The Fight for the Thrown

Mozart’s opera Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) was his final opera. Of all of his works, this opera is one of his greatest and one of the most well-known.

The role of the Queen of the Night, which is sing by a dramatic coloratura soprano is famous for its difficulty.  A particularly demanding aria is the Queen of the Night’s “Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen” (”The vengeance of hell boils in my heart”), which reaches a high F. Whether they can sing it or not, everyone takes a crack at this aria:

Florence Foster Jenkins was a wealthy socialite and benefactor of the arts in the first half of the 20th century. She recorded her renditions of classical vocal works to give as gifts to friends. Here she sings Mozart’s aria “Queen of the Night”.

Parrots like to repeat what they hear people around them saying. I wonder who this parrot’s owner is.

Now I don’t know why someone would make a child learn this aria, but listen to this boy soprano. He is very accurate with the pitches and without the dramatic intent, he performs this aria very well in recital format.

Now for the real deal. Diana Damrau is the best I have seen (I haven’t seen everyone one, so don’t be offended if you like someone more.) She is scary as hell and sings the crap out of this aria. Not to mention that she looks fierce.

Check out YouTube for more Queen of the Nigh clips. See a production of The Magic Flute, because it’s awesome!

Reality Check

Well, the first sign you know it’s summer is when the only thing to watch on TV is Reality shows. Not that that’s a bad thing.

The three shows I am watching right now are The Bachelorette (ABC), Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for the Next Elle Woods (MTV), and So You Think You Can Dance (FOX).

Let’s start with The Bachelorette. First off, I think this season has been way more entertaining than previous. I have no idea why they haven’t had a bachelorette in such a long time. Well, I do know the reason. I guess the network thinks that if they put one guy with twenty-five hot girls, men will want to watch as well. But let’s get real. These shows are for women. And women want two things: to be entertained and to watch hot men. For those of you who don’t watch the show, I’ll give you a mini recap:

Deanna Pappas, the Bachelorette, was the last women standing on The Bachelor a year ago. And she and the other woman in the final two were ditched at the last moment. I didn’t personally watch that season. I stopped after they had the doctor from Fort Collins who was so boring I’d rather watch paint dry, and then the Prince Borgesi, who ended up ditching the girl he picked and dating the bitchy one we all hated.

This season has been great watching all the men fight for the girl. There has been lots of testosterone in the air and a couple of bachelor moments that were hilarious to watch. But now it all boils down to the final two. Last week, Jeremy was sent home, which I can’t even begin to express how happy that made me. He was so possessive, walking around like he owned her and falling so head over heels that when he was booted he got super emotional. He was too perfect, and honestly, I think he even might be gay. Anyone who spends that much time in a gym is questionable to me. When he stopped the car on his drive away from the Bahama resort where the rose ceremony took place, I thought he was going to kill himself. But rest assured. He was on the Bachelorette reunion where the men tell all. And he was looking glum, oh well. That’s the game.

Now Deanna is down to her final two. Jesse is a snowboarder who is a chill guy. He would be the kind of guy I would love to hang out with. And there is a lot of chemistry between them, but I’m not sure if it is more of a friendship with infatuation, or a romance. But Jesse is awesome. I feel like she has more chemistry and romance with Jason, the single father. He has been adorable and crushing on her from day one. And they look great together and can just be, which is so important. All I do know, is that Deanna said she is happy, in love, and engaged. If I had to place money on it, I’d say she will choose Jason. But who knows?

The Search for the Next Elle Woods

Now on to a more serious show. Many years ago, Broadway producers decided to start turning popular movies into Broadway musicals. This yielded award winning and/or nominated shows such as Hairspray, Xanadu, Cry Baby, Bride of Frankenstein, The Producers, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels — just to name a few. With the success of The Producers winning numerous awards, especially Best Musical in 2001, and with Hairspray taking home the same Tony for Best Musical two years later, it’s no wonder this trend is in the now.

