Yes, I know this is supposed to be an opera blog but how can I ignore the fact that during the last seven days four individuals each of whom was for one reason or another an American icon has died.

First it was Ed McMahon. I grew up in England so the nightly "Heeeeeer's Johnny!" was not a part of my cultural background. However, once I moved to the USA it was impossible not to become aware of him. And as recently as this year's Super Bowl there he was on television making a pitch for cash-for-gold or whatever. I could never view him as anything other than a cheap huckster but what do I know?

Farrah Fawcett. I was thirty years old when The Poster was unleashed on an unsuspecting generation of pimply over-stimulated and under satisfied teenage boys so I saw it in a somewhat different light from them but it was still a powerful image with the whole innocent/not-so-innocent thing going on before your very eyes. Sometime in, I think, 1981 I had a late-night drink with her then husband Lee Majors in the cocktail lounge of the Mandarin Hotel in Hong Kong. I sat there saying to myself "What did she ever see in this guy??"

Then Michael Jackson. I have a severe attack of Wagner Syndrome - that condition which makes us confuse in our minds and emotions the artist from the art he creates. I think it was our own Alexis Hamilton who helped me with that so much when she said that her view is that once a work of art has been created it takes on a life of its own and we must try not to view it in the light of what we may know or suspect about its creator. My only sadness at Jackson's passing is that I cannot but feel he must have been severely damaged physically and/or emotionally while in his childhood years and that damage prevented him from ever having what we might term a 'normal' life. Unfortunately that does not absolve him from the responsibility of his actions as an adult. Yes, yes I know a jury found him not guilty of child molestation (N.B. 'Not Guilty' does not mean 'Innocent') but O.J.Simpson was also acquitted of criminal charges so make of that what you will. Anyway, in the spirit of trying to see past all that I listened to Thriller last night. There's no getting away from it: it is an astounding piece of work. The songs themselves, the singing, instrumentation, driving beat and the production still leave one slack-jawed twenty-seven years after its initial release. If you haven't listened to it in a while you might want to go and do so but meanwhile here's something a little less frenetic for a monday morning:

That was some line-up! Wikipedia has some fun information about the recording session and the artists who took part - and some who didn't.

And then last - and probably least (unless you happen to be a member of his family or management team) Billy Mays died on Sunday. I don't have television so I have not seen Mr Mays do his thing but by all accounts he was an avuncular chap who was pleasing to be around and did what he did to the highest standard. But this is the real reason I am writing about his death: it would appear that about the first thing his son did after discovering his father had died was to post about it on his Twitter account. Please believe me when I say I am not being snarky or facetious or in any way demeaning to this young man in mentioning this. His tweet read as follows "My dad didn't wake up this morning.. I'm sure you'll all hear about it. It hasn't yet hit me but it's about to." I find it very difficult to articulate how I feel about this. It's just heart-breaking. And what a sign of the times that he felt the most efficient way to disseminate the bad news and somehow recognise and deal with it was in a public instant messaging programme.

Chinese tenors never die...
They are just condemned to spend for eversinging O Sole Mio and Nessun Dorma. Anne Midgette is the classical music critic for the Washington Post. She is also an Oregon native. Ever since she and I had a series of telephone conversations about Priscilla Barrow and I discovered what a neat person Anne is I have been a fan of Ms. Midgette and a follower of her writings. This week she wrote a fascinating article about chinese tenor Dai Yuquiang. Many of you will remember Dai from his US debut with Portland Opera in Turandot. He returned a couple of years later for Tosca. Then he pretty much disappeared. This article explains why. I spent a little time with Dai when he was here for Tosca. I had spent many years in what is now China and was interested to hear his views on all sorts of stuff. I was surprised that he spoke no word of English or Italian and after a while I came to the conclusion - whether fairly or otherwise - that he was not going to be a success here because he didn't seem prepared to do all of the hard work a successful career in opera in the USA would require. He had the raw talent but lacked the commitment to opera as a way to express it. It would seem I was right. He would rather lip-synch to Nessun Dorma four times a week than submit to the regular punishing grind opera singers in the US must submit to if they are to be successful. Seems like a waste.

Ummm...not exactly Lawrence.
Holly sent me the link to this and I thought it would be good to end this post on an upbeat note. Also I felt you just had to see it. Do not watch it while holding a cup of coffee over your computer keyboard or while drinking milk. You have been warned. Watch it till the very end. Please.

A modern spiritual from Dale and Gail? Tell me Mr. Welk - just what do you think a 'toke' is? And just a hint, Mr W. The addition of the words "Sweet Jesus" do not a spiritual make. Holly makes the point that Myron Floren who introduces the song seems to know precisely what it is about and is doing his very best not to crack up.

Next week I'll get back to fun opera stuff, 'k? Have a great one and enjoy your July 4th.

