Let’s see how this production of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut starring Kristine Opolais will fare. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well. Yes, I did sound a bit worn out in this video review, but let’s just say my voice kind of gave way to a film shoot I was involved in. But it was getting better, I just needed to rest my voice.
Antoni Garcia
Read More
Claus Guth. Whether you like him or hate him, you can’t deny that this Salome production did have some moments of brilliance. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.
Two years ago, I parted from Budapest with this light and lovely comic opera starring wealthy older man and his cheeky yet lovable servant girl. The singers involved in this opera were Andras Kiss as Uberto and Orsolya Safar as Serpina.
Two years ago in January, I caught the premiere of Leos Janacek’s Vec Makropulos, known in English as The Makropulos Case, at the Deutsche Oper Berlin starring the indescribable, invigorating, and exhilarating Wagnerian soprano, Madame Evelyn Herlitzius, as the tragically eternal anti-heroine, Emilia Marty. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.
Four years ago, I caught the premiere of this particular production of Hector Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust headlined by an illustrious cast consisting of Samuel Youn, Klaus Florian Vogt, Clementine Margaine, and Tobias Kehrer. Enjoy the review and let me know your opinions as well.
My three favorite Disney muscle hunks, Hercules, Basuli, and Tarzan, are back. This time, based on the look in their eyes, they are so ready for a beatdown, more specifically a Pankration match. Plus, they are aged up to be in their forties, given their ages after their shows or movies were aired and, of course, their beards. In this pic, Herc is 45, Basuli is 44, and Tarzan is 43. For those of you not in the know, Pankration is an ancient Greek martial art that existed since the 7th century BC and that is a combination of wrestling and boxing along with the usage of kicks, holds, locks, and chokes. The only unacceptable moves were biting and gouging the opponent’s eyes out. Etymologically speaking, Pankration derives from two Greek words, “pan” meaning “all” and “kratos” meaning “strength, power, or might”. When combined together the literal meaning is “all of the power”. Moreover, Pankration is rather similar today’s mixed martial arts given the similarities of certain moves. Going to Herc, Basuli, and Tarzan, I envision them as veteran pankratiasts, given their superhuman strength and unparalleled combat prowess. Even more so, when making this drawing, I kind of knew that Hercules would also specialize in something like Pankration, as he is based in Ancient Greece, and I figured that Basuli and Tarzan would make perfect sparring partners and teammates for Herc. Growing up, they would participate in many a Pankration match and would constantly sharpen their skills. By the time they reach their forties, they would still go on with competing, but they would also dedicate themselves to becoming coaches to aspiring young fighters and teach them the basics and watch their growth and development. When making this drawing, there were facets that had to come into consideration from the stance to researching the typical Pankration attire to aging up these three gentlemen. I gave Herc, Basuli, and Tarzan their signature color loincloths, with Herc’s being burgundy, Basuli’s being red and Tarzan’s being dark brown, and even different beard styles, with Herc having his beard around the jaw and chin area, Basuli having a sort of full beard and Tarzan having a goatee. Plus, I gave them the same color of cloth that binds their hands and wrists when fighting. In addition to that, I am rather satisfied with how their arrangement turned out, as everyone is seen and in a line. Overall, I definitely enjoyed making this and even finding out a bit about Pankration. I imagine these guys would square off against Nessus, Kaj the Leopardman, and Muviro, Goku, Vegeta, and Gohan all three in their Super Saiyan 4 form, or even, Conan, Prince Zula, and Ka-Zar in a three-on-three throwdown. That would be such a spectacle I would pay really good money to see! As always, it’s really fun seeing Hercules, Basuli, and Tarzan kicking loads of butt together while being really close friends, which is definitely a crossover I would’ve loved to see happen. Thanks so much for taking a gander at this pic and for reading this post and I will see you all on the flipside. Take care. This is where I found some information regarding Pankration, so here you go. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pankration Hercules belongs to Disney and Greek Mythology Basuli and Tarzan from The Legend of Tarzan and Tarzan belong to Disney and Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you all my three beloved Disney musclemen, Hercules or Herc from, of course, Hercules, Basuli from The Legend of Tarzan, and Tarzan from, of course, Tarzan, having a posedown in Opar. Aside Basuli and Tarzan being my absolute man-crushes of all time, Herc was definitely the one who preceded them. I remember even liking Disney’s Hercules ever since I was a little boy. Moreover, I was rather fascinated with Herc and how absolutely charming he was from his muscles to his charisma to the fact that Tate Donovan did such a phenomenal job bringing this character to life. Nowadays, as an