Latest news from Germany

I was perusing the paper this morning and several things were of interest. This was the warmest winter since 1901 with the highest temperature registered in Sigmarszell, Bavaria at 66.2 degrees Fahrenheit on the eighth of December. Thanks to the mild weather the storks have returned early from their winter quarters in Spain. In the past the birds that came back around the beginning of March were called "Frühankommer" in German and early birds by us in English.

The opinion articles concerned freedom of the press and here is the link in Engleutsch which is English combined with German but you will get the point. Another opinion article was the idea of having a free day from autos traffic which was prefaced by "Why not?" this can be seen at this link.

One of the most charming things about driving to North Germany near the North Sea is the lovely houses with reed roofs. Here is an article about the puzzling attack of mold affecting the roofs.

Hof germany and the Oscars

Naturally we are proud of the first German in 80 years to win an Oscar but the real story is that we have the Hofer Film Festival each year here and the quoted article (see Link) is the opinion that without the experience of the Hof Film festival and the help from the Festival Director Heinz Badewitz he would probably have come as far as he did. (Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck)

What is funny is in the online translation Mr. Badewitz is called Mr. Bath Joke which is actually what Bade and Witz mean separately. We have as many funny names in English such as "Culpepper" to begin with.

re my international career as singer.

From: George

To: James Clark

Sent: Thursday, January 11, 2007 5:33 AM

Subject: Re: Vincent Sardi Jr., Restaurateur and Unofficial 'Mayor of Broadway,' Dies at 91

Hi Jim,

I know you have performed all over Europe, Japan and the US. In what other regions have you performed?

George

Hi George

That´s it. I was supposed to perform in Taiwan, passport was ready etc. but my wife did not want me to go so I stayed home. In Europe I have performed in Switzerland, Austria, Romania, Slovakia, Csech Republic, Germany, and did an audition in Budapest for the opera there.

When I was in England two years ago, Alan Waugh, I, and his wife sang a concert till about 4 AM for his 2 labrador retrievers. Sadly they slept during most of our endeavours. It was a memorable concert with me on keyboard, Alan on Guitar and I think his wife played the cello with all of us doing vocals. The problem with my memory of the concert is that it was watered down with the exquisite Ales that are common to this region. I guess you could sort of add England to the list but the critics were not impressed.

Wait a minute!! I was on board the Vistafjord Cruise ship in 1989 in the Carribean, and the Sagafjord in 1990 in Tahiti as part of an opera trio. We sang in international waters off the coasts of most of the Islands in the Carribean as well as underway to Tahiti off the coasts of Baha Mexico and then the Tahitian group of islands. Do these count?

Don´t forget my solo concerts in Vietnam when no one was listening and in ports of the mediterranean including a sing along at 3 in the morning with the Commander and troops of the Foreign Legion at Corsica. There was also a command performance in Spain at a Cafe in Carboneras for General Galin y Soga and officers of the Spanish Marine Corps. They all shouted (the Spaniards) "Que Dulce la voce" and other assorted Spanish compliments. A Lieutenant named Miguel then commandeered my guitar and played those wonderful Jotas which are Spanish folk dances. The other officers then danced as he played jotas from their particular regions such as Catalonia. All this and naturally my hard working battalion commander was totally unaware that the S-4 (me) was performing difficult liason duties albeit unofficial and I guess AWOL from the battle scene (exercise). ( The Spanish General and his officers participating in the exercise were also not at their battle stations being more relaxed about this serious business of war games. ) This an a few other things contributed to my not making Lt.Col but that is another chapter in my upcoming book of entitled "200 Reasons I did not make Lt.Col. "

Semper Fi,

Jim

Vincent Sardi

Excerpt from New York Times Article:
Vincent Sardi Jr., Restaurateur and Unofficial 'Mayor of Broadway,' Dies at 91
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/05/nyregion/05sardi.html

Vincent Sardi Jr., who owned and managed Sardi's restaurant, his father's theater-district landmark, for more than half a century and became, by wide agreement, the unofficial mayor of Broadway, died yesterday at a hospital in Berlin, Vt.. He was 91 and had lived in Warren, Vt., since retiring in 1997.

MY COMMENT
In the late 70´s I had the honor to sit next to Vincent at a mess night sponsored by the New Jersey/New York MCROA in the New York City’s 69th Regiment Armory. At the time I was president of the Garden State Chapter. The guest of honor was PX Kelly and his wife. General Kelly was then heading the Strategic Command in Florida. Major Sardi suggested that I sing the Star Bangled Banner. Of course it was a little embarrassing as I am not used to yodeling in front of people but anyway I forced myself to sing and General Kelly was impressed. When I did reserve duty at the Naval Annex I would stop by to chat with the then Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Kelly as well as visit with George Navadel and Chaplain Ammons. (Jim Woodring and Joe Arroyo former XO of India company were also at Headquarters Marine Corps.) I sang so well that it was recommended I stay at the rank of Major instead of progressing to Lt.Col. as the promotion board told me that it wouldn´t be fitting for a Battalion Commander to serenade the troops...

Silvester Abend or New Years Eve

They don´t call it New Years Eve here in Germany but the evening is named after an obscure Saint Silvester. I sang the role of the Herzog von Urbino (Duke) in the Strauss Operetta " A Night in Venice" this evening at the Stadhalle in Bayreuth. The website has an interesting 360 degree picture of the theater and the surroundings. After the operetta there was a buffet dinner and then promptly at midnight, fireworks outside in the courtyard. Shortly before midnight a group of large Bavarians with leather shorts complete with hats and feathers came into the banquet hall of the theater and I discovered they were part of the fireworks display. They carried those short cannons called "Arkbusses" and fired them from the balcony outside of the theater during the fireworks display. They were from a local shooting club. The picture at the bottom is of the Operetta on the stage.

looking back and forward

The year 2006 is quickly winding down and I did send this picture as an email to friends and family. I am standing at the 66th floor of the Chase building in Houston in November of this now waining year. It was a busy year and in all 3 operas, 2 operettas 4 concerts in two different continents, 3 countries, 7 cities/towns. I learned how to speak better text on the stage in both English and German also continuing to polish the memory skills needed for performance.

More important this year was the addition of 2 more grandchildren at the end of August and beginning of September.

I am now moving towards the age of 66 in 2007 with the attendant aches and pains as well as extreme gratefulness for the ability/health and strength to still practice my profession. Each year is an added blessing to a life that has been up to now a great ride with the joys outweighing the regrets. I think a way to view life is to sum up all the wishes you ever had and then see how many came true. That means to really see what happened because it is difficult sometimes to recognize the realization of a dream in actuality. One wants to see a result that is concrete instead of the fantasy. The fantasy is the attained goal not the hard fact.

up to the matterhorn

In the background is the famous Matterhorn near the ski resort Zermatt where I sang a concert on Wednesday last week. The concert was at the 5 star hotel Seiler
I got to this place where I am standing by riding a small train that creeps up the mountain and the views are spectacular.