free matches, but lots of them do not seem really interested in the actual tennis. Bands of young people will take courtside seats, watch a few points, then move on to another court. I imagine they don’t know – or care – who the players they are watching are…what reputations are behind the names, and what’s at stake for players starting (or re-starting) their careers. Cellphone use and endless idle conversations among spectators mar the atmosphere of every match. You have to keep changing seats to maintain concentration. But for all that, I managed to have a great time today.

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    Above: Patty Schnyder

    My first match was veteran Patty Schnyder playing against Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova. Patty’s story – including her ‘retirement’ from 2011-2015 – is fun to read. Ranked as high as #7 in 2005, she’s always been a bit quirky. And I have always enjoyed watching her play. Today I got to do so at close range.

    Patty’s in great physical shape, looks pretty, and still plays a fine game of tennis. Ms. Kudermetova is physically impressive and plays strongly. She had to have the trainer at one point, and later took what seemed like a long bathroom break. Patty remained unfazed; after losing the opening set in a tie-beak, she handily won the second 6-1.

    The opening game of set three seemed endless; deuce after deuce popped up. But after that, Patty sailed smoothly to victory. 

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    I circled round to greet her – above, with fans – and congratulated her on her win. She was sweet as pie.

    Over in Court 17, the mini-stadium, big hitters Alex Bolt (Australia) and Marcelo Arévalo (Spain) were going at it full-tilt. Alex took the first set, but Arévalo’s power serve and some impressive work at the net gained him the second set. The momentum seemed to have shifted. Fighting back, Alex managed to pull off a win. Each player had noisy supporters among the crowd for this very exciting match.

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    Above: Marcelo Arévalo during a break

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    Above: Alex Bolt

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    Above: Arévalo

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    Above: Bolt

    Checking in at some other matches, it was fun seeing these winners:

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    Tommy Robredo…

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    …and Casper Ruud.

    Putting up the good fight, but succumbing:

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    Hiroki Moriya, who made some perfect shots but was outgunned by Italy’s Federico Gaio…

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    …and newcomer Brandon Nakashima. This 17-year-old has talent galore, and he scored some really impressive points in his match against France’s Ugo Humbert. Brandon lost the opening set in a tie-break; the Frenchman then took control for the win. I feel certain we’ll be seeing the name Nakashima frequently in the future; I think it’s just a matter of finding himself the right coach.

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    Above: Vera Zvonareva

    Vera’s match against Hungary’s Fanny Stoller was the happiest part of my day. Like Patty Schnyder, Vera is in comeback mode, though she herself is not thinking in those terms.

    Rated world #2 in 2010, and with four Grand Slam doubles titles and an Olympic bronze medal (Beijing 2008) to her credit, Vera knows her way around a tennis court. Though her opponent today was physically more imposing, Zvonareva played a savvy match, coming up with solutions at all the right times. From my vantage point, I could see that she got a couple bad line calls (which she protested, to no avail), but in the end she achieved victory.

     

    Zvonareva was surrounded by eager fans after the match, and she seemed elated.

    L1960433Miscellany: above, the new Grandstand…

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    My view of Vera’s match…

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    US Open’s 50th, my 20th time being there…selfie for my Tico.

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    Heading home following a lovely day of tennis.

    UPDATE: Schnyder and Zvonareva both advanced to the main draw.

    ~ Oberon

  • Gods Of The River Styx!

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    Irene Dalis sings the great aria from Gluck’s ALCESTE, in German.

    Irene Dalis – ALCESTE aria (in German)

  • Karl Ridderbusch as Hagen

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    Karl Ridderbusch – Götterdämmerung ~ Hier sitz’ ich zur Wacht

    “Here sit I on guard, watching the house,
    warding the hall from the foe.
    Winds are wafting Gibich’s son,
    afar to his wooing he fares.
    His fate is held by a hero bold,
    for Gunther’s sake great peril he braves.
    His rightful bride he will bring to the Rhine,
    and with her he brings me…the ring!
    Ye sons of freedom, merry companions,
    sail ye now on your way.
    You think him base, yet ye all shall serve
    the Nibelung’s son.”