Placido at the Kennedy Center in Iphigenie en Tuaride -Limited Appearance

See Placido and die!

Let's not get carried away!; but I had to see/hear Placido before his career comes to an end
5/20/11 at 7:30
At the final curtain he playfully told the audience he was not retiring yet. And how old is Placido...? a career spanning 50 years

Iphigénie, high priestess of Taurus, is tormented by dreams of her family’s bloody past and intimations of violence in the future. Will she accede to the barbaric King Thoas’ demands and murder her own brother? Can she survive in this world of bloodshed and fear? Gluck’s masterpiece, Iphigénie en Tauride, with its sweeping score and dramatic story is enjoying a renaissance at major opera houses around the world.


This company premiere features an outstanding cast led by soprano Patricia Racette, “the consummate singing actress” (Chicago Tribune). Hailed as the “greatest operatic artist of modern time” (The Guardian), world-renowned tenor Plácido Domingo sings Oreste, Iphigénie’s long-lost brother who is condemned to death. William Lacey returns to the podium to lead this powerful production from Oviedo, Spain by Emilio Sagi.

Invited to Trinity College Dublin in March 2012

very honored to have received an invite to deliver a talk on the Legion of Christ and the dangers of abuse of power in religious organizations to the School of Theology.

Dogwood, Virginia's flower, el Cornejo

the American dogwood [Cornus florida]
has sprung up almost overnight to bring joy to the eye - para alegrar la vista

It particularly pleases me when the branches begin close to the ground and streach out almost horizontally in tiers

American Cherry Tree Blossom

What with the sudden seasonal changes from spring to winter to summer to spring to winter to summer to spring the trees are just sorting themselves out and trying to bring some order to their appearance in spring:
Washington's Japanese Cherry Blossoms around the Tidal Basin have come and gone, the bradford pear has asserted itself, and some American Cherries [isn't that the one George Washington was trying to cut down?] are resisting the wind and the rains

Bradford Pear

been feeling like the flowers and the trees; with all the weather changes, dont know whether I am coming [into spring] or going [back to winter]
The weather has settled a bit and now the Bradford Pears that were suddenly eclipsed by Cherry Blossoms can be seen again, their white spherical shape lining streets...

Forsythia's Yellow Bloomers

I knew I was back in Virginia [after my three-week trip to Guatemala] when I caught sight of Forsythia’s bright yellow bloomers driving to work this morning.

Purple Crocus had slipped away while dazzly Daffodil was sneaking in to outshine Forsythia.
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Sabia que estaba de vuelta en Virginia cuando divise las enaguas color amarillo brillante de Forsitia camino al trabajo esta maniana

El azafran habia huido mientras que el narciso entraba de puntillas

Message for St Patricks Day [image and music]

A good Mexican friend of mine, rather a Yucatan woman, sent me an audiovisual today -unrelated to my inclusive picture above.

Relax and Enjoy images, music, prayer [Coulter and Downey]