Month: October 2019

All Hail the Newly Crowned King of Moons!

The planet known as “The Great Benefic”, Jupiter may be the “King of Planets” but the planet known as “The Great Malefic”, aka Saturn now has more courtiers. Citizens of Earth, let it be known that the planetary spotlight that was taken up for so long by Jupiter, the King of Everything has now been usurped as of this past October 7th! With it being officially announced that 20 new moons orbit around the ringed planet, Saturn currently has the most Moons of 82 edging out Jupiter’s long time record of 79. The ringed planet now bears another title of distinction as the newly crowned “King of Moons”.

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Shirley Verrett – Artistic Versatility at its Penultimate Best

When Shirley Verrett switched fachs from mezzo-soprano to soprano much of the opera world didn’t know what to think since hardly ever did a singer make such a drastic transition while still in their vocal prime. One can only assume the constant hemming and hawing from those associated with such a pristine art form that got shaken up over the slightest bit of change must have worn out La Verrett over time. I made this presumption after walking along the fountained plaza of Lincoln Center one day in the late 1980’s to see banners being newly put on display along the cultural center’s entire perimeter which stated in big bold letters:

“SHIRLEY VERRETT – SINGER”

To which I murmured aloud, “What vocal coglioni!”
(If you’re not sure what that foreign word means, good.)

Through those simply worded banners, Shirley Verrett was telling every nay-sayer in the classical world in no uncertain terms to Fach Off.

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