wallburga

Well, folks, we were only 3 again this week. What is it? Where have our friends gone? If they promise to come back, I will promise not to make quinoa jokes anymore. Or Candy Crush jokes.

OK, maybe not for a couple of weeks, at least.

A big treat this week was hearing one of our number sing one of my Favorite Arias I Never Knew the Name Of: Ebben! Ne andro lontana (Fine! I'm leaving!) from La Wally by Alfredo Catalani. First of all: yes, "La Wally". Our heroine is named Wally, which I find rather endearing, especially considering this was 1892.
"Wally?"
"It's short for Wallburga."
"Ah."

Next we had the Discovery of Fred the Ratchet Fish.

Yes, Fred just Appeared in our midst, and that next to him is a dowel-stick bow, made for a Suzuki box violin. Why did Fred join us? you ask. And why is his name Fred? 

Well, children, long long ago (exactly one week ago) one of our group was singing the doll aria from Les contes d'Hoffmann and your faithful correspondent was put in charge of winding her back up when she had run down…but we didn't have anything to make the right sound when the winding was being done. 

Lo and behold, this week, there Fred was, slyly waiting by the piano! With the perfect sound, and that cute gaping mouth, and slightly stunned look to boot. Universe: 1. Us: 1. Win-win.

And why is his name Fred? 

That, my friends, must wait for another time…

So, come back, singers, come back! Because "We've Got to Clean out the Freezer"…and we can't do it without you!