March 3 Full Moon Sit Meditation @ Yoga Workshop

There is monthly meditation session at Yoga Workshop to coincide with the full moon, and this month's is Saturday, March 3, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

While officially there is no fee to participate, it is being offered in the spirit of dana, which means generosity or sharing. So share as much as you feel you can.

Feb. 26 Harold Lloyd's "The Freshman" @ BPL

From the Boulder Public Library website:

Monday, February 26
Time: 7 p.m.
LIBRARY FILM PROGRAM
Harold Lloyd in The Freshman
Directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor, with Harold Lloyd (1925).

Excited about going to college, Harold Lamb arrives at Tate University and becomes the target of ridicule. With the help of his one friend, he resolves to become popular. (76 min.)
Location: Canyon Theater, main library

Phone: Library Film Program Coordinator Joel Haertling at 303-441-3197
Email: haertlingj@boulder.lib.co.us
Web site: www.boulder.lib.co.us/films

Cost: Free

Feb. 25 The Sweet Life/Brazilian Jazz @ BPL

From the Boulder Public Library website:

Sunday, February 25
Time: 3 p.m.
MEADOWS CONCERT
The Sweet Life/Brazilian Jazz Band

Jazz singer Molly Greacen, who currently lives in Boulder, brings her own bittersweet and sensual individuality to spicy, enticing Brazilian jazz when the Sweet Life/Brazilian Jazz Band performs.

For adults and older children.
Reservations required: call Meadows Branch Library at 303-441-4390 to sign up.

Location: Meadows Branch Library, 4800 Baseline Rd. (behind Safeway)
Phone: Meadows Branch Library at 303-441-4390
Meadows e-mail: klopfd@boulder.lib.co.us
Molly Greacen e-mail: m.greacen@worldnet.att.net
Molly Greacen Web site: http://www.mollygreacen.com/

Cost: Free

Feb. 23 "Jason and the Argonauts" @ BPL

From the Boulder Public Library:

Jason has been prophesied to take the throne of Thessaly. He assembles a sailing crew of the finest men in Greece, including Hercules. Their voyage is replete with battles against harpies, a giant bronze Talos, a hydra, and an animated skeleton army, all brought to life by the special effects of film wizard Ray Harryhausen. (104
min.)

Location: Canyon Theater, main library
Phone: Library Film Program Coordinator Joel Haertling at 303-441-3197
Email: haertlingj@boulder.lib.co.us
Web site: http://www.boulder.lib.co.us/films/

Cost: Free

Feb. 22 "The Red Shoes" @ BPL

From the Boulder Public Library website; turns out they've got quite the active film series over there:

Thursday, February 22
Time: 7 p.m.
LIBRARY FILM PROGRAM
The Red Shoes
Directed by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, with Moira Shearer, Anton Walbrook (1948)

Under the rule of impressario Boris Lermontov, his protégées realize the full promise of their talents, but at a price -- utter devotion to their art. One ballerina falls in love with the composer of the ballet staged to showcase her talents. She leaves the company and marries the composer, torn between Lermontov's demands and those of her heart. Based on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. (133 min.)

Location: Canyon Theater, main library
Phone: Library Film Program Coordinator Joel Haertling at 303-441-3197
Email: haertlingj@boulder.lib.co.us
Web site: www.boulder.lib.co.us/films

Cost: Free

Feb. 18 Colo. Singer Songwriters @ Boulder Library

From the Boulder Public Library website:

Sunday, February 18, 4 p.m.

Colorado Singer Songwriters
Rebecca Folsom, Danny Shafer, Dan Sheridan, Ray Smith & Cari Minor

With this program, the Library Concert Series kicks off its first Local Colorado Musicians Songwriters on the Round program. Featured songwriters are Dan Sheridan (Aspen), Danny Shafer, Rebecca Folsom, Cari Minor (all from Boulder) and Ray Smith (Rollinsville).

The kick-off of the program inaugurates a special “local Colorado” CD music section at the Boulder Public Library, which has been built up with significant donations from Albums on the Hill, 1128 13th Street, and Bart’s CD Cellar, 1015 Pearl Street.

Feb. 18 Paul Erhard/Atmic Vision @ CU Boulder

CU Boulder Music Faculty Series

Sunday, February 18, 4:30 p.m.
Paul Erhard, double bass with Atmic Vision

The acclaimed Indian music trio Atmic Vision returns by popular demand for a concert as part of a two-week Indian music residency in the College of Music. CU professor of double bass, Dr. Paul Erhard, Bansuri master Annada Prasanna Pattanaik, and tabla drum wizard Muthu Kumar (both from Bangalore, India) invite you to enjoy their exciting and heartfelt musical blending of East and West. In the words of a 20-year member of Metropolitan Opera Chorus in New York City, “each musician of Atmic Vision is stunning in his virtuosity. This is only the beginning of an even more profound capacity to touch audience members with a pureness of joy I no longer thought was possible.”