adult, I still fancy him, even though his movie did have some flaws here and there. Regardless, Disney’s Hercules is still a rather enjoyable flick from time to time. I have always wanted to draw Hercules, Basuli, and Tarzan in one picture because I do feel like these guys can make an excellent three-man team with Herc being the leader and the overall big brother, Basuli being the proud warrior with his set of codes and Tarzan being the fierce fighter who saves his teammates’ behinds. I can even imagine them having the closest BroT3 bordering on OT3 bond ever because of how well they might work in battle and how well they deal with each other. In terms of relationships, as I stated before, I always see Basuli and Tarzan as brothers and when Hercules enters the mix I see him more as the childhood friend who always has their backs through thick and thin. If these guys were to be relocated in Ancient Greece, I am pretty sure these men would have some action together with the two jungle men sharing nights of intimate pleasure with their beloved demigod of strength. This kind of gives me an idea for an AU where Basuli and Tarzan are brothers who are brought to Greece from their native Africa to be trained as Hercules’s comrades in war. Little does Herc know, Basuli and Tarzan also have superhuman abilities like super strength, super speed, and even, the ability to communicate with animals. Thus, Herc feels a connection with them that he does not want them to be his slaves but rather his best friends and confidants akin to brothers. I can envision them training their muscles via weightlifting and even engage themselves in contact sports like wrestling, boxing, javelin-throwing, discus throwing, and probably their most favorite, Pankration. As time goes on, they will start to have feelings deeper than kinship. They might eventually confess their admiration and love for each other to the point where all three men strike a deal. Basuli will have three nights of passion with Hercules. Tarzan will have three nights of passion with Hercules. Finally, on the seventh day, all three of them will have a go at each other. I could really imagine these guys battling it out in the day and having their hours of passion at night. When their parents would inquire them about this, Hercules, Basuli, and Tarzan would staunchly say that they deeply care for each other and they are meant to be together and nothing they say will separate them. In terms of this drawing, I had to get the positioning, the postures, the skin tones of each of these gentlemen, and the setting pegged down to a T. I’m fully aware that Hercules has the lightest skin tone among his comrades, with Tarzan having a darker shade given his time in the jungle, and Basuli having the darkest shade of skin in comparison to Herc and Tarzan. Moreover, when it comes to muscle mass, Herc and Basuli are the bulky ones compared to Tarzan, who is leaner yet definitely has muscle. Out of all these facets when making this drawing, I had the most fun with the positioning and postures, as I was able to ensure that all three of these hunks are visible and, boy, was it satisfying. Plus, I find drawing Tarzan’s to be a slightly better experience than before. As for the setting, I sort of decided on a chamber in Opar complete with leopard-spot curtains and a reddish backdrop, enough to give anyone who views this exhibition a grand time with these three godly hunks. I hope you all enjoy this drawing I did and the post I wrote, as I did put some time and effort into this. Until then, see you on the flipside. Hercules belongs to Disney, and of course, Greek mythology. Basuli and Tarzan from Tarzan and The Legend of Tarzan belong to Disney and Edgar Rice Burroughs.
So, I have just turned 26 years old, just four more years until I reach the big 3 o. I am both happy yet anxious because of all the plans I need to iron out for a more stable future and I have to keep on being consistent in everything I do. So, in honor of my very special day, I decided to draw the now grown-up Rowdyruff Boys and Powerpuff Girls looking really sharp tonight. In my headcanon, these two teams ended up becoming one grand superhero team, known as Team Xtreme, while they were still kids and have been on several missions from fighting monsters, beating criminals, battling supernatural forces and balancing all that with school, work, and other endeavors. Moreover, while the Powerpuff Girls have their parents, Professor Utonium and Miss Keane, known in my headcanon as Mrs. Keane-Utonium, I decided to let the Rowdyruff Boys be away from Mojo Jojo and Him and be adopted by Mr. Green and Miss Sara Bellum, known by her married name as Mrs. Sara Bellum-Green. No worries, I will definitely make fanart out of these two families, one when they were children and one when they are grown up. So, without further ado, here’s Team Xtreme from left to right. Brick “The Lord High Bludgeoner” Green, aged 25 going on 26 Butch “The Baron of Brawn” Green, aged 25 going on 26 Boomer “The Fleet Athlete” Green, aged 25 going on 26 Blossom “The Commander and the Leader” Utonium-Green, aged 25 Buttercup “The Toughest Fighter” Utonium-Green, aged 25 Bubbles “The Joy and the Laughter” Utonium-Green, aged 24 I hope you enjoy this piece of work and I will definitely see you on the flip side. Take care. The Rowdyruff Boys (Brick, Butch, and Boomer) and the Powerpuff Girls (Blossom, Buttercup, and Bubbles) belong to Craig McCracken.
