Justice at the Opera

[elleng]

The bellowing voice tumbled down from the upper level of the theater, from an older gentleman of considerable girth, slight beard and apparently less-than-optimal hearing. “Madam Justice!” he declared in a High Dickensian boom. “Raise your head to the balcony please!”

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, so addressed, stopped speaking for a moment and peered up toward the rafters. The Supreme Court justice, whose audience usually sits below her, had come to the Glimmerglass opera festival, in Cooperstown, N.Y., to give a talk on the two passions of her life — opera and the law.

It was a rainy Friday afternoon, and the 900-seat house was packed with fans of both the material and the speaker. Justice Ginsburg, 80, and remarkably small-boned, perched on a high chair at the front of the stage, a grand piano to her right. She had been answering a young woman’s question about becoming a lawyer when the man called out from above.

Before she could reply, he bellowed again. “Did you hear me?”

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/18/opinion/sunday/justice-at-the-opera.html

[teenagebambam]

1. I used to do a lot of singing in DC

Justice Ginsberg was a faithful audience member!

[elleng]

2. Good to hear!

Where/what did you sing?

[teenagebambam]

6. My regular gig was

at National Cathedral, but also lots of stuff with Bach Consort and Opera Theatre of No. Virginia and the In-Series.

[elleng]

7. Nice.

Sorry I missed you!

[teenagebambam]

8. I'm sort of back now

Living out bear Hagerstown, but still working in North Carolina. Hopefully this year I'll get a job closer to home, and then try and get back in the singing game in the city!

[elleng]

9. You're living near Hagerstown???

I have an apartment there, not there full time, so lemme know when you're around, and if you get back in the singing game, I'll be in the audience!

[pacalo]

3. Good read, ellen.

[elleng]

4. I thought so too, pacalo.

I like reading about her generally, and this 'personal interest' story is a good one.

[pacalo]

5. It was very complimentary toward her.

I loved the Billy Budd reference, too. I loved the scene during the court martial when the officers were deliberating for a verdict. I was just in awe of the beauty of the author's writing in both the language & the wisdom he provided for the officers.

[CTyankee]

10. That was such a nice story...I love that she has a little shrine to Puccini in her office.

Anybody with reverence for that great composer is a sensitive soul. And I love Justice Ginsburg.

All well with you?

[elleng]

11. Fine, yank.

At the cottage for a few hours now; lots to be done, and its hot! Thought I'd left A/C unit on, as painters were supposed to work here, but A/C's not on, and painters haven't been here. Will see, as time goes on.