> > Life imitates art !!
>
> > I had a somewhat parallel, though I guess more felicitous event on
> > Wednesday.
>
> > My friend Jennifer Dickson, who is an artist and a member of the Order
> > of Canada, was invited to a private recital by Ben Heppner (once
> > mentioned on a FRASIER opera-related ep) at Rideau Hall, official home
> > of the Governor General of Canada (at present, the Right Honourable
> > Micha=EBlle Jean).
>
> > Jennifer's husband does a jazz radio show every Wednesday evening so
> > was unavailable, so she asked me to escort her. [I'd taken her to
> > dinner the previous week for her birthday at a tremendous new Italian
> > restaurant, Chianti, owned by the former manager of a prior
> > establishment and with a second chef due soon from --- where else? ---
> > Milano. Only problem was we didn't want dessert, but the owner
> > insisted on serving dishes we couldn't eat, then gave us glasses of
> > complimentary grappa which spilled on my Jones New York jacket -----
> > doesn't this also sound like a FRASIER ep? The owner, a lovely man
> > from southern Italy, also told us all about his stroke and related
> > brain surgery last July --- he's fine...]
>
> > Heppner was appearing Saturday at a huge charity gala at the National
> > Arts Centre. The private performance at Rideau Hall was related to
> > 2007 being the 40th anniversary of establishment of the Order of
> > Canada --- most invitees were members, or senior diplomats or
> > something similar.
>
> To continue --- pressed wrong button [typical Mercury retro halo
> stuff...], I was told dress was dress up but not formal, so I wore a
> dark navy/charcoal suit I've had since late 1992 and usually wear only
> for funerals. Also was able to wear a (seeming) Hermes-knock off tie
> by Armani which I've had for a while but hadn't yet worn.
>
> Of course most people were dressed very formally, though there were
> some almost in jeans and a few men with no ties. It was *very* hot
> that day, the bizarre weather system we had from Bermuda for almost a
> week. I stayed indoors with air conditioning on to prepare myself.
>
> Heppner's program comprised a group of folk songs arranged by Benjamin
> Britten, s group of songs by Tchaikovsky, Sibelius and Grieg, arias by
> Wagner, Massenet and Giordano --- which he sang with orchestra at the
> Saturday gala --- and finally a group of 'parlour' songs by Sigmund
> Romberg and a few others. There was an intermission after the
> Tchaikovsky/Sibelius/Grieg group.
>
> The very posh printed program included a separate print out of the
> lyrics for all the repertoire, except the final group of 'parlour'
> songs.
>
> Most people were following the lyrics and/or translations and --- you
> guessed it --- thought the program was over after the opera songs.
> Everyone stopped applauding while Heppner and his accomapnist left for
> a final break, and assumed the performance was over.
>
> Madame Jean had to get up to the microphone and ask people to
> applaud to bring him back...
>
> Overall not a too bumpy ride, except I noted Heppner was constantly
> flat, and sometime sharp, in complex phrases, especially those
> stepping up or down to long held notes, or when switching between his
> clarion high tenor voice and his (sort of) reverse falsetto lower
> range.
OOOOPS ---- sorry, I don't even *know* which button I pressed......
I emailed my George-like from SEINFELD friend in NYC. He's a pianist
who has worked with several of the top New York singing teachers.
He told me Birgit Neilsson (sp?) started singing this way, and now
everyone does it --- it's considered "desirable".
So.... learn something new every day.
During the concert, Jennifer and I sat sandwiched by a new Board
Chairman (I won't say which organization) who wore a Cartier tank
watch encrusted with diamonds, and the most expensive shoes
imaginable, and the current director of the National Gallery and a
former colleague of his, both of whom I've known a long time. I
mentioned that they're gearing up to lend their big Rothko to Italy,
and neither even knew about this. Another friend works there and is
building the crate for it told me this.
Anyway, there was a huge reception after the performance which was a
great treat, with many, many interesting people, among them Douglas
Cardinal, one of Canada's most distinguished architects, his Spanish
wife (from Bilbao) and the current ambassador from Spain (also from
Bilbao).
I won't attempt o go into everyone's conversation, but it seemed
guests had been chosen for their re****ted skills as conversationalists
as well as their professional achievements in the arts or other areas.
The bar was free, of course, and a huge selection of wines were
offered. I had two glasses of their basic white (Italian IIRC) which
was wonderful.
Also met an older Italian couple who lived in Milan for a long time
and own one of the smaller villas on Lake Como.
By the end of the evening I was exhausted and sweating bullets.
Crashed in bed at 12:30 and didn't awake until 11:30 am. Was talking
yesterday with my Maris-like friend in Toronto and she told me she
hasn't slept like that for forty years.
It was a tremendous evening, if sometimes challenging.
>From start to finish..... I thought how much Frasier, Niles and Maris
would have enjoyed it!
CPJ
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