Faculty Series recitals showcase CU-Boulder College of Music faculty performances. Faculty Series recitals are held in Grusin Music Hall in the Imig Music Building. Recitals are free and open to the public.

Feb. 18 Lottery Party @ Boulder Fringe Fest

On Sunday, Feb. 18, the Boulder Fringe Fest will choose the 2007 line-up from all submissions by holding a lottery. In a smart marketing move, they're combining this very administrative task with an everyone-is-welcome party at 7:00 p.m. that will feature local performers. More details here and here.

Feb. 17-18 Panel Discussions @ Boulder Film Festival

The Boulder International Film Festival is happening Feb. 15-18, 2007, and there are a couple of free events associated with it. The first, a Filmmakers' Panel, is on Saturday the 17th, and the Confessions of a Film Critic panel on Sunday the 18th will feature pretty much every local critic you can think of.

Feb. 14-17 365 Days/365 Plays @ Dairy Center

This week's set of plays in the 365 Days/365 Plays cycle are being presented by madhause at The Dairy Center for the Arts in Boulder.

Week#14
February 14th, 16th, 17th at 8:00pm
February 15th at 2:00pm
The Dairy Center for the Arts
East Theater, 2590 Walnut Street

FREE ADMISSION

Feb. 13 Rachmaninoff recital @ CU Boulder

CU Boulder Music Faculty Series
Tuesday, February 13, 7:30 p.m.

Big Hands to Fill: The Music of Rachmaninoff
Margaret McDonald, piano and Friends

Get yourself into a romantic mood just in time for Valentine’s Day. Margaret McDonald will be joined by CU faculty members Judith Glyde, Margaret Lattimore, and Christopher Zemliauskas for an evening of works by Rachmaninoff. The program will include his famous Vocalise, Suite No. 2 for Two Pianos, and Sonata Op. 19 for Cello and Piano.

Visit the CU Boulder Music Faculty Series webpage for details on location, free admission, etc.

Feb. 10 Christopher Morris @ BMoCA

On Saturday, February 10 at 3:00 p.m., photographer and exhibiting artist Christopher Morris will be participating in a free artist salon at the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art.

Feb. 6 Patrick Mason recital @ CU Boulder

Tuesday, February 6, 7:30 p.m.

Crossing the Pond
Patrick Mason, baritone

When Associate Professor of Voice Patrick Mason was nominated for a Grammy this December, the honor came as no surprise to his many Colorado fans. In the past he has been a soloist with the Waverly Consort, the Boston Camarata and Schola Antiqua. As a recitalist he has appeared in London’s Wigmore Hall, the Cairo Opera House, at festivals in Luxembourg, Holland and throughout the United States. Crossing the Pond features British and American songs by Roger Quilter, Noel Coward, John Harbison and John Musto. Pianists Mutsumi Moteki, Robert Spillman, Margaret McDonald and Charles Koslowske will also be featured on the program. Please join us in cheering Patrick Mason on before the Grammy Award ceremony!

Visit the CU Boulder Music Faculty Series webpage for details on location, free admission, etc.

Jan. 31 Highlife African Ensemble @ CU Boulder

There is a concert tonight, Jan. 31, at 7:30 p.m. as part of CU Boulder's Pendulum: New Music series. There's not much detail on the website, but it does look interesting. Will it be a fusion of African percussion with Western classical traditions? Can't really tell what can be expected, which I guess would be part of the fun.

Wednesday, January 31
CU musicians, & audience participation project with African Ensemble

All concerts are Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. at Grusin Music Hall, Imig Music Building unless otherwise noted. Admission is free and a reception follows every performance. For more concert information, call the College of Music Box Office at 303-492-8008.

Tuesday Yoga Sutras Discussion Group @ Bookends

This falls under the "I can't, I have rehearsal" category when it comes to my availability for this activity, but it looks interesting.

Patanjali's Raja Yoga Sutras Discussion Group

A group of dedicated Yoga Workshop students are starting a weekly discussion group on Patanjali's Raja Yoga Sutras. The plan is to discuss one sutra each week. Everyone is welcome. Bring your own translations.

