Some interesting links:
Jayson Bryant's Wine Vault TV, which looks to have almost daily short video tastings of New Zealand and other wines---good stuff.
Jancis Robinson on Le Clos Jordanne and Closson Chase, her favorite Ontario wineries, both of a Burgundian (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) orientation. She likes Closson Chase for their Chardonnay and Clos Jordanne for both, especially their Pinots. I tasted some CJ's last week at Jackson Trigg's splashy (but tasteful) Niagara-on-the-Lake facility; will post about them soon.
Cherries and Clay, a wine blog whose name summons taste memories of good Niagara Peninsula wines, though I think these guys are from BC.
Via Cherries and Clay, an interview with young winemaker Matt Dees of Jonata Wines in the Santa Ynez valley (near Santa Barbara, CA).
Countertenor Daniel Gundlach has an interesting, but apparently dormant for the last year, blog Counterleben, especially good on great and sometimes obscure sopranos. It's where I learned about Snowball (TM) the Dancing Cockatoo. (If that's not enough, another one bites the dust.)
I'm surprised you don't have more links to Santa Barbara or Santa Ynez wineries. I've had some of the best wine tasting experiences there and the wine never disappoints. It is the most rewarding place to visit as well, so much natural beauty and it is great to experience with a glass of pinot or sahyra in your hand as well! I love staying at the South Coast Inn (www.goleta-hotel.com). Close to multiple wine orchards in Santa Barbara county and a great buy!
Hi Howard, As I was google-stalking myself for career references for an artist visa application I am making to live in Berlin, I came across this lovely mention of my blog! Yes, I really did let it lapse, but I did think that some of the posts I wrote brought to light some pretty wonderful singers of the past. They're still a passion of mine, though I did more or less let the blog go dormant. I particularly like the pieces I did on Florence Quartararo, Rose Ader, and Eide Norena. And the posting on my friend Jerry Hadley. Nice to know someone read the stuff I put up there! Best wishes... DG
Thanks, Daniel! I expect you'll have a great time in Berlin, and will try to check out your recent work. Will also check out some more of the artists you mention. Re Jerry Hadley: Just yesterday I was listening to a 1993 Teldec disc of tenor/baritone duets by Jerry Hadley and Thomas Hampson, with the Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera under Carlo Rizzi. Superb! I think Hadley combines beautiful, clear tone with power here, and certainly musicality and taste. Hampson is excellent too, and they work together wonderfully.
A funny thing is that I was listening to this disc partly in search of suitable duets for me to sing baritone in....relatively recently I discovered that I have a decent baritone voice, and have been getting fairly seriously into singing (along with other areas of music that I've been into off and on all along)...even singing "For behold, darkness shall cover the earth / The people who walked in darkness" for our local choral society and orchestra's Messiah last year. Joined Canticum Novum
http://sfcanticumnovum.com/
a rather serious chorus/chamber orchestra combo in Santa Fe. Got a voice teacher, and have been delving deeply into the lieder, chanson, and operatic repertoire, which is incredibly rewarding even at, so far, an amateur level. One gets to know the music so much more deeply than even a steady regime of listening to concerts and the stereo. So, a funny thing, I'm actually way more into singing now than I was when I linked your blog!
Some excitement is just getting underway around here, counter-tenor-wise: David Daniels just sang the role of Oscar Wilde in the premiere of Theodore Morrison's "Oscar" at the Santa Fe opera last night. I haven't heard reports yet... my tickets aren't till mid-August, but I'm really looking forward to it.