The St. John’s Adult choir provided the music for the Christmas Midnight Mass.  Our music prelude started at 11:40 pm.  The choir and organ were joined by violin and flute for a festive celebration of Jesus’ birth.

I am visiting New York City for a few days with my daughter, Carletta, and her husband, Aaron.  We enjoyed seeing Mozart’s Magic Flute at the Metropolitan Opera on December 28.  What a treat to hear Mozart’s magical music that is at times sublimely beautiful and at other times comic and playful.  This production and the costumes were designed by Julie Taymor, which gave it a whimsical fairy tale feeling.  This is a photo of the outside of the Metropolitan Opera in Lincoln Center.

We also enjoyed two matinee Shakespeare plays on December 28 and 29 with the same cast at the Belasco Theatre:  Richard III and Twelfth Night.  It was fascinating to see the same actors perform in both a tragedy and a comedy.  Even though Richard III is a tragedy, the actors, with their skill and timing, often introduced comedic gestures and intonations in their voices that lightened at least some of the tragedy.  Each play began 20 minutes early with the actors on stage in a pre-show Shakespearean ritual preparing their costumes and makeup in front of the audience accompanied by musicians on traditional period instruments.  The musicians played periodically throughout each play.

Since I was in New York, I took the opportunity to attend several training sessions at the Apple Store on Fifth Avenue: how to better use iPhoto, iMovie, my iPhone and iPad.  I wanted to learn how to better use the tools available on my Mac computer and other Apple devices.

In addition to great opera and theater, we enjoyed wonderful New York cuisine and the beautiful Christmas and holiday decorations in the city.

Best wishes to all for a blessed and healthy 2014!