praeceptrix

Jacques Chirac, former president of France, has died. He was 86. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-49838146

Soprano Rosemary Kuhlmann, who originated the role of the mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors (I had no idea that it was a made-for-television Opera!) has died. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/04/arts/music/rosemary-kuhlmann-dead.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&fbclid=IwAR1bZJWO-63iUYqppwL_SW1rtr7wYZ8ma4O6NHVUlPtCpC6h-ewW2lIjfEY

Lovely tribute from Arnold Schwarzenegger to his friend Franco Columbu: https://nypost.com/2019/08/31/arnold-schwarzenegger-mourns-death-of-longtime-pal-franco-columbu/amp/

Race car driver Jessi Combs has died. 39 is far too young. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49504222

My one claim to fame! But he really was a wonderful teacher -- our class even went out to dinner once (the restaurant was owned by a classmate) and Mr. McCourt not only ordered the alcohol, he also paid for it! He also had us do fantasy casting for The Scarlet Letter. It's been 40 years since I graduated, so 41 years since I was in his class... and I still remember so much (far more than anything else about high school!).

Frank McCourt was one of my teachers when I was at Stuyvesant High School. One of the best teachers I have had.

Animator Richard Williams, creator of Roger Rabbit, has died. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/aug/17/richard-williams-acclaimed-animator-who-created-roger-rabbit-dies-aged-86?fbclid=IwAR1zRFurWiGQlieym-7TcOc6L6gVGwiEAc8U3DXS6orqmQsoYtMy4Rdvp5k

Henri Belolo, one of the founders/creators of the Village People, has died. He was 82. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/12/arts/music/henri-belolo-a-founder-of-the-village-people-die-at-82.html?fbclid=IwAR3VAvnC3ozl4-xDehgnoipHQEeAafTGMEUjeFbF5r-Gkmn6KBdhXlyXwVU

Barrington Pheloung, who composed the beautifully haunting themes for Inspector Morse, Lewis, and Endeavor, has died at the age of 65. https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-49190169

I'm NYC born and raised. 50 of my 57 years have been lived in NYC. I never liked "Seinfeld," either.

Artist David Koloane has died. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/11/arts/david-koloane-whose-art-was-a-weapon-against-apartheid-dies-at-81.html?action=click&module=Well&pgtype=Homepage&section=Obituaries&fbclid=IwAR2wX0UfCR082iupX0WJtdZlnEsfnrOU0RvS3p-RPF0Zb9aAQJMq39ndZck

João Gilberto "father of bossa nova" has died. He was 88. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-48894651#

Jeon Mi-seon, 48, is the latest Korean actress to commit suicide. https://variety.com/2019/film/asia/korea-actress-jeon-mi-seon-dies-dead-in-apparent-suicide-1203256390/amp/

29 is far too young. I have not heard of him, but I am old and out of touch. https://kotaku.com/popular-youtuber-etika-dies-at-29-1835842910/amp

I had the pleasure of seeing her perform several times. Damn, but that woman was sexy!!!!

Eartha Kitt's sexy purr as Catwoman on the original, campy, Batman!

Eek! What, exactly, is that supposed to mean? I have only seen that bizarre use of "anymore" in the work of a particular author of fanfiction (tv adjacent, ergo on topic!). Every time the author used it I found myself shaking my head, wondering why (the author was pretty decent, aside from that quirk). Another huge annoyance in fanfiction (& elsewhere): the nearly ubiquitous omission of the final "ed" (e.g. "he had his hands clasp behind his back" "the plan is suppose to work")! I understand that the authors are just spelling words as they hear them, and many speakers don't enunciate the "ed." I even appreciate it when used to write an accent (Cockney, Southern drawl, etc.). But 99% of the time, it's just flat-out wrong and drives me nuts.

Roger Hirson, who wrote the book for Pippin has died. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/29/obituaries/roger-hirson-dead.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&fbclid=IwAR37nfPr732c4LU4L3J4wpP3LTTw9TyCUZJXGmO60db5PAuBRP2gcpzTE-4

Celebrity-adjacent death: Emiliano Sala's father has died of a heart attack, four months after Sala died in a plane crash. https://www.foxnews.com/sports/father-emiliano-sala-plane-crash-heart-attack

That sounds like fun. I don't suppose you would like to make the trip twice? I'm performing at Carnegie Hall on Friday, 5/3. Celebrity tie in: we (The Cecilia Chorus of New York) are performing a piece by The Brothers Balliett we commissioned, the libretto is taken from My Stroke of Insight by Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor of TED talks fame.

Charity Tillemann-Dick, a 35 year old Opera singer who had two -- two!!! -- double lung transplants has died. Too young. I didn't know her, but a number of people I know from a Facebook group knew her and say she was a sweetheart. It's just flat-out wrong that a sweet and talented woman 22 years my junior should die. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/opera-singer-who-received-two-double-lung-transplants-dies-at-35-charity-tillemann-dick/?fbclid=IwAR02ojhe-qdYJZD6djgLVN9G8ieZE3qTIS8OjpV-bmkHpxzHv45XzURTUb0 This article was more information on her life and death: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-48043765?#_=_

Yes, that is one of my favorites, too. I also loved his reaction when the boxing scam got blown because of human networking, "I can't hack a hick!"

Am I the only one who wants to follow your "Suddenly" with "Seymour"? I'll show myself out.

I'm confused. Who was pregnant? Was Rachel transsexual?

Barbara Hammer, groundbreaking lesbian filmmaker, has died. https://www.advocate.com/film/2019/3/16/pioneering-lesbian-filmmaker-barbara-hammer-has-died-79