Where the devil did this year go? It seems like it is just a few weeks since I was sipping a glass of the refreshing bubbly stuff and wondering what 2009 would bring. Needless to say it brought a great deal, much of it good, some of it great. There was other stuff too but, hey, what do you expect? Anyway, since we are just hours from ringing in 2010 may I take this opportunity to wish you all a splendid year, thank you for being with me over this last twelve-month and ask that you keep coming back?
I would like to give a big shout-out also to the Marketing and Public Relations Department at the Portland Opera. Week in and week out they have been the ones who made sure that Operaman has been here for you. Thanks, y'all!
The holiday period can be very stressful for many people and then in the days immediately after Christmas there can be a sense of let-down, coupled with "All that effort just to have the worst hangover of the year and to put on six pounds in weight?!" So, it's a fine time to just put your feet up, pretend that you are not back at work, and spend a few minutes with me here, isn't it?
I have been overtaken by events and, as you will have seen from our home page, Portland Opera is relocating to the Bahamas for Christmas week so the whole staff can drink cocktails with umbrellas in them and dance naked on the sand in the moonlight. Therefor there will be no Operaman on Monday 21st December.
Okay, the first part of that was a lie but the Opera is indeed closed for business Christmas week (but will happily continue to accept your donations, of course!), so you are going to have to wait for one more week to find out all of the new and exciting gossip Operaman has for you. Come back on December 28th okay?
In the meantime, I bring you this. Just 'cos.
I hope you all have a wonderful holiday period. Most of all I wish that you much happiness.
Few things about bringing you this blog each week have given me more pleasure than the opportunity it has presented for me to meet other people who love not just opera but all kinds of music. In particular it has resulted in me making friends with other bloggers, both local and distant. Many of you know Bob Kingston as the man who gives those splendid talks before each performance of every Portland Opera production The Studio Artists know him as a splendid teacher. His professional colleagues know him as a consummate librarian. I have come to know him as the man who will chat with me about opera, symphonic music, jazz, pop - you name it! - for hours on end and who, with endless patience, has guided me through the making of our Front Row Center videos. One year ago today, Bob launched his own blog, Dramma per Musica, which is erudite, fun and very informative. I would like to say 'Happy Birthday!". May I suggest that you hop on over there and do the same?
Where the devil did this year go? It seems like it is just a few weeks since I was sipping a glass of the refreshing bubbly stuff and wondering what 2009 would bring. Needless to say it brought a great deal, much of it good, some of it great. There was other stuff too but, hey, what do you expect? Anyway, since we are just hours from ringing in 2010 may I take this opportunity to wish you all a splendid year, thank you for being with me over this last twelve-month and ask that you keep coming back?
The holiday period can be very stressful for many people and then in the days immediately after Christmas there can be a sense of let-down, coupled with "All that effort just to have the worst hangover of the year and to put on six pounds in weight?!" So, it's a fine time to just put your feet up, pretend that you are not back at work, and spend a few minutes with me here, isn't it?
I have been overtaken by events and, as you will have seen from our home page, Portland Opera is relocating to the Bahamas for Christmas week so the whole staff can drink cocktails with umbrellas in them and dance naked on the sand in the moonlight. Therefor there will be no Operaman on Monday 21st December.
You need more vocal music?
Few things about bringing you this blog each week have given me more pleasure than the opportunity it has presented for me to meet other people who love not just opera but all kinds of music. In particular it has resulted in me making friends with other bloggers, both local and distant. Many of you know Bob Kingston as the man who gives those splendid talks before each performance of every Portland Opera production The Studio Artists know him as a splendid teacher. His professional colleagues know him as a consummate librarian. I have come to know him as the man who will chat with me about opera, symphonic music, jazz, pop - you name it! - for hours on end and who, with endless patience, has guided me through the making of our 
Messiah I