Haven't written for such a long time. We had a very pleasant summer. I did a new piece by Michael John LaChiusa called Lovers and Friends (Chautauqua Variations) in Chicago in June. Jane and I went to New York to see the kids in July, which included tickets to Major Barbara on Broadway. Zak was in that one. Excellent. Then we went to Montana to see my family. Jane played piano and 3 of us Orth guys sang for a fundraiser for the Rimrock Opera Company. And of course we went to the cabin my brothers built in the mountains. Now I1m in Fort Worth doing Candide. I really like this show. I1ll be home for just a few days before taking off for San Francisco and Die Meistersinger. Summer went way too fast. I miss my garden. And I miss being with Jane and my friends and family, eating great food at long tables in the shade in our back yard.
posted by B Orth at 10:53 PM

Haven't written for such a long time. We had a very pleasant summer. I did a new piece by Michael John LaChiusa called Lovers and Friends (Chautauqua Variations) in Chicago in June. Jane and I went to New York to see the kids in July, which included tickets to Major Barbara on Broadway. Zak was in that one. Excellent. Then we went to Montana to see my family. Jane played piano and 3 of us Orth guys sang for a fundraiser for the Rimrock Opera Company. And of course we went to the cabin my brothers built in the mountains. Now I1m in Fort Worth doing Candide. I really like this show. I1ll be home for just a few days before taking off for San Francisco and Die Meistersinger. Summer went way too fast. I miss my garden. And I miss being with Jane and my friends and family, eating great food at long tables in the shade in our back yard.
posted by B Orth at 4:01 PM

Portland is at the top of my favorite cities list. Just walking around town is such a pleasure, I do it every day. And there are so many places to go. I1ve done a lot of shopping. The natives ignore the near constant drizzle. I1m the only one carrying an umbrella. The Japanese Garden high on a hill is one of the most beautiful spots on earth. The entire cast of LA BELLE HELENE is staying in the same downtown hotel, so it1s easy to do stuff together like go to restaurants and movies. And two people I haven1t seen in many years, one since high school and one since college, have found me here. I like that.
posted by B Orth at 12:17 PM

Iım in Portland now. We start rehearsing LA BELLE HELENE today. At home the last couple weeks we had a flurry of activity with the basement being dug up and a drainage trench installed. Dust and mud everywhere. Oy. The cleaning ladies saved us. Now the carpenters are coming. And of course the electrician and the drywaller and the painter... Always something with a house. But itıs OK. I love my home. Jane is relaxing after the Easter frenzy. The music was beautiful. Josh is in Scotland and loving it - burning peat logs, skipping rocks, and getting to know the sheep. Zak got a role in Shawıs MAJOR BARBARA on Broadway this summer. Weıll certainly be going to see that.
posted by B Orth at 2:34 PM

Britten's War Requiem last weekend was a fantastic experience. Wow! What a masterpiece. It is truly overwhelming. I sure hope I get to sing it again. John Nelson was very ill but still managed to conduct brilliantly. Being back at my alma mater, Wheaton College, for rehearsals and performances was strange. Walking around the campus, part of me feels like the same person I was 33 years ago. However, the intelligent part of me knows this isn't even remotely true. The trip to Colorado turned out very well. We got Jane's mother's stuff moved into an assisted living home. She moved in today. We think it will be much better for her than the nursing home. Zak and Heidi and Audrey (our granddog) were here for a short visit this weekend. We had fun. Tomorrow night Jane and I are going to see Dame Edna in Chicago. Sunday I'm on a couple of panels for an Opera America Symposium. And I really have to knuckle down and learn La Belle Helene.
posted by B Orth at 8:51 PM

Tomorrow Jane and I are going to Colorado to see Jane's mother who is in a nursing home. We'll fly into Denver. I'm really looking forward to the long amazingly beautiful drive through the mountains to the Western slope. I love the mountains. We just hope there won't be too much snow or too much traffic involving weekend skiers.
posted by B Orth at 9:05 AM

Zak is shooting a TV movie in New York. It's called "Monday Night Mayhem" or something like that. Josh is anticipating his for-the-heck-of-it trip to Scotland to see friends next month. Jane is busy with Lent and preparing for Easter, and all the other music at church. I, on the other hand, am a househusband. Can't say I don't like it. I just feel a little guilty like I should be producing income. And then I remember that I have to enjoy these times and store them up to last me while I'm gone a whole lot next season. At least I did an interview for Opera News today. This is work?
posted by B Orth at 5:36 PM

Click on "Dark bio" on Bob's page. Josh just put it there.
I decided to do MEISTERSINGER in San Francisco this fall. I feel good about it, except for the part about not being near the kids in New York during that time. Heidi is doing a children's play by David Mamet at the Atlantic Theater Company - SPACE PANDAS. Wish we could see it. But we have to go to Colorado to see Jane's mother who is not doing well. Meanwhile, I love being home. I'm waiting for spring and already have 10 packages of flower seeds to plant.
posted by B Orth at 12:14 PM