The PPG/RRB Shipping Chart was originally created by QuietLullabies. Well, I am in the marvelous city of Madrid, Spain, where I will be celebrating my 26th birthday. Yes, I know, another year older, another year wiser. So, to celebrate my upcoming birthday here’s my take on the whole PPG/RRB shipping meme chart. I have been seeing fellow artists’ takes on these pairings. Some were interesting, some were a bit one-sided, and some were actually well-thought out and I enjoyed reading their opinions on the Rowdyruffs and Powerpuffs they like or not like to pair up with. So, without ado, here’s my take on the PPG/RRB shippings. OTPs: Boomer/Bubbles or Boomubbles- In my opinion, this has to be the most plausible and overall best of not only the color-coded RRB/PPG pairings but also RRB/PPG pairings in general. These two seem like they are destined to be for each other and are akin to the star-crossed lovers that I have seen in the media and literature, i.e. Romeo and Juliet. I am very sure that these two would start leaving behind any animosity if the Rowdyruff Boys became good guys, joined forces with the Powerpuff Girls and will be the first to show loads of forgiveness and compassion, while they are still young children. Eventually, Boomer and Bubbles would start becoming the closest of friends and comrades, thus building a healthy and genuine relationship between the two. Once they reach their tweens and teens, they would develop even deeper feelings for each other and will actually go on more dates, aside from the usual crime-fighting they have to do. Plus, in my headcanon, they would end up being the first to marry in their late teens to their early 20s and have children with Boomer being the loving, well-meaning father and Bubbles being the supportive, compassionate mother, in spite of the fact that they are the youngest of their respective sibling groups. It’s no surprise why I love the Blues when they are together. It’s because of not only their appeal of being adorable, sweet, and/or lovely but it also has this fairytale-like feel in their relationship, where after every trial, every challenge, and every hardship, Boomer and Bubbles still have each others’ backs and will seem to be the couple that will stay faithful to each other until the end of time. The Reds and the Greens were rather interesting to pair up because not only do I like Blossick and Butchercup, even though they can be a tad bit overrated, but I also enjoy Brickercup and Blossutch as much as the former. Moreover, the Reds and the Greens don’t really have that fairy tale, lovey-dovey, sentimental vibe that the Blues have, thus showing how tough being in a relationship is, yet at the same time it is reassuring, as principles of respect, responsibility, compassion, allegiance, and trust need to be put in to practice, not only with each other but also for the good of their team. So, here’s my take on these pairings, even though I made it kind of clear in my OT4 drawing of Bricksomutchercup. I still keep my word that Brick, Butch, Blossom, and Buttercup are the strongest OT4 in my opinion, hence that’s why I dub them to be my Four Favorite Bruisers of All Time because of their unwaveringly strong personalities and overall determination. Plus, I imagine the Reds and the Greens living together under one roof, with the Blues living in another house. So, here are my explanations, anyway. Brick/Blossom or Blossick- I put this as my first choice because they seem to be the ones who follow suit when it comes to Boomer and Bubbles being together. As they grow up and form a six-person superhero team, I can see them still obtaining responsibilities of being leaders as well as the eldest children with Brick and his large-and-in-charge warlord personality who ensures a fair fight, great combat skills from all of his teammates, and a grand victory for every mission they do and Blossom and her tendency to be the team mom who ensures strategy to be present in battle and the overall safety of not only her beloved but also her comrades. I can see their romance as not being that of a fairy tale but one that is really challenging, as walls need to be broken down, trust has to be formed, and respect and allegiance need to be put to practice. Sure, they would initially have difficulty trusting and respecting each other. However, as time goes by, they would start to see each other for who they are. Brick would see that Blossom is not always Little Miss Perfect and Blossom would see that Brick has some insecurities, which are more often than not hidden in this proud personality. Together, these two can take what primal doubts and insecurities they have and take them in stride, thus helping each other reach their full potential not only physically