Opera, films, a reunion and Maine

12 November 2013 - I wasn't sure what to expect from the simulcast of The Metropolitan Opera's performance of Puccini's Tosca in the Cape Henlopen High School theater last Saturday afternoon. I've cheered the collaboration between Rehoboth Film Society and Cape Henlopen Education Foundation that raised funds to purchase the high definition equipment and screen necessary to make it all happen.

I'm happy to report that Becky and I enjoyed the performance and will take in a few more.  The large high definition picture put you right in the Metropolitan Opera House and the theater's first class sound system gave the symphony a perfect showcase.

In one respect, seeing the simulcast was better than what we would have seen had we made the several hundred dollar trip to New York City to be in the theater. The simulcast producers, before the performance and during the intermissions, took us behind the scenes for live interviews with the stars and also showed the work done to change the elaborate sets.  Having the cameras doing close-ups and presenting a variety of angles during the performance also gave the Cape audience of nearly 150 an embellished and appreciated experience.

Film festival

From all reports, this year's festival was another great success.  From two different directions, I've heard that the Muscle Shoals film documenting the amazing work of two Alabama recording studios in the '60s and early '70s was a real standout.

Reunion

I traveled to Mercersburg, Pa. a few weeks ago for the 45th reunion of my Mercersburg Academy graduating class. 1968.  I was there for my four senior high school years. It was also an opportunity to do a lot of singing with members of a group called the Octet which, like sourdough batter, just keeps renewing itself through the years with voices coming and going.  Being part of a group singing sweet harmony is a high human experience.

Maine buttoning up for the winter

During a trip to Camden, Maine last week to meet with the Cape Gazette's Village Soup partners, I found a coast buttoning itself up for the winter.  The big vessels in the post card harbor there were either shrink-wrapped or covered in other ways against the long winter up north.

Cape Gazette Webmaster Cat Tanzer lives in Camden.  She drove me to the top of Mt. Batty in the Camden Hills State Park for a look down on the town and surrounding coast. Every large and small harbor there provides a reason for a town and the Mainers have taken full advantage.

Beautiful country, but I still prefer a place where I can swim in the ocean.