Legally Blonde opened on Broadway in April 2007 starring Laura Bell Bundy as Elle Woods. After over a year of workshop-ing the show, previews, and performances, Bundy is leaving the show, probably to work on a something new that will hit Broadway in the next year or so. After the success of having an “American Idol” type show to pick the Danny and Sandy to star in the revival of Grease, MTV jumped on the band wagon to find the next Elle Woods on Broadway. They held auditions all over the country and narrowed it down to the final ten. From the get go, there were some I loved, some I hated, and some that just aren’t Elle. But the one I am rooting for the most is Natalie Lander. Natalie and I went to middle school together and were in a group of five girls that hung out constantly. We went to different high schools and began drifting when we went off to different colleges in different states, but she is one of those people that whenever I see her we pick up where we left off. She is extremely talented and adorable (only being 5 feet tall! 9 inches shorter than myself…).

Two weeks ago I went with another friend to watch the show at her parents house with a group of forty or so Natalie fans! It was a blast! We booed, laughed and applauded as she sung and danced and was passed through to the next round. Last week they finally voted off Cassie S. who is a stupid jappy (jewish american princess) diva from Los Angeles. She really just was not talented and had an awful additude. They also did a surprise double elimination getting rid of Celina, the rocker chick. Celina is very talented, but just not right for that particular role. This week they eliminated Emma, who looks a bit like Reese Witherspoon, but came off as an ice queen. I’m sure she isn’t actually a bitch, but that’s what the competition brought out of her. Also, how can someone who wants to be a Broadway star be a smoker? It’s absurd to me.

Now there are five girls left:

Lauren is the youngest of the bunch. She is 18 years old and boy can she belt out a tune. She is extremely talented, but I think she may need a bit more expererience and just worldly wisdom that comes with age before jumping into a Broadway show as the lead.

Next we have Amber, a high energy bubbly girl who has a lot of talent. Her acting is very natural and she has a great voice. She has been one of my favorites for a while now, and even though she has been in the bottom for the past two weeks, I feel she can bounce back and maybe win this thing. I also think that she would look awesome as a blonde.

Also in the running to be Elle Woods is Bailey. Bailey is a southern belle who can get rid of her accent pretty easily when performing the scenes they give her. But Bailey has the “Disney Princess” thing going on which gets boring after a few minutes. I prefer characters to be multi-sided which makes them more human and therefor more interesting to watch. However, Elle Woods would not talk shit about other girls no matter how much she wanted to, and in the confession segments, Bailey is caught putting down her competition quite often.

Rhiannon was not one of my favorites when I first saw the elimination from the 15 to the top 10. But over the course of the show, she’s grown on me. However, she is pretty goofy and comes off as ditsy. Also he performances have never had the wow factor. I doubt she will win the role, but she seems like a sweet person and she is talented, so she will get roles elsewhere once she isn’t so green.

And last, but not least, is my lady Natalie. I am really hoping she wins this. Hands down, she was the best last week for the “Shake Your Junk” dance. And knowing her off the stage, I can only say positive things about her as a person and as an actress. Unfortunately, I can’t give you any information that you don’t already know. She can’t give her friends and family any spoilers of who goes, who stays, and ultimately who will be the new Elle Woods on Broadway. Kuddos to Natalie for making it this far, and here’s hoping she takes it all.

If I had to pick who I would have win, it would be Natalie or Amber. They are the most convincing as the fun, spirited, bubbly girl as well as a Harvard grad student, which are both key components to Elle’s character. Also, being the oldest two of the bunch, they have the maturity and probably more stamina than the others to carry off eight shows a week as a lead in a high-energy show. Bottom line: I hope Natalie wins so I can go watch my friend perform as the LEAD in a Broadway show!

The next show that I can’t shut up about is So You Think You Can Dance. The talent this season is extremely good, and the choreography is great! My one gripe is that everyone has weird names and if your name is normal, or semi-normal, it is spelled strangely. Think about it. There is a Kourtni, Katee, Kherington, Thayne, and Chelsie. The bizarre names from the top 20 are Rayven, Comfort, Twitch, Gev and Marquis. Either they think they are cool by picking strange names or strangely spelled names, or they’re parents were just cruel. But enough about what they are called, onto the dancing!

Mia Michaels, as always, blows me away with each dance she creates. It is truly mind blowing to watch her pieces. They provoke your emotions and dazzle your eyes. This week, she choreographed two dances, one for Kherington and Twitch and the other for Katee and Joshua. Both incredible. My top three couples are Chelsie and Mark, Kherington and Twitch, and Katee and Joshua. I think my most favorite are Chelsie and Mark. They are just awesome in every dance they do no matter what style it is. And they have excellent chemistry, which is crucial to being successful. I also love Kherington and Twitch. They are beautiful apart and together. And they continue to improve each week even though they were awesome to begin with. Katee and Joshua are also in my top three couples. Will is amazing. But his partner Jessica is so blah. Hopefully soon they will get voted into the bottom three couples so that they can give her the heave ho and put him with someone who can match his awesome-ness.