but psychologically as well. As young adults in their twenties, they and the Greens would even have a double wedding after their youngest siblings’ matrimony and as parents, I can imagine Blossom being the stern, well-meaning, and supportive mom and Brick being the strong, tough, and really loving dad. I really love this pairing because it does show how being in a relationship is not always easy but when two people have patience, trust, respect, allegiance, and understanding anything is possible. Butch/Buttercup or Butchercup- Ah, yes. One of the Takahashi couples to end all Takahashi couples because of their volcanically belligerent sexual tension. They would be the couple who would argue and shout one moment and be cuddly and make love to each other in the next. As I stated before, Ranma and Akane would end up paling in comparison to Butch’s and Buttercup’s brand of belligerent sexual tension. As the toughest and most volatile fighters, with Butch being the big muscle and Buttercup being the…
Since this is spring, there’s nothing lovelier nor more gorgeous nor more calming than to see my most beloved bruisers, Brick, Blossom, Butch, and Buttercup, looking nice and having a serene, lovey-dovey moment with each other in the forest. This piece of fanart is dedicated to all the shippers of Blossick, Butchercup, Brickercup, and Blossutch. Moreover, the character ages in this pic are Brick, 23, Blossom, 22, Butch, 23, and Buttercup, 22. Having to draw my favorite OT4 of all time proved to be easier said than done. Nonetheless, I accepted the challenge I bestowed upon myself. Character positioning was one thing but the one I really had to perfect was all of the hand positionings. Heavens, talk about having to decipher who holds who and I thankfully found my way around it. As if it were not already obvious, Brick has arms around Blossom with his left hand extending to hold Buttercup’s hand. Blossom has her left hand on Brick’s left arm, as her right hand is touching Butch’s hand. Butch has his left arm around Blossom’s shoulder and his right arm around Buttercup’s waist. And finally, Buttercup has her right hand touching Brick’s left hand, which is covered by Blossom’s long hair and has her left hand on Butch’s left shoulder. So, there you have it, my OT4 for life. As much as I really like to ship Brick/Blossom or Blossick and Butch/Buttercup or Butchercup, I find both Brick/Buttercup or Brickercup and Butch/Blossom or Blossutch to be equally as compatible, plausible, lovely, endearing, entertaining, and just plain awesome as the main color-coded shipping of the Reds and the Greens. I am fully aware that Blossick is shipped to high heaven, but here’s my take on this pairing. In my opinion, it’s a relationship based on trust, respect, understanding, letting go of any prejudices, and breaking each others’ walls down. When one combines Brick’s street smarts with Blossom’s book smarts, it’s a team-up to be reckoned with. Sure, Blossom has to put up with Brick’s abrasive attitude and occasional anger issues, and he has to put up with her tendency to overanalyze and overthink things. However, they seem to find common ground and iron things out, hopefully for the best. Plus, Blossom is the paradigm of morality and perfection, while Brick is the paradigm of ensuring an authoritative nature without question and impulsivity. While they might seem like the undisputed commanders and leaders on the outside, they might have their own crippling flaws on the inside, thus showing they are not perfect. In spite of their imperfections, they very much have to take them in stride not only as the eldest children of their brood but also as leaders and role models and acknowledge each others’ flaws and insecurities so that they can help each other improve without the need to be condescending nor bear any animosity whatsoever. Thus showing a relationship that over time can flourish into something more. Even more so, while Brick tends to think with his fists with a good amount of tactics, Blossom thinks with her head when planning an attack. In terms of whatever ills they had with each other in the past, they would end up forgiving each other and starting anew letting go of all the anxieties of the old and striving towards a better future. I am also completely aware that Butchercup is shipped to shipped to high heaven and here’s my take on it. Move over, Ranma and Akane! Get lost, Inuyasha and Kagome! Take a hike, Ataru and Lum! Because there’s a new Takahashi couple in town that will wipe the floor with their brand of belligerent sexual tension and overall volatility and that is Butch and Buttercup. I kind of see them as one of the Takahashi couples to end all Takahashi couples because of the fact that they are stