My very dear friends of CAS - this post has little to do with my old friend, but might interest you - As you may or may not know, the Neubauer family has funded a project in which live broadcasts of select performances directly from the stage of the Metropolitan Opera may be found in select theaters around the country - this past Saturday I attended an incredible performance of Wagner's Parsifal - it has to do with mystical legends around the Grail and the Spear of Destiny - it was brilliantly staged, and in Act Two the entire floor of Klingsor's castle was performed in 4 inch deep "blood" - amazing - It will be re-broadcast as an encore from video tape on Wed evening in most theaters that show it - those of you who have appreciated some of the art work associated with the arcane texts we love, will appreciate this show - and then, of course, there's the music. That is not this Wednesday, but the next I think - this Wednesday is a re-run of "Rigoletto" staged as if in 60's Vegas - I didn't think I would like it but it worked really well - and if you want a cultural way to see a pole dancer - this is your shot.
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We have a theater here in Ithaca, NY that shows these occasionally. Not my bag, but we have friends that go every time and swear by it.

For the great majority who have never seen or heard Opera live, it is a great boon - for those who like fantasy/horror, an oppotunity to see Strauss' "Electra" or "Salome" (which ends with the girl kissing the head of John the Baptist - grisly) should not be missed if they come up.

My favorite for all-out ghoulish decadence served up in thrilling, beautiful music is Prokofiev's FIERY ANGEL.