Summer is officially here. Am I the only one who finds it strange that the longest day of the year - yesterday - should be the official first day of summer? I celebrated the occasion in a very restrained way buying half a flat of strawberries and some rhubarb from the Farmers' Market and making pies. Mmmmm. Pie!

I had so many things I wanted to do this weekend and ended up doing almost none of them. I had planned on attending the Opera Theater Oregon's DADA production on Sunday evening but couldn't. My friend Scott Kritzer had a concert which conflicted with OTO so I obviously didn't get to that either. I am currently having to deal with some domestic issues which are sapping the energy I would normally expend on such fun happenings. Oh, well.

I have written here before about my connection to and enthusiasm for Opera Theater Oregon and I am happy to announce that their latest production is about to hit the boards and the screen this weekend at the Clinton Street Theater. And, it being Fathers' Day weekend, what could be more appropriate than a show entitled DADA?

Here's a short clip to whet your appetites.

I have made enquiries and yes, there are still some tickets left so I would suggest you leap on board while the going is good! Just go to OTO's website right here and book your tickets online.

Precisely one month ago today I received the news that I had won the Operaplot contest and since then not only has my life been almost entirely pre-occupied with the myriad things that followed that announcement but you, dear readers, have read of almost nothing else here. Normally of course I try to be eclectic in my posts. Jim Fullan the Director of Marketing for Portland Opera who is ultimately responsible for what you read here describes it, not unkindly, as being "All over the map!" However, this seems to be what you want and it's pretty much the only way I can write so until someone tells me to do it differently that's what you get. Thus, for me to post almost exclusively about one matter has been a distinct break from the norm and for the time being at least you can expect me to revert to my normal form.

"Priscilla seemed really happy about the whole experience and Washington National Opera adores her very, very much...
Opera Ball Tweet from Michelle Pendoley

This is the picture you have all been waiting for, right?*

12 Noon Saturday
Priscilla just called me to give me a blow-by-blow of the dinner and ball. She is still cruising somewhere in the stratosphere - looking down on cloud nine!

The nutshell version is that she had an "awesome" time and that everyone was great with her. And now here's the longer version:

Once The Gown and bling had been delivered and Priscilla and Larry were ready to roll, their hotel-provided town car took them to the Belgian Embassy for thre pre-Ball dinner.  There she met the Ball Chair Susan Lehman and various others who would be going on to the Ball . Couples were seated apart at dinner so that there was more chance to speak with people you didn't know. Priscilla had gentleman on both her left and right and they were quite charming, chit-chatting about opera, Priscilla, her teaching and their families; "You know" said Priscilla "Just the usual dinner talk." (Of course I know, Priscilla. I'm at Embassy dinners all the time!) The food was delicious and included asparagus-wrapped scallops as an appetizer and roast lamb on a bed of rice as the entrée. A fine red wine was served and Priscilla who normally doesn't drink alcohol, sipped it when toasts were made. Her husband Larry, who is a former Coast Guard and does drink, had brought his own hip-flask, got plastered and did a face plant into the chocolate dessert. Just kidding, Larry, just kidding!

Before I wrap this one up I would like you to meet the people who made this venture a success. I believe we all feel slightly better about who we are and what we do as a result of getting this together for Priscilla. Gentle readers, I bring you the

CAST IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Marcia Adair, The Omniscient Mussel, who had this wonderfully whimsical idea to hold a contest to see who could summarise an opera plot on Twitter in 140 characters or less. Once the entries began to flock in - from ten countries around the globe - she did amazing work in collating everything for the celebrity judge. So, what's next, Marcia - War and Peace in a dozen words or less?

Danielle de Niese who, though obviously lacking literary taste (she did pick my Tweet as the winner after all, didn't she?) then showed herself to be the classiest of divas by offering to go to Priscilla's school to talk to the students. That alone made me a life-long fan of Ms de Niese. The fact she has a glorious voice and is gorgeous doesn't hurt either. Danni - as we in her inner circle call her - has asked to meet Priscilla in New York in the Fall when she is there to do Nozze di Figaro. I think that making sure Priscilla gets there may be my next project.

Priscilla called me first thing this morning to tell me what a great time she had at dinner last nightwith some of the cast of Turandot, Plácido Domingo and Mark Weinstein, Executive Director of WNO. My comment about the noodles and eggs was supposed to be a joke but one of the fist things she said was " And the noodles and fried eggs were great!" I could scarcely believe my ears "They really served noodles and fried eggs?" "Yes. But lots of other stuff too..."

So, after talking about how pretty the Singaporean embassy was and how everyone was so nice to her and that Placidone continued to be very gracious and attentive we began to discuss tonight's ball. She can't wait for the WNO to deliver her gown which she seems to be very thrilled about. She also said that WNO is breaking out its special collection jewelry to find some baubles that will go with the gown.

