@ Artscape

The Ferris wheel in front of the Meyerhoff Concert Hall (home to the Baltimore SO) captures the spirit of Baltimore's giant Artscape festival. I walked around a little yesterday, but my main destination was the Brown Center to see Baltimore Opera's "L'Heure espagnole" by Ravel. They sang it in English with the BO's James Harp accompanying on piano. The young cast was very funny to watch, especially baritone Paul Corujo as Don Ramiro. I began to wonder how far the stages of his undressing each time he returned from the unseen bedroom would go. (Corujo sang the part of the husband in the Peabody's "The Yellow Wallpaper" earlier this year.) Patrick Toomey sang Torquemada; Jessica Renfro was his wife, Concepcion; David Kirkwood was Gonzalve, Concepcion's lover; and Jason Widney was Don Inigo Gomez.

I had hoped to get up to Artscape again today to hear Opera Vivente's baroque show, but I might not make it there. I'll mention this, though: There is a baritone in Vivente's cast who I've read and heard much about, and I've been wanting to hear him. I'm missing the chance today, but maybe some time this coming season I can hear him finally.

Some of us who go to opera regularly in Baltimore, and not just at the Baltimore Opera, will recognize a certain senior gentleman among the audience members. I've chatted with him before, and I finally got his name yesterday before L'Heure. I look forward to seeing him around and hearing his views in future.

Definitely dress for the summer weather, not the opera, for Artscape. I have to insert a tone of bitterness, too: The pay parking lots along Charles Street doubled their fees for Artscape weekend, and this is one of the reasons I'm not in a hurry to return today. There are other parking and access options listed on Artscape's site....

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On another personal note: I almost didn't make it to Artscape this weekend, and I hope I don't have to cancel the vacation to upstate NY which I've been harping about recently. What apparently is tendonitis to the side and just above my right knee has been giving me a lot of trouble, but I'm making a second visit to the doctor soon. Meanwhile, a double dose of Advil seems to be staving off the worst pain. Trust me, when it happens, it feels like something is ripping the muscle off the bone!

Any more cancelled opera trips, and I'll have to change the blog title to "Operatically Disinclined."

Comments

[John Bowen]

Hi Clayton - I don't know if you ultimately did make it yesterday but if not, you will have a chance to hear all the cast members (Lisa Eden, soprano; Karim Sulayman, tenor; Ryan de Ryke, baritone) in Opera Vivente's The Coronation of Poppea in March 2009.