Just Musing: Boston Marathon Bombing

Well, everybody must have heard by now that there were bombings in Boston yesterday, two at the marathon and one at the JFK Library. Kudos to the police and emergency personnel (and other helpful bystanders) on the ground for coping with such event as well as they did!

I feel a bit selfish, actually. I knew from the news coverage that 'everybody' wasn't okay, so I first hoped that my Bostonian friends and their friends and family were okay. It doesn't mean that I don't care if the people that I don't know are injured or killed, of course. But that's the way it goes; when things go awry one worries first about the people that one knows... then the strangers.

Lots of folks have commented online on the news of the bombing. Many are commendably thoughtful. As expected; however, there are also some callous morons already making jokes and/or making stupid speculations. It's weird how things like this goes. When you turn on the television and see a scene like what happened at the Boston Marathon you imagine yourself in the scene - safe and clear headed and knowing best what to do - a regular bullets/bombs repellent Superman. You don't imagine yourself laying dazed on the ground missing a limp or two while chaos breaks out in every direction.

I spent last Sunday volunteering at the Gran Fondo Campagnolo organized bike ride in Little Italy bit of Downtown San Diego, most of the time within a stone's throw from the finish line. So had bombs gone off there like they did at the Boston Marathon I'd probably be one of the bloody limp-less folks rather than a bomb-repellent super hero going around rescuing others... And that would really suck, no less because my beloved bike would have probably been totaled by the bomb, being parked in the valet lot right next to the finishing stretch. And I can hardly afford to buy a new bike at the moment.

But that's quite beside the point; whoever set off those bombs did their 'message' or 'cause' no favor at all with such action. They hurt and killed innocent people who were out doing good deeds (much of revenue generated by events like this go to charity, and then there were those out to lend their support to others). Even the emotionless ones amongst us aren't going to care what message you want to send with the bombing. No message can justify such delivery method. Retaliation is what you're going to end up getting instead of any receptive hearing of your complaint. Like democracy, peaceful protest is the worst way of getting oneself heard except for all the alternatives. It is frustrating, but it is the only way!

Oh, before I forget... to the unharmed survivors; I'm glad that you weren't killed or hurt by the bombing, but please stop talking about how 'god' took it upon itself to protect you from harm. Whatever 'god' is or isn't it sure didn't protect those who actually got hurt and harmed by the bombs, and I am quite sure that those victims weren't any less worthy of a godly protection than you are. Peace out!

By the way, if you are in Boston area (or were expected to be at the marathon) and weren't injured by the bombing, please go and register yourself on the Red Cross' Safe & Well list.

Also, here's how you can help with the aftermath. 

Vesselina Kasarova in South America

Vesselina Kasarova is in South America. Yes, South America, concert-touring Brazil and Argentina with Florian Donderer and the Camerata Bern! I'm a bit crossed at American concert halls and theaters for not managing to get her to stop by and do a few concerts in the USA on her way there (or back), actually, but I'm nonetheless very happy for VK's South American fans for finally getting to experience this exquisitely unique Bulgarian mezzo live on their own continent.

(Tancredi's entrance aria: O, patria - di tanti palpiti)
(Sesto's act II: Deh, per questo istante solo from La clemenza di Tito)


(Cherubino's 'Voi, che sapete' from Le nozze di Figaro)


Sesto's 'Parto, ma tu ben mio' from La clemenza di Tito

Thanks very much to her South American fans for filling the venues and sharing their experience with the rest of us on the internet. Drop in at Bella's Unexpected Song Blog for her account of the concert and green room experience in English. More fan reactions can be found at VK's (unofficial) facebook page (you must be signed into facebook to view it), too!

Edited to add concert review:
- Estadao
- Seen & Heard International   

Only Two More 'Murder at the Cathedral' at San Diego Opera

I'm running around a bit this week, though just wanted to mention that there are two performances of Pizzetti's Assassinio nella cathedrale (Murder in the Cathedral) left at the San Diego Opera.

Murder in the Cathedral poster (San Diego Opera)

If you are in town and feel like catching an evening of good music and memorable theater, drop in at the Civic Theater in downtown April 5 and/or 7!

Some good things are free: Viviane Hagner does Vieuxtemps 5th & Beethoven violin romances

A couple of months ago Viviane (violin) and Nicole (piano) Hagners came to town for a week full of concerts. I looked forward very much to hearing them since I enjoyed my (then only one) CD of them very much. Needless to say the performances were splendid and I went looking for more on Youtube and found this:


A fantastic clip of Viviane Hagner doing the finale of Henri Vieuxtemps' 5th violin concerto with the Lahti Symphony, a Finnish band that I had never heard of that sounded like a million buck. Anyhow, it turns out the whole concert is available for free at Classiclive.com until 3 May 2013.

I know she sounds a bit odd at times (especially on high notes... just a tad shy of strident), but there is something very compelling about the way she uses her sounds and impeccable precision (and really fantastic changes of speed) to say something with the music in a very expressive and yet controlled way... It sort of reminds me of Vesselina Kasarova in her bel canto 90's days. I've heard a million renditions of Beethoven's romances for violin and orchestra, but never quite like this... the odd little slip in the middle of the G major romance not withstanding. Such a light and easy but sure touch, very gentle romances indeed!

Where has all the water gone (from Lake Hodges & Loveland Reservoir)???

I mean...

Loveland Reservoir and Lake Hodges. March 2013.

Really, where has all the water gone? I'm amazed we aren't getting warning of water restriction for this summer yet. There is virtually no water under the Lake Hodges pedestrian bridge at the moment!