The Dallas Opera has announced its 2010-2011 season, and though I thought Jonathan Pell told me last summer that Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde would be included, the final list contains no Germans — much to Wick’s delight and my chagrin. Next year’s season will include Mozart’s Don Giovanni (a personal fav, if I may say so), Donizetti’s Anna Bolena (at least it’s not Lucia di Lammermoor), Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet (a Frenchman not named Bizet, how novel), Verdi’s Rigoletto (get ready for that La donna é mobile aria), and Mussorgky’s Boris Godunov (which we will refer to as next year’s Moby Dick). Â
In related news, the wife just told me she had a dream about the Moby Dick set. The whale was a giant submarine with a white face and black body that was angular and Bauhaus-looking. The whale swallowed my entire family, and it dragged us under the water, deep into the whale’s body, which was comprised of countless sub-stage floors. This likely means my wife is nuts, she is having flashbacks from her theater design days, or I’m working too much. She’s also pregnant and due in two weeks, so come to whatever metaphorical conclusions you want. It could also be prophetic, so I thought I’d post it and hedge my bets.
After the jump, the release from the opera:
What on earth has happened to Chris Harrison? Remember when he was little more than a poorly dressed, nerdy referee on a dating show? Last night’s episode–”The Women Tell All”–revealed that he has transformed into a despicable little man. (Alas, his wardrobe remains the same.) He’s judgmental, condescending, surly, and combative. Just the way I like ‘em. Special message to Chris: When you tire of the wives–both your own and the mysterious producer’s–call me! As for the rest of you, jump to discuss the train wreck that took place last night.
It’s been amazing to watch Belo/DMN spinning hard to marginalize Debra Medina, the constitutionalist/libertarian candidate for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. First the company tried (unsuccessfully) to shut Medina out of its TV debate. Then the paper’s Gromer Jeffers and Colleen McCain Nelson both pronounced Medina’s tax proposals unworkable on Channel 8′s Inside Texas Politics.
Next the paper leaped on the candidate’s 9/11 answer to radio host Glenn Beck–she basically said questions remain about Sept. 11–and has used it to bludgeon her with at every opportunity since. Today editorial columnist William McKenzie picks up the flag, slamming Medina in part for her unwillingness to raise taxes (as all good little Texans should want to do, apparently).
Several of you have sent condolences after reading this news. Thank you for the kind words. But they really ought to be directed to the co-workers we had to let go. If you need to reach someone, I’m happy to forward any messages to their personal addresses.
Last summer the Arts of Collin County first announced their intentions to proceed with bidding on the first phase of their arts center project in order to see how low construction costs might go in this weak economy. At the time, I speculated that if they got within a few million dollars of their goal, maybe they would look for a loan to bridge the gap. I cast doubt on whether a city like Plano, given its own recent budget crunch, could support that.
Well, it’s Allen that looks to be offering a $5 million loan to get the delayed project under way and take advantage of these low, low construction prices.
Newcomers to Dallas are often confounded by our silly patchwork of dry and wet areas. Me personally, it drives me nuts that I can’t buy wine at the grocery store closest to my house. So it is with a happy heart and a well-conditioned liver that I point you to news that a PAC calling itself Progress Dallas will likely undertake the task of gathering the 68,000 or so signatures required to force a referendum on the November ballot. (No, not Dallas Progress. Though Michael Davis might very well support Progress Dallas.) Please, people. If you see the petition, sign that sucker.
He hasn’t been gone that long, has he? Rod’s still relevant to our discussion, right? The former DMN editorial boarder left us for Philly not many weeks ago. Readers of the paper will remember his as one of the sharpest voices in those pages. Well, Rod’s sister, Ruthie, is now very sick with cancer, and he’s been writing about it over on Beliefnet. If you’ve got 10 minutes to spare, read this entry about the day Rod said goodbye to his sister and about the “excruciating privilege to share [her] agony.” The writing itself is amazing. And the message is a vital one.
1. I don’t know if this story about legal products kids are using to get a buzz is actual news. Feels like most people probably are aware. But it’s worth reading for the written statement from Drank creator Peter Bianchi. There is no way you can sound like a serious businessman when saying things like: “The name of the product is a play on the common slang, ‘I’m going to get my ‘drank’ on.’”
2. If you ever get in trouble on the road, pray that Addissu Andabo is nearby: “He pulled over and, ‘without a second thought, proceeded to put his own life at risk to save the driver still trapped inside,’ said Jason Evans, a spokesman for Dallas Fire-Rescue. With his bare hands, Andabo tore away at the broken windshield of the woman’s car until he created an opening large enough to pull her out.” Did I mention the car was on fire? Important detail.
3. Mark Cuban didn’t think Josh Howard was hungover when he missed a January game for the Mavericks. Why? “Years and years of experience.” “Laughs” is in brackets after that, but I think that goes without saying.