I mentioned to Priscilla that she might want to keep her eyed peeled at the ball tonight because my spies tell me that Aretha Franklin may be there. "Oh, yes.." said Priscilla "She was at our dinner last night!" "Priscilla!" I yelled. "What??" "Priscilla. We just talked all about the dinner and I think you may have forgotten to mention you were there with ARETHA FRANKLIN!!" "Oh, yes. She was very gracious and sweet to me." That's them above having a chat before chow time. I thought getting Placidone to take an interest in Priscilla was some kind of coup but ...Aretha Franklin?!

Michelle Pendoley is going to try to live-tweet the Ball. If you want to see what she has to say, get on Twitter and follow Mish47. At 11:30pm the social editor of the Washington Post is turning up to interview Priscilla.

Saturday morning

Michelle Pendoley 'tweeted' from the opera to say that she had just escorted Priscilla and her husband to their seats and that they looked "a million bucks". It has always been important to me that Priscilla be able to go there knowing she looked as glamorous as anyone in the house. Seems that she did.

8pm PST. Priscilla just called me from the Four Seasons Hotel. She was literally squealing with joy! This took me by surprise as in our previous conversations she has always been just a tad reserved. She said she just had to call me to say the opera was fabulous and then she went backstage and she and her husband got some alone time with Maestro Plácido Domingo. She said he was most gracious and thanked her for her work with kids and told her how great she was and then signed her programme and a photographer came in and took pictures (which you will get to see in due course). The he told her he would see her shortly for dinner at the Singapore Embassy. She went back to the hotel so she could drop off her programme so it wouldn't be spoiled and to call me. I was very touched she did that and to hear the excitement in her voice..... Now I know I cry rather easily but I sat here with tears rolling down my cheeks like a teenage girl who has been told she can't go to a Miley Cyrus concert. 'Cept I was happy.

So now she is off to dinner with Placidone and will call me again tomorrow to report. When I lived in Asia I really enjoyed Singaporean food - especially the noodles with a fried egg on top. I hope the chef at the Embassy knows how to get the egg cooked just right. I expect he does.

I just got a call from Michelle Pendoley at Washington National Opera to say that today she and Priscilla went shopping for material for her ball gown which the costume shop are going to build for her. Given that the opera is on Thursday and the Ball is on Friday this may seem to you, as it did to me, to be leaving things just a tad late. Marshal LaBoeuf, the Director of Costumes has said all will be well. I trust her. So, they went shopping - with a posse! Priscilla and her husband and her niece, Michelle Pendoley, Marsha LaBoeuf and the opera's head stylist (whose name I have shamefully forgotten!) I am told they bought three separate ball gowns in Priscilla's size and now the costume shop is going to be working night and day, literally, to cannibalise them and make one gorgeous gown. Michelle told me she thinks it will be in fuschia and strapless. I gather that Marsha and the stylist both told Priscilla she would look stunning.

WNO is breaking out its best jewelry to go with the gown. Priscilla is very excited and apparently had a great time today. Yaay for her! Many pictures were taken and I will be sent them in due course.

The Washington Post is featuring Priscilla on their society page in its coverage of the ball and their society editor is going to attend the ball herself in order to interview Prisilla there and get her impressions. Michelle is planning to live-Tweet the whole thing. Two photographers are to be there with nothing to do save get great shots of Priscilla.

I got an email from Mark Weinstein the Executive Director of Washington National Opera today telling me that WNO owes me a huge debt of gratitude for having come up with this whole thing and that "You have been an inspiration to us all." And if you think that didn't make me very proud you don't know me one little bit.

There is a well-known saying "When the tide comes in all the boats rise". In other words what is good for one tends be good for all. Historically, all but the largest and wealthiest arts organisations throughout the United States have tended to live hand-to-mouth. However, during the heady days of first the internet IPO's and then the housing price explosion and a stock market which seemed to know no ceiling those with significant amounts of cash to spend found themselves being in a position to be philanthropic. Many of them spread their newly acquired wealth among the artistic bodies of their choice, whether it be the opera, an art museum, their local symphony orchestra or a ballet company. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

But that was then...
You don't need me to tell you that those days are over. The tide has gone out and many boats are having a hard time staying afloat. And I am talking of boats of all different sizes, from the grand yachts (the New York City Opera has seen its foundation plunge from around $27 million to almost nothing and is in dire straits) to work-horse tugboats like the Amato Opera in New York which closed its doors yesterday after 62 years of business. Okay, enough with the metaphor thing, you get my point: this is a time of emergency where no organisation is too big or too small to be feeling the pinch. And my examples were just the world of opera. The same effects are being felt by just about every other non-profit arts organisation you can think of. Including those in and around Portland.

Oregon Ballet Theatre