Thursday, May 21, 2009

Musical Temples

Last Wednesday I had the IMMENSE pleasure - well, perhaps great honor would be more like it, but it was such a pleasure as well - to be the surprise guest in a tribute to Frederica von Stade, sponsored by the tireless San Francisco Opera Guild. I'm still waiting for pictures to arrive from that event, so I'll write more about it when they arrive - but in the meantime, this one just arrived in my mailbox:



Yes, it's my date, the dashing Jake Heggie, who took a break from his intensive work on his NEW OPERA (what an undertaking!) to pay homage to his dear friend. It's good timing, because a quote just arrived in the same in-box, and I thought it was fortuitous timing, for it certainly embodies Jake's spirit as well as my sought-after philosophy. It's from Annie Lamott's novel, "Travelling Mercies", and I thank Cage for the food for thought.

Enjoy:

"Music is about as physical as it gets: your essential rhythm is your heartbeat; your essential sound, the breath. We are walking temples of noise."

Photo: © Drew Altizer (not for reprint)

5 comments:

Gi said...

Beautiful: almost zen, don't you think?

Pablo Ordás said...

Hi Joyce,
It's funny: the first time I listened La Cenerentola was Frederica von Stade's version with Araiza and Montarsolo. Later I went to Barcelona to listen you singing Cenerentola and that was the only one time I've seen you! The fate, I guess.
Kisses and hugs from Spain!

Anonymous said...

von Stade is/was GREAT but DiDonato is even better, if you ask me ;)

Nothing on "World in Flower" Joyce? OK I won't insist. Maybe you simply didn't enjoy the whole thing...

Saw your updated sched and it's fan-tastic! Would LOVE to listen to your Marge in "Damnation de Faust". Tom Quasthoff, Joyce DD and Valya Gergiev - what a lineup, eh!?

Cheers

Sarah said...

The Anne Lamott book isn't a novel but rather a memoir of sorts and subtitled "Some Thoughts on Faith". It's fantastic, and suitable for reading in chapters if you have a bit of time on your hands. I wouldn't have comprehended what she says about music when I first read it, so perhaps it's time for a re-read. I certainly felt like a walking temple of noise after the chamber orchestra concert I heard last night (how can I sleep after they play like that?).

Hariclea said...

Welcome back Joyce and i'm glad you enjoyed your time off! What a beautiful definition of music! It sounds as if from the point of the view of a musician, but i feel one can identify with it as well when listening to music :-)Would you mind if i kept it for me as well? Thanks!

PS Counting the days to the Barbiere ;-)))