Author Archives: admin

This week I taught a master class at Vanguard University (Costa Mesa CA), where a delightful young soprano sang one of Despina’s arias from Cosí fan tutte.  Near the beginning of Act II, the maid servant exhorts the two sisters … Continue reading →

A question received about “Italian ah” causes me to think back about the uncertainty that I also used to have about that vowel and the stages I went through to reach an answer. It is a basic, and thorny, question. … Continue reading →

A young email friend asked me some questions: What is your method for choosing songs? I have noted that you’ve chosen common as well as rare songs in previous “Gateway” books. How do you research the translation of the words? … Continue reading →

A sermon delivered at UCC Simi Valley, July 19, 2011 When the Pilgrims set out to come to America, some of them started their journey from Leyden [laden] in Holland.  They had gone there to live because they had been … Continue reading →

Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is a comedy, right?  No one dies, and at the end three lovely young couples are married or about to be.  Still we were emotionally wrung out when it was over. We went to see … Continue reading →

At four this morning, this dream woke me up: I am in a hotel room far from home, where a convention is going on.  I have unpacked and every surface in the room is covered with a jumble of things.  … Continue reading →

There’s one category that we all fit into, whether we know it or not.  Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays.  PFLAG, or as it’s spoken, P-flag. At a church workshop a year ago, there was discussion about what more … Continue reading →

My edition entitled 26 Italian Songs and Arias was translated about 10 years ago into Japanese and a few years later into Korean.  So there’s no misunderstanding: The songs remain in Italian, naturally; only the commentaries and translations are translated … Continue reading →

How I Caused a Mistrial After two full days of jury selection, we were all in our places this morning. Judge Michael Carter greeted us at 9:25 and introduced the prosecution and defense attorneys for their opening statements; the prosecution … Continue reading →

Sicily was beautiful in September when Joan and I joined a tour group run by Grand Circle. Only a few days were too hot for comfort, and rain fell only a few times.  While our bus was crossing the rugged … Continue reading →