Golden Girls in the Golden State
Did some colorful concerts in Charlotte, NC, but was also hit by a bout of food poisoning. Now I’m back in SF.
After a heavy concert schedule it’s somehow fun to do things like go take your car to the garage, go to the market, and clean up the apartment. Normal life, you know? And because of the bad stomach, I’ve been spending a lot of time at home, looking out the window, and it’s beautiful.
Musically, I’ve been getting ready for my concert in Santa Barbara next Tuesday, which entails spending a lot of time with Beethoven 4 which is a pleasure. It’s hard to express what the opening of this symphony means to me — the emptiness, the terror, almost. But also the anticipation of arrival. This piece goes so far from home, but on the surface, it’s hard to notice. I think it’s a real precursor to late Beethoven which of course is also a journey inward and beyond.
Got out for a few things though –
I saw the new production of the Rake’s Progress by Robert Lepage which is a triumph. Boy does that guy have an eye, and an ear, obviously. The retro visuals that delight and surprise go well with the retro music that also delights and surprises. There are many combinations of sounds and images I won’t soon forget.
Then, last night I was invited to an all-drag performance of two epsiodes of The Golden Girls, you know …
… them.
It was in an old Victorian in Alamo Square. A full house was rapt at these passionate and borderline scary drag performances, but a good time was had by all. The two Christmas episodes performed were heartwarming. Between scenes, the audio guy played old TV commercials, including Meow Mix, which has always been one of my favorites.
I was clearly in San Francisco.