When: Tuesdays at 6:30 PM
Where: Bookends, 1107 Pearl Street, Boulder

Topics:
Jan 23rd - 1.4. vrtti-sárúpyam-itaratra
Jan 30th - 1.5 vrittayah pañchatayyah klishtaklishtáh
Feb 6th - 1.6 pramána-viparyaya-vikalpa-nidrá-smritayah
Feb 13th - 1.7 pratyakshanumánagamáh pramánáni
Feb 20th - 1.8 viparyayo mithyá-jñánam atad-rupa-pratishtham
Feb 27th - 1.9 shabda-jñánanupáti-vastu-shunyo vikalpah

For more information contact Corrie Detweiler at Corrella.Detweiler@colorado.edu or 303-442-2455 or Beth Reninger at halfmoon108@yahoo.com or 720-596-9926

Contact Corrie to be added to the email-update list. If you are not already on this list, contact Corrie or Beth to double check the schedule, as occasionally we may meet at an alternative location.

Jan. 28-29 King Lear symposium @ DCPA & CU Boulder

From the Denver Post:
Former United Nations ambassador Ken Adelman, who originally said the war with Iraq would be a "cakewalk" but now thinks it has been "grossly mishandled," is the featured speaker of a symposium surrounding the opening of the Denver Center Theatre Company's King Lear. Led by artistic director Kent Thompson, panelists include Colorado Shakespeare Festival artistic director Philip Sneed.

Sunday
Donald R. Seawell Grand Ballroom, Denver Performing Arts Complex; 1-3 p.m.; free, RSVP 303-446-4881 (Call 303-492-1423 to learn of additional events)

Jan. 26 Winter Closing Party @ BMOCA

I've passed the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art quite a few times as it's right next door to the Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse, one of my favorite local places and a required stop on the tour for out-of-town visitors. I've never gone in, though, because of time and money constraints. It seems that this Friday would be a great chance to check it out -- maybe I can persuade the guitarhero (aka the husband) to come along.

Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art
Winter Exhibit Closing Party
Friday, Jan. 26 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Free

One last chance to view Jimi Billingsley's photographs, Terry Maker's wallsculptures and DJRABBI's video installation.

The evening will feature a live VJ performance by DJRABBI, food and drinks.

Jan. 22-26 365 Days/365 Plays @ Naropa U

Again, my plans to attend a performance in the Colorado 365 Days/ 365 Plays festival have been thwarted by my day job. This week's set of plays is being performed at Naropa University in Boulder during the lunch hour, Monday through Friday only. It's too bad, because it sounds very interesting.

The format here will be a contemplative, improvisational practice called 'The Red Square,' which involves calling upon audience members to help create each piece. The technique was developed by Barbara Dilley.

The only place I was able to find details regarding Naropa's performances was on John Moore's MySpace page, as the main Colorado page hasn't been updated in a few weeks.

Jan. 23 Concert: Mostly Douglas @ CU Boulder

Tuesday, January 23, 7:30 p.m.
Mostly Douglas: A Musical Feast
Clarinetist Daniel Silver joins Boulder’s own pianist/composer/master-musician Bill Douglas, with colleagues Yoshiyuki Ishikawa, bassoon, and Christina Jennings, flute. Bill Douglas has continued to enrich the chamber music literature with works for winds and piano, lending his distinctive jazz and world music influenced voice to the genre. Some of his signature tunes (Feast and Begin Sweet World) are mixed in with some Schumann, Mozart and Debussy.

Faculty Series recitals showcase CU-Boulder College of Music faculty performances. Faculty Series recitals are held at 7:30 p.m. on most Tuesdays and at 4 p.m. on selected Sundays in Grusin Music Hall in the Imig Music Building. Recitals are free and open to the public.

recap of Jan. 12 Thomas Hampson master class

There's a part of me that really wants to title this post "Why Thomas Hampson Is My New Boyfriend." But I'll refrain from such schoolgirlish claims and try to be a grown-up (even though he really is my new boyfriend).

First of all, mad props to my supervisor who, when told on Thursday afternoon of the master class, said, "Oh, well you have to go," and I don't think she even follows classical music (nor do I think she knows about this blog, unless she's secretly tracking my internet history, in which case -- 'sup?). So I did end up taking Friday off, one of the best decisions I made all week.

When I walked into the recital hall at CU at 12:45, my first and recurring thought was, "I can't believe this place isn't already packed." And although more people came in before the class began, I still don't think there were more than 150 people in attendance: students (although certainly not every student in the CU voice program), faculty, a contingent of Ladies Who Lunch who were probably attending every MahlerFest event, and scattered "independents" like me. Mr. Hampson unassumingly entered the hall from the back of the house to no ovation, though he was greeted by long and enthusiastic applause after being introduced that he good-naturedly cut off with a gesture. We, being the good little musicians that we are, obliged subito.

I'm trying really hard to be mature as I write about this, but the giddy voice student in me is waving her hand for attention like Horshack on Red Bull and just needs to say this: Thomas Hampson is so my new boyfriend. OK, girl, just shake it off.