I also am not thrilled but Thayne or Comfort. They are good, but they others are better. So unless they dance amazingly they are going to keep getting thrown into the bottom couples and then will eventually go home. And I won’t care. Just like I don’t care that Kourtni and Matt went home. After being in the bottom three for many weeks, she proved to be a clod and he was just there. Good dancers but not great. However, the other Courtney, Courtney G, and Gev are not the best of the dancers, but they have amazing chemistry because he is ga-ga for her. They are just great to watch, especially last weeks sexy salsa or whatever that was. The ass grab was hot.

The show gets better and better each week, and I was super excited that each pair did two dances this week. More dancing and less commercials is always a plus. Who will win? No clue. As in last season’s finale, Sabra was the underdog to Lacey whose brother, Benji, had won the season before. And she was up against the jumpers Michael and Neil. All four were excellent and any one of them could have won. If the top six is who I want it to be, I have no idea who will win. Will could win it all. But it’s too early to tell. What is obvious though, is that if you dance a Mia Michaels routine, Mary will scream. And I will be happy.

For more info the the shows, check out:

ABC: The Bachelorette

MTV: Legally Blonde: Search for the Next Elle Woods

FOX: So You Think You Can Dance

You can also go to IAmOnMTV.com and become Natalie’s fan!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Well, if I write a post about my mom’s birthday, I can’t leave out dear old dad. So, here’s to you, Dad! Happy Birthday and I love you. Here is a recap of other reasons July 1st is so special:

Other important and/or famous people such as Estée Lauder, Sydney Pollack, Twyla Tharp, Terrance Mann, Dan Aykroyd, Princess Diana, Pamela Anderson, Missy Elliott, and Liv Tyler were also born on this day.

Not only is this my dad’s birthday, but it is also Canada Day, Ghana Republic Day, and many Saints days around the world.

July 1st is the 183rd day of this year and the half way marker of this leap year.

Some past famous days in history include the following:

• 1858 - The joint reading of Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace’s papers on evolution to the Linnean Society.
• 1863 - American Civil War: The Battle of Gettysburg begins.
• 1870 - The United States Department of Justice formally comes into existence.
• 1881 - The world’s first international telephone call takes place between St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada, and Calais, Maine, United States.
• 1921 - The Communist Party of China is founded.
• 1931 - United Airlines began service (as Boeing Air Transport).
• 1962 - Independence of Rwanda.
• 1972 - The first Gay Pride march in England takes place.
• 1979 - Sony introduces the Walkman.
• 1980 - O Canada officially becomes the national anthem of Canada.
• 1984 - The PG-13 rating is introduced by the MPAA.
• 1991 - The Warsaw Pact is officially dissolved at a meeting in Prague.
• 1997 - The People’s Republic of China resumes sovereignty over the city-state of Hong Kong, ending 156 years of British colonial rule.
• 2000 - The Oresund Bridge, connecting Sweden and Denmark, opens for traffic.
• 2007 - Smoking in England is banned in all public indoor spaces. With the ban already in force in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, this means it is illegal to smoke in indoor public places anywhere in the UK. The ban is also put into effect in Australia.

Wanna-Be Opera Singer

I don’t know if I have disclosed this information about myself in previous blogs, but I am an opera singer. No, I haven’t “made it” yet. I am still young and am working on perfecting and improving upon my talents. It kills me that there are people out there who tour and think they can sing opera. Below is a clip from Sarah Brightman’s Las Vegas “Harem” tour. She beings singing Cavalli’s “Ebben” from La Wally. This is a gorgeous aria. I fell in love with it the first time I heard it. But first of all, opera should not be sung with a microphone, secondly, it should not be excerpted into pop songs, and ABOVE ALL, Sarah Brightman should NOT and NEVER AGAIN attempt to sing opera. And a pitiful attempt at it. However, this video is freaking hilarious! So, enjoy!

