Benson's Blog

"Another World" by Antony & the Johnsons

This is too funny!

Maya Lin: 2x4 Landscape (2006)

I saw Maya Lin's exhibit today at the de young museum. She is bringing scientific visualization up to the level of art - and it's mesmerizing.

This song has been burrowing into my soul for several weeks now. The video below is from the Dutch Opera's version of Dr. Atomic. It has different sets from the Met version that I saw, but the glorious song is the same. There is another rendition on YouTube that shows more of this version's actual staging, but I find it more distracting than the very minimalistic interpretation of the Met.

The lyrics are from the Holy Sonnet XIV of John Donne:

                         Batter My Heart

Batter my heart, three-person'd God, for you
As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise and stand, o'erthrow me, and bend
Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new.
I, like an usurp'd town to'another due,
Labor to'admit you, but oh, to no end;
Reason, your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captiv'd, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearly'I love you, and would be lov'd fain,
But am betroth'd unto your enemy;
Divorce me,'untie or break that knot again,
Take me to you, imprison me, for I,
Except you'enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me.

This morning I saw the New York Metropolitan Opera's HD Simulcast of Dr. Atomic, John Adam's opera about the Manhattan Project and the creation of the atomic bomb. It was extremely moving - and terrifying - to delve into what it must have been like for Oppenheimer and his team to balance their duty to family, to country and to their work as scientists.

I'm really starting to appreciate the power that opera can bring to illuminate a subject. Each song is an exquisite jewel lifted into the spotlight to reveal amazing facets of emotional impact. At its heart it is pure story telling; and yet, the artistry, the libretto, the music, the costumes, the sets, and the 'pomp' - all work together like no other art form. It's magical.

The encore is on Wednesday, November 19 - "at a theater near you". I might very well find myself back for another look at this amazing work.

If you haven’t heard about this, I highly recommend it. The Metropolitan Opera (and soon the San Francisco Opera) are screening Live HD Simulcasts of some of their operas at local movie theaters. I just saw “Hansel and Gretel”, and it was superb. It’s a wonderful way to see great opera in a unique format that’s very enjoyable (and affordable - the tickets are under $20.)

http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/broadcast/hd_events.aspx
Ticket info: http://www.fathomevents.com/details.aspx?seriesid=610

On Towleroad, I found this amazing new instrument developed by music engineers at a University in Spain. The possibilities are mind boggling.

I am currently participating in Landmark's Creativity seminar, and the conversation on the table is 'What do I want?', and 'How do I react to life?' Yikes! - this is the complete context for my life right now. What do I want in my relationship? A partner? A friend with 'benefits'? A casual fling? How do I react to what my friend wants or doesn't want in a relationship? There is lots of reaction going on! And we're talking about it, reacting, and moving forward toward a consensus. Ah, dating!

This is the fourth weekend of my Introduction Leaders Program, and I'm finally complete with the homework for the weekend. Not everyone is, though, but we are making a valiant effort. It's all good. This is the final weekend of the program, although the program itself will continue through the end of March. What do I want in my relationship with Landmark? More reaction...

A friend passed on this clip about this amazing young artist who appeared on CNN. Talk about inspiring! Really, you MUST check it out!

Oh, and someone replied to my Speaking Wiki post, and showed me how to program my ancient brick of a phone! Too cool.

Better get some sleep before the weekend starts. Oops, too late! :O