Nessun Dorma

the Turandot
Originally uploaded by shoko.

Since the Olympic gold medalist, Shizuka Arakawa won the world title by ice skating on that music, the opera "Turandot" was catapulted into the limelight. Before that, I have long been prefered music and performing art, the Turandot was one of my must-see opera, along with "La traviata". Wonderfully, I had chance to face the histric(!) stage. Music and songs were literaly awesome, but more than anything else, I was really moved by mise en scene managed by Zhāng Yìmóu, including decorative stage sets which well represents oriental gorgeousness, fantastic light effects that drug us into the tale, and exotic makeup & costumes that made the show much more dramatic. During acts, I couldn't turn my eyes off the stage. Despite the princess role couldn't move due to illness, her voice was increadiblly specutacular. Wonderful night, I gotta work for those mind refresh.

lights after storm

lights after storm
Originally uploaded by shoko.

On the day not so much to do, should you go home earlier. I was so lucky to get this affable evening sky. Strange but interesting that people assume dusk in different time in different place depending on their own latitude. For me, it is dusk that always brought me a little sadness to have to give up playing outside, with a combination of sattle fear of nights and some relief to go home. How long has passed since those days...

Autamn BBQ!

Autamn BBQ!
Originally uploaded by shoko.

It was the only sunshine day in this week today. We went to barbecue in near playground. On alternate weekends, I play cello in community orchestra which is mainly consisted of coval music lover in my city. Our annual concert become a little more popular than before, and gradually accepted by local people. Today at the BBQ, we had some local guests (two families) who say they are great fan of us. Food supply team brought us not only common BBQ ingredients, but also expensive seafoods, as scallop, turban shell and urchin!! From the start, it was a hassle to kindle a fire, but we found handling trouble together itself became a fun, throughout lunch we enjoyed grilling, eating, chatting, and even playing tag with kids. Thanks to it, I become a Ashputtel with smorky flavor by dusk...

Mind of Blue

Mind of Blue
Originally uploaded by shoko.

Yesterday, I was able to leave office earlier, and went to listen Jazz session at Aoyama with a friend. Though it was drizzling, there'd already been lots of people when we get there, and soon the show started. Music played by the Japanese piano trio has variety of tastes, jazz mixed with Latin, Tango, and even has influence of classical music. One of his blues named asian title reminds me the world of Hayao Miyazaki movie. (usually music composed by Joe Hisaishi) He well created his original beauty of jazz. To my surprise, two special friends of the musisian invited on that night were, former concertmaster of NHK symphony, Tsugio Tokunaga, and one of leading Japanese conductor, Michiyoshi Inoue. So lucky to share the great fun with them together.
It was too exciting to end up night groove, my friend and I had to go for another round. Despite it's in the middle of week, we enjoy drinking and talking till late night...

Amazing blue

Amazing blue
Originally uploaded by shoko.

Blue clear sky and water soothed to the mind and the body. I had vacation in Guam this summer. This was my first visit to tropical island where I longed to go swimming, drinking tropical cocktail, trying every other kind of luxurious thing. (Haha, since I was poor in my schooldays, I couldn't travel just for escape out of real life.) Though it was rainy season, my friend and I had sun-blessed days there. We did parasailing (!!!) , the experience floating in the air over the endless sea was much more than great. Around a small island next to mainland, we dived into shallow water, then found tons of various beautiful fishes with colorful bodies. It was SO amazing! It's like totally Nemo's world!! I should have brought waterproof camera(>_< I got relief from stress during vacation. Well, back to work..(until next holidays...)