THEATER

The Pearl Theater

Shakespeare
Henry IV, Part I

The Pearl is a small theater just west of the theater district.  It holds about 150-200 people.  As last night, Carolyn and I believe that only locals were there.  No, or few, tourists.

THEATER

59 East 59th Street

All in the Timing

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/12/in-performance-jenn-harris-and-carson-elrod-of-all-in-the-timing/

There were 6 short plays that were really clever.  It was a small theater that probably seated about 200 people.  It was located just one block east of the southern end of Central Park.  Carolyn and I believe there were only New Yorkers, no tourists, there.  We thoroughly enjoyed it.

GUGGENHEIM ART MUSEUM

Another good day.  We rode the MTA bus to the Guggenheim, rode it back to Bloomingdales, and then rode the subway home.  Point being, we're getting better with all the public transportation options.

The Guggenheim is a great "little" museum.  The building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.  It's worth seeing.

CHRYSLER BUILDING WALK

Today's walk was to see the lobby of the Chrysler building.  It is a beautiful building.

The view of the Chrysler Building at night from our apartment.  Yes, that's a full moon between the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building.  The picture is courtesy of Julian Trevino.

 On the way home I walked through Grand Central Station and then to Bryant Park.  There I found a civilized game of Bocce.

LINCOLN CENTER

Metropolitan Opera
National Council Grand Finals Concert

I want to talk a bit about the National Finals of the Metropolitan Opera Auditions.  First, it is a competition with winners and losers.  It is the summation of regionals held all over North America seeking the best young singers to be found.

There were ten singers in the finals who sang two songs.  It was held in the Metropolitan Opera House with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.  The place was packed.

All of the songs were classics as the singers tried to show their voices in the best light.  It was one great performance after another.

The Metropolitan Opera House is a big, beautiful space.  The hand rails are covered with velvet.  The facility is spectacular.

It also is huge.  When a solitary singer stands in the middle of the stage and sings with absolutely no electronic amplification, it becomes a miracle of the human voice and the acoustics of the building that all are able to hear so well.

It's becoming clear that the most impressive, moving performances we've heard in these first few months have been those of the human voice.  What these vocalists do is amazing and beautiful.

Organ at Marble Collegiate today.

WATERTOWN, NEW YORK

A three day trip to Watertown, NY to conduct a survey on an organization.  Riding Amtrak to Syracuse and then driving rent-car to Watertown.  A blizzard is imminent.

A view across the Hudson River toward West Point.

METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART

I walked from our apartment on 32nd street to get my hair cut on 55th. Following that I walked to 80th on the east side of Central Park to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  A pleasant, unrushed two hours there.

Here's looking at you!  Two crazy guys staring right at you!

I then did a first for us since we've moved here... I rode an MTA bus home.