I was hoping that he'd open the master class with a solo of his own, much like my alma mater's most famous alumna did at the master class she gave when I was still a student (after the applause died down, she just said, "Next!" with a gleam in her eye only a spinto would dare). Alas, he didn't sing, only spoke. Well, that's not exactly true, since he sang along with some students or offered up a phrase here or there to illustrate a point.

But what a speaker he is. A couple of times he said, Don't get me started on the Kindertotenlieder or I'll be here all week. To which my response is, Just name the date and I'll be there. Thomas Hampson posesses all of the qualities a modern American opera singer should have. He carries himself as the trained stage actor he is while being completely accessible and bien dans sa peau. He can swoon when describing the poety in one measure of Mahler's orchestrations one minute and later coach the pianist to bring out more inner harmonies because "that's where the sex is." He can go off on a tangent by saying, "I'm sorry, but this currently accepted interpretation we have of 'Ich grolle nicht' is bullshit!" and go on to explain why without feeling he has to apologize for either assuming that everyone in the room is familiar with the song or for the vulgarity. (He had warned us early on that he has the mouth of a sailor at times, yet another reason he's my... well, you know.) Put together with his intelligence, good looks, and beautiful instrument, he is quite simply the Complete Package.

But what about the class, you ask? Well, there is no way that I can adequately relate all that happened or was said, so rather than continue in paragraph form, I'm switching to bullet copy, roughly organized according to the song under discussion. (All songs composed by Mahler, natch, and all singers and pianists were CU students.)

1. Erinnerung sung by a 20-year-old baritone

• The text is about love's torment, but the kind that "hurts so good." Made me reflect on the fact that as a 20-year-old, I would've just nodded my head if asked, "Do you know what I mean when I say that?" but wouldn't have really known what I was talking about. Let's just say that 10 or 15 (or more) years later, I have gained new insight. Some songs just weren't meant for the young 'uns.
• The pianist's job is to play the heartbeat in the music, not to accompany the singer.
• Hear the phrase before you sing or play it, then make audible what you hear.
• Think upbow with the phrase, not downbow, both in terms of how you're using your body and how you're breathing.

2. Liebst du um Schonheit sung by a 24-year-old baritone

• To Hampson, this singer seemed to be getting wrapped up in the meaning of the text almost too much, and warned him against making it too personal, which pushes the audience away. Bring the audience to you instead. Our job is not to re-live emotion, but to re-create it for the audience. It reminded me some of the little bit of the Meisner acting technique that I've studied, in which your first job is to stay constantly in the moment with your partner and not get wrapped up in your own emotion. (You might describe Meisner as the "anti-Method.")
• Hampson had this singer work with his physicality through the use of gestures ("pretend you're an alte rebbe with your hands") and through taking steps backward while singing. The point of stepping backward is that it forces you to center and balance your spine, bringing everything else into alignment, and counters the tendency to hunch forward. Hampson's understanding of what he called Anatomy 101 and its impact on singing was on full display. He contends that "there's nothing 'relaxed' in singing, least of all the jaw."
• "When I need more energy or I need help, I move backward."

3. Nun will die Sonn' so hell aufgen sung by a 35-year-old baritone, an age Hampson called "the birth of a baritone's life"

• Here beginneth the Kindertotenlieder lecture series, for which Hampson apologized to the singer for taking up so much of his stage time by talking. But trust me, the audience was eating it up with a spoon.
• To the pianist: "Try not to be musical... play it as polyphony... make it more ambivalent." Hampson's point was that nature is ambivalent, nature doesn't care about humans but that we project emotion onto nature. But the sun rises each day regardless of the death of children, and the pianist must reflect that ambivalence of nature and not get too musical (read: emotional).
• To the singer: "You don't have the right to question the mysteries (of life), but you do have the right to understand them."
• "Profound things may be slow, but very rarely are slow things profound... Don't be slow."

4. Das irdische Leben sung by a 22-year-old mezzo-soprano

• Again, there was physical work with walking backward to find better balance in the body.
• As a mezzo whose technique has never been as good as this student's, I must say that I was impressed with her. But Hampson pointed out that she may eventually find herself more comfortable in a soprano fach, as her upper range was stronger than her middle and lower. He told her, "your idea of singing is stronger than your understanding of your body," and then reprimanded everyone in the audience who thought s/he could have a professional career without working out regularly.

One overriding point made with all the singers is that we must constantly strive for a balance between the physical, the emotional (including all the components in playing a role), and the spiritual. A singer is only as good as her/his weakest moment in maintaining that balance. Which reminds me -- I better start practicing again.

Oh, and one more thing: Thomas Hampson is totally my new boyfriend.