Mark of Excellence

Now that winter is soon coming, I remember well the 1988 Olympic Games. The Battle of the Brians where United States' Brian Boitano went into head to head combat with Canadian's snazzy Brian Orser. A fine example of world competition and yet an enduring friendship. After the Olympics, they still continued in professional compitions. I, for one, thought maybe per chance they might team up and be the next Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. No, not as in "Blades of Glory" :)......

Hedda Gabler

Cate Blanchett as Hedda Gabler
Lady Catherine and I will be attending the Purdue University's production of Henrik Ibsen's villian play "Hedda Gabler"this Sunday afternoon. The plot unfolds in the setting of Hedda and her new husband after returning from their honeymoon. Written in 1890, the plot thickens into a real web of greediness and encouraging suicidal themes. Please stay tuned for The Bach's critique and review. If any of my commentors have seen the play, please extend your reviews. See you soon !!
The REVIEW: I was very impressed with the set design. Its amazing how little can be much concerning staging to draw the audience into a room. Purdue University has a very well equipped stage in the Nancy T. Hansen Theatre. Set Designer Katrina Miller viewed her talents with unique archways, window frames, and floor levels. Greta Wohlrabe portraited Hedda Gabler perfectly assissted by a well rounded cast. I would give it a two thumbs up for college level performances.

Hello Everyone....

The Bach is back after months off the blog world scene. Hope all is well. I, since then, have married and we honeymooned in Kauai, Hawaii. Above is one of the carved walls at the

center of Coconut Market where we did a lot of shopping.

In Between Computers.....

Hello out there in the world of blogging. I seem to be slagging behind my fellow constituents in posting on my blog. I do apologize. I am in the process of setting up my new computer which arrived this past weekend. I'm having a friend help me tomorrow night with transferring "stuff" from my old to my new. I will have to have some time to learn how to download pictures, etc. Just bare with me during this time. Hope you all are doing fine and I will keep visiting your blogs and commenting. Have a great week and I hope to see you on your blog!
The Bach

Doctor Zhivago

David Lean's 1965 release of Dr. Zhivago is one of my favorite movies even though I don't have it on dvd. It has been on my mind today because of the cold weather. I can remember some scenes from the movie depicting bitter cold winter weather. One of my favorite scenes is when Dr. Zhivago and Lara are closed in the cold abandoned house and he is inspired to write the poem Lara. One subject of this movie focuses on love's mysterious theme about a man being able to love two women at the same time; its heartache, its hardship, its secrecy, and its requital. Another aspect of love the movie demonstrates is little is much when there is love. The picture above in Lara's humble apartment emphasizes this. Characters are superbly portrayed by Omar Sharif as Dr. Yuri Zhivago, Julie Christie as Lara, Rod Stiger as Komarovsky, and Geraldine Chapman as Tonya. I'm surprised this film did not win the Oscar for Best Picture.

Authors Card Game

While as kids growing up, we had a card game called Authors. Recently, on the passing of my dad, I was given this old cardboard box of items. To my delight I found the Authors card game. I can remember the fun times playing this game with my brothers, sister, and friends. It was an educational game used as a tool to learn some of the classical authors and the titles of their books. The authors included William Shakespeare, Henry W. Longfellow, Louisa May Alcott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Sir Water Scott, James Fenimore Cooper, Washington Irving, Mark Twain, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Charles Dickens, and Alfred Lord Tennyson. Each author had a set of 4 book cards and the object of the game was to collect as many sets as possible by asking other players for cards to complete the set. Yes, a simple game, but what fond memories this game brought as relationships were nourished. Some friends and I just recently had fun playing this card game on New Year's Eve. And look at that price of the game!! What games were some of your favorites growing up; please do tell!!

Life is but a Masquerade

Life is but a Masquerade

We dress to the occasion for work and play

Masked for diversion from reality's core

Letting no one in for fear they see

The person within who's needs undone

We go our way as though day is fair

Not to unfold what should be

Hushing the stilled voice within

Proclaiming Life is but a Masquerade

Being a piano teacher, I've been given gifts that are treasured. In the picture above you see the Christmas story in picture form on a candle, in the foreground a festive mask from Florence, Italy. I love the candle's dark rich color and its Renaissance figures. Masks worn in gala festivals in Italy actually are meant to give away the person behind the mask. Gold is of the highest class. The music is stating the person behind the mask is of an outstanding musical profession. I was very humbled when given these exquisite treasures. But the real treasure being a piano teacher is having the opportunity to help form and instill a healthy self-esteem in my students.