This week has been quite a cultural whirlwind.  On Monday I went to see "There will be Blood," the new film by PT Anderson.  On Tuesday Ashley and I went to the Lyric Opera to see "Falstaff."  Yesterday I listened to the opera "Susannah" by Carlisle Floyd on my car's CD player while driving all over Chicagoland for work.  "Blood" and "Susannah" are as tragic as they get.  Thank goodness they were sandwiched around a comic opera.

"There Will Be Blood" is unrelentingly grim.   It tells the story of the rise of an American oilman, a Mr. Plainview, played by Daniel Day Lewis.  Plainview is the prototypical capitalist.  Everything about him, family, work, ethics, is about making money and finishing on top.  His road to the top is through the bowels of the earth--where the black pitch blood of the earth--oil comes from.  Even the vibrant Brahms Violin concerto seems strangely off key.  It's a wonderful film and I was transfixed for the entire show.

If the NBA can have its dog days of February, I guess the Lyric Opera can also.  "Falstaff" is an enjoyable opera, full of gorgeous late Verdi melodies, but as Ashley said, "It's not Triviata."   It certainly is not!  It's light, airy and fun and quickly forgettable.

On Wednesday I listened to Floyd's "Susannah."  It's an opera based on an apochryphal writing of the bible set in turn of the 20th century Tennessee.  Sounds dull, but the opera had sex and violence and vengeful crowds.  Like any good operatic tragedy, it ended badly for everyone.  The story involves a pretty girl who is shunned by jealous church members and the preacher who tries to save her soul even while lusting for her body.  I was so enthralled by this story I was reading the libretto while driving the car.  Not as dangerous as doing mascara, but still pretty bad.   No more books on tape for me on long drives, it'll be operas on CD from now on.

Next week I have Mara's school symphony concert on Monday and the Chicago Symphony performing Bartok's 3rd Piano concerto on Thursday.  I'm a glutton...I can't wait.