Pregnancy Pact

I am confused by teenagers today. I know everyone wants to fit in, but a group of Boston high schoolers have gone too far. June

BOSTON: At least 17 high school students, many aged 16 and under, are pregnant after apparently making a pact.

Officials in the Massachusetts city of Gloucester said nearly half of those who became pregnant appeared to have entered into an agreement to have their babies together over the year.

“Some girls seemed more upset when they weren’t pregnant than when they were,” Joseph Sullivan, the principal of Gloucester High School, told Time magazine.

A school health clinic became suspicious after seeing a surge in girls seeking pregnancy tests.

Authorities may pursue statutory rape charges against some of the men involved. Some are in their mid-20s, including one man who appeared to be homeless. Others were boys in the school.

In Massachusetts it is a crime to have sex with anyone under the age of 16.

“We’re at the very early stages of wrestling with the complexities of this problem,” Carolyn Kirk, the Mayor of the port city about 50 kilometres north-east of Boston, said.

“But we also have to think about the boys. Some … could have their lives changed. They could be in serious, serious trouble even if it was consensual because of their age - not from what the city could do but from what the girls’ families could do.”

The school forbids the distribution of condoms and other contraception without parental consent - a rule that prompted the school’s doctor and nurse to resign in protest in May.

“But even if we had contraceptives, that pact shows that if they want to get pregnant, they will get pregnant.

“Whether we distribute contraceptives is irrelevant,” Greg Verga, chairman of the Gloucester School Committee, said.

He also said the men should at least be held responsible for financial support, “if not put in jail for statutory rape as the mayor has suggested”.

Teenage pregnancies in the US are showing signs of rising after declining from 1991 to 2005.

Birth rates for girls aged 15 to 17 rose by 3 per cent in 2006, the first increase since 1991, preliminary data from the National Centre for Health Statistics said.

While these young girls prepare for motherhood, I can reflect upon my high school days when the most I had to worry about was who to go to the school dance with, how I could sneak alcohol from my parent’s liquor supply, and what to do on the weekend with which group of friends. Sadly, because they wanted to fit in, these girls will be staying home with morning sickness and say goodbye to their childhood and adolescence the moment that tiny child leaves their womb. I don’t envy their position, nor their stupidity.

For more on this story check out the following sites:

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1815845,00.html

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/06/20/pregnancy.pact.ap/index.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25272678/

Christian the Lion

I received this video from my dad. I think it’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. But don’t take my word for it. Watch it yourself. Grab tissues.

8th Grade Flashback

I just took a look through my 8th grade year book. It was hilarious to see how we all have changed. Even though I am not friends with most of the people in there, I am still in touch with many of them through Facebook and mutual friends. Two of my close friends have just gotten engaged, and one is married with twins! It’s crazy how quickly the years have gone by.

Looking back at the faces that used to be familiar, I don’t see a bunch of strangers, but children from the past. I can remember specific inside jokes, who my best friends were, who was in class with me and what teachers I had that year. But those people are gone forever. They have become the young adults that we are today. Yearning for success and happiness, we are trying to achieve more than we ever thought was possible. Money, family, a career and good friends. At the time the fights we had were so huge, the parts I played in school plays were unforgettable, and we were all going to be friends forever. Many of those memories have faded, but I feel so fortunate to look back at this book and see how far I have come, what friends I have kept, and how happy I am today.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is my Mom’s birthday! Past 50 and still looking gorgeous. In honor of one of the most extraordinary women I know, here is a recap of what has happened in past years on this day:

JUNE 18th

• 1429 - French forces under the leadership of Joan of Arc defeat the main English army under Sir John Fastolf at the Battle of Patay. This turns the tide of the Hundred Years’ War.
• 1767 - Samuel Wallis, an English sea captain, sights Tahiti and is considered the first European to reach the island.
• 1778 - American Revolutionary War: British troops abandon Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
• 1812 - War of 1812: the U.S. Congress declares war on the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
• 1873 - Susan B. Anthony is fined $100 for attempting to vote in the 1872 presidential election.
• 1953 - The Republic of Egypt is declared and the monarchy is abolished.
• 1981 - The AIDS epidemic is formally recognized by medical professionals in San Francisco, California.
• 1983 - Space Shuttle program: STS-7, Astronaut Sally Ride becomes the first American woman in space.

