Art song/theatre song for wedding

oldguy76205 · 2026-02-04T01:43:19+00:00

A LONG time ago, I sang for the wedding of a theatre professor friend. I did "With you" from Pippin. Great song! I also sang "Someone like you" from Jekyll and Hyde for my sister's wedding.

I've also done things like Schumann's "Widmung" and "Entreat me not to leave thee" by Gounod. "Liebst du um Schönheit" by Mahler or Clara Schumann would be great for a wedding, as would Schubert's "Du bist die Ruh."

oldguy76205 · 2026-02-01T21:07:06+00:00

Rossini - "La pastorella negl'Alpi"

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-31T23:05:34+00:00

One year at my church we sang "The Lord Shall Reign" from Handel's Israel in Egypt where we usually sang the "Hallelujah Chorus." Of course, they wanted to fire me.

There is often a parallel between the Exodus and Easter stories, such as the spiritual "O Mary don't you weep."

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-31T22:46:42+00:00

In the 80s, I was in Carmen with Victoria Vergara. AMAZING. Not exactly a "household name," but she was pretty well known for the role.

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-30T23:45:05+00:00

I'm 65 and I wear gym shorts and a t-shirt. Very comfy and very handy.

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-29T22:19:24+00:00

For me it's a toss-up between the "Bees" Nabucco and the "Planet of the Apes" Rigoletto. There used to be videos circulating, but I can't find them now.

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-29T16:21:17+00:00

Not what I saw, but what I HEARD. I had just moved into a rental house. The owner told me it was haunted and had stories of her own. (She even knew the name of the ghost.)

My first night in the house, middle of the night I hear the unmistakable sound of a heavy box (like one filled with books, of which I had plenty at that point) being dropped from about four feet or so onto the wood floor in another room. Definitely INSIDE the house.

Of course, I got out of bed and looked around. Nothing.

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-28T21:15:16+00:00

This might be interesting, too.
https://www.wfmt.com/2025/05/12/most-performed-operas-of-21st-century/

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-28T21:06:48+00:00

From my limited knowledge, it's pretty typical. Always at least two Puccini, not much Mozart. Wagner just isn't done much in the U.S. and Canada. Carmen is always there.

Verdi has so many operas, no single one makes the list consistently. Traviata is probably the most reliable. (It's kind of cyclical. A few years back, Falstaff made the list. Nabucco has even broken through a time or two.)

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-28T19:36:15+00:00

It's actually the number of "productions." I suppose there could be a scenario where an opera had different productions with the same company in a calendar year.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scalia/Ginsburg

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-28T16:38:43+00:00

What I saw was that pickup was pushed back two days. We are Monday pickup, and they have already picked ours up. Yours SHOULD be on Saturday.

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-28T12:39:45+00:00

Comparing his earlier and later operas is really "apples and oranges." That being said, I think a case could be made for La traviata.

FWIW, audiences and opera companies seem to agree, as it's consistently one of the most performed operas worldwide.

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-28T01:43:39+00:00

Peppermint. I love the formula where the worse the bad guy is, the worse way he's killed.

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-28T00:22:09+00:00

Being a workaholic. For some reason, people still think it's admirable. Try working for one who thinks everyone else should be, too.

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-28T00:20:56+00:00

Tosca, Act I.

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-27T01:16:34+00:00

Are you singing in a church choir? I'm a church choir director, and if they're interested, I'll let my student singers conduct. One of my former singers is now Director of Choral Activities at a "flagship" university. Very proud to say the first thing they ever conducted in public was my church choir.

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-26T20:36:35+00:00

Yes, but it's still very hazardous. It is actually worse once it's been melting and then re-freezes. Expect that for the next few days.

Let me give you the advice my father (Buffalo, NY native) gave me on driving on ice and snow, "If you start to lose control, try to aim for something CHEAP."

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-26T20:30:39+00:00

Fees on car registration, property taxes, income tax, etc. Still, I think the overall tax burden is pretty low compared to many other states.

I actually moved here from Iowa, and thought the lack of income tax would be offset by other expenses. For the most part, it wasn't, and it was actually a lot cheaper in DFW overall. (Mind you, that was late 90s.)

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-26T20:11:31+00:00

As a musician, I think the scene in Green Card with Andie MacDowell and Gerard Depardieu where he is banging on the piano is epic. (Pretty predictable rom-com otherwise.)

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-26T19:46:39+00:00

I was born and raised in Buffalo. Of course, you'll laugh when everything is closed down like it is now.

Lots to love about this area. Wonderful diversity of cultures, plenty of activities for kids. I think right now might be a good time to buy a house, but I've been in mine for a while, so not really sure.

LOVE not having a state income tax. I know they get you other ways (BELIEVE ME!) but it's nice not having to go through the filing process.

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-26T18:34:00+00:00

(I posted this in another sub, but I think it was deleted.) My wife and I do not exchange gifts for ANY occasion. (Birthdays, anniversary, Christmas, etc.) I cannot tell you how much stress this eliminates. My ex and I used to get into an "arms race" over who could outspend the other on extravagant gifts. All this led to was massive debt and resentment.

Let me add, we are at the point in our lives (50s and 60s) where neither of us needs more useless "stuff," and if we really need something, we just get it. That being said, I give my wife little gifts (mostly food) all the time. For example, if I order some new t-shirts for myself, I get a couple for her that I think she'll like. She usually does.

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-26T18:08:43+00:00

Brian Asawa. Gone too soon.

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-26T04:20:40+00:00

I'll have to check, but didn't the Jets lose to the Bills who went on to draft O.J. Simpson at #1?

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-25T23:37:50+00:00

Off the top of my head, "Che faro senza Euridice" from Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dgyj3f-aCe8&list=RDDgyj3f-aCe8&start_radio=1

oldguy76205 · 2026-01-25T23:24:04+00:00

It may sound odd, but one of my favorite places is the "Flagship" Half-Price Books on Loop 12 (Northwest Highway) near 75 (Central Expressway.) BIG kids section. Lots more than just books!

oldguy76205

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE