High Notes

Just got home from watching the Rossini opera Cinderella, in a "live from the Met" simulcast on a huge screen at the Performing Arts Center on the Cal Poly campus. What a perfect example of bel canto singing! The two leads, Joyce DiDonato and Juan Diego Florez were wonderful, as were the wicked stepsisters and the entire cast. I especially loved the Met's staging.

Some of the members of the Paso Robles Art Association were able to see the opera in exchange for mounting a small art show in the lobby of the hall, for opera-goers to appreciate during the intermission. I took En Pointe to show, since dance shoes seemed in character with the opera (although Rossini's version of the Prince's ball had no dancing at all).

On another high note, the peanut cactus is blooming its little heart out at this time of year:

Each bloom is only about 1 inch across, and lasts only 1 day, but it just shouts for attention.