My mom shares her birthday with the following famous people:

Roger Ebert, Paul McCartney, Isabella Rossellini, Carol Kane, Nathan Morris of Boys II Men, and Blake Shelton.

Not too shabby for the 169th day of the year (170th in leap years!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! I LOVE YOU!

And you thought YOU were a BADASS…

Dear Boy… Love, Crazy Bitch

One of my friends is dating a guy who received this note in the form of an email from an ex-girlfriend. All I have to say, is that anything you write and email at 4am should not be sent. The following is a perfect example why.

First of all I’m not asking for anything, hinting at or alluding to anything with this message, or at least I’m going to make a sincere attempt not to.. I’m just sending it because I really miss you alot, have been ever since I broke up with you, and just realized some important things tonight because I missed you so much that I went back and reread every message you ever sent me on facebook. well, maybe theyre not that important…they seemed that way to me.. First of all, I don’t know why I never threatened you with death if you were to ever stop sending me those long rambling messages that I absolutely Loved getting. That was dumb of me. Those used to make me soo happy. Second of all, …..ok im about to commit the biggest sin, so be ready to forgive me and perhaps pretend like you never read this if i end up sounding completely off my rocker…which i most likely will….its just that ive sat here for 20 minutes thinking about saying it, so at this point i might as well….whatever..ive already made more thana complete fool of myself where youre concerned more times than i can count, so whats one more time, right… ok… oh, please dont compare me to the crazy ex, beause i dont want to be that, although i kind of technically already am, just by definition… alright. good…ive now stalled for another 10 minutes. brilliant, as its not gonna make a bit of difference when you go to read it how much time i spent thinking in between sentences. k. i never wanted to break up with you, and ive regretted it every single day since i did… i was a complete idiot and i dont really know what spurred me to do it.. i think i was in a bad place with stress and depression, and i wanted something to change and wanted to feel in control of some situation in my life… i know the whole time i was at your house that day i was wishing that you would save me from my idiotic self and tell me that i was being stupid, but you didnt, so i figured maybe it was better off this way… except that there hasnt really been a single moment since then that ive actually thought that… the things i said about the sex thing werent really true.. i mean, i suppose on some level they had to be, and some of them were, in part, i guess, but mostly i was so angry and upset with myself that i just kind of wrote bullshit. i did want to have sex with you, and some of those reasons were probably legitimate, or somewhat so anyways, but really i wanted to have sex with you simply because i really wanted to have sex. with you. because every time i see you i realize more and more what an idiot i am, because i love you. fuck. yes, i just said that. if i have crossed the line to crazy ex-dom please know that at least i wont text you 50 times a day. i wanted to say that back in december sometime, but i didnt want to be…i dont know… something. so i decided to wait and take cues from you and be a stupid ho. i didnt want to fuck things up. and then i ended up getting frustrated and being stupid and fucking it all up anyway. good job ashley. damn it, i love you. i love the way you smell, and the way you feel.. i love the sound of your voice and those beautiful eyes…. i love that you take care of me all the time, and i love talking with you… and goddamn it, even ben has noticed that i cant stop checking you out every time youre not looking at me when were at work. …..fuck, now ive really gone and fucked myself, cuz ill probably have to go work in the balcony from now on so i dont get a chance to ever look you in the eye again and die from embarrassment. but i cant help it…and i hate it when you touch me, because it is Torture. i am way too attracted to you..it sucks. all i want is to be with you…wrapped up in you forever. im probably being really stupid right now…this message is like, every guys worst nightmare to receive… well if ive freaked you out or crossed that horrible line i apologize most profusely…i dont think id even send this right now except that its officially been at least an hour and a half since i started writing it, so it kinda seems like i might as well not have wasted that time doing nothing….. please dont hate me… im sorry.. i just decided to finally be honest and get it all off my back so i dont have to spend so much time wondering what would happen if i said these things. yay, now i just have to live with the mortification of knowing i already did.

Well, ill be back in town on wednesday…. Assuming i can pull myself together enough to face you, perhaps youd like to get the pizza we never got to get tonight… …or perhaps not..if its perhaps not maybe just dont bother to say so,and it might save some embarrassment… im going to bed before i say anything else ridiculous. sorry, again. good night.

I was going to go through adding my own comments, but it’s hilarious enough on it’s own. So let this be the “What Not To Say To An Ex” example. And feel free to share this with friends. Because it’s a classic.