The Return from Happy Valley

He-e-e-e's ba-a-ack! Indeed, the Wonk has returned, refreshed and unscathed, from Salt Lake City and environs, and pronounces himself thoroughly invigorated by his trip to the city's conservative precincts.

Indeed, Mr. and Mrs. Wonker even discovered where the fabled town of Randolph, Utah, was actually situated (near the Wyoming border) but alas, did not have the time to pay a visit to that excellent bastion of support for President Bush.

As non-skiing individuals, it was perhaps curious that we lodged in a timeshare atop the Wasatch mountain range. And indeed, we took an enjoyable ride on the tram-car there to see what all the 150-ish remaining inches of "the best snow on earth" was all about (whilst skiers enjoyed the slopes). But we also had fun exploring Antelope Island, smack in the middle of the Great Salt Lake (yep, it sure is salty), dining in a couple of nice Salt Lake City restaurants (and learning that Idaho actually produces some very good wine), checking out the chi-chi art galleries in Park City (an apparent stronghold, alas, of Dems and Robert Redford's indy-lefty Sundance film festival), and enjoying an organ recital and a rehearsal by the world's best large choral ensemble, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. (Musical events were actually held in the church's impressive new Conference Center, as the Tabernacle itself is under extensive renovation. As we discovered when we were thrown out of the site by a watchful construction guard who was certain that Wonker, once a U.S. Steelworker, would somehow be instantly killed if he ventured further!)

We also managed to get tickets to a Friday performance of the Utah Symphony in the nearby Abravanel Hall, named after the orchestra's late, longtime conductor-founder. Performances these days are often led (as was Friday's performance) by conductor and music director Keith Lockhart, also the maestro of the Boston Pops. The concert featured some surprisingly mediocre Mozart, but also unveiled a dazzling new reconstructed version of Bela Bartok's "Bluebeard's Castle," courtesy of the late composer's son, Peter, who collaborated with the Utah Symphony on the project. This was a semi-staged edition of the composer's intriguing one-act opera, complete with props at the rear of the stage as well as an additional jut-stage upon which the work's two soloists, Duke Bluebeard and his latest hapless wife, Judith, acted out (rather sang out) their intricate psychodrama.

The Washington National Opera will be performing the work for the first time here this fall and it will be interesting to see if they take advantage of this new version. Quite a stunning performance by the Utahns, really, and the absolute highlight of our evening.

But again, we're back now, and catching up on work, so blogging from this quarter will be light for a couple more days.

Meanwhile, a courtly hat-tip to the intrepid Luther for keeping our readers' eyes focused on the leftist, collectivist, socialist, and just plain stupid villainy that remains a constant threat to these United States. Clearly, the culture wars ain't over yet. But then again, neither are we!