Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Walkabout Wednesday: a reprise


30 Days of Pop-Up Opera (Photo by April, age 8)
9/19/12 Walkabout Wednesday took on a new twist this afternoon as my walking buddy, Ellen, has “turned” to swimming for exercise because of a foot malady. I miss our times together. I miss the different places we walk. I just miss her.
But.....today I had the granddaughter of friend Claudia accompany me and we “walked” through the Farmer’s Market at the Botanic Gardens.  What a surprise we found there. The Opera Memphis folks were performing. Good music with great food. How serendipitous was that!
My young friend asked the OM director, “What are they singing?” When I asked her what he said, she replied, A word that tickles my tongue---“La Boheme.” 
I explained to her that this music was opera---and that they had been taking opera “to the people”----just popping up in different places like festivals, universities, parks, libraries and even the Greenline. I was thrilled that we had happened on one of their outside "free" productions!
When I asked her how she liked the music, I loved her response. “It crackles me up, and makes me shiver.”
Well done, Opera Memphis. That sounds like a rave review to me.

Since the group will be performing at Shelby Farms on October 6 (at the playground) I suggested a "walkabout reprise." Hearing the word playground, she was all for it.

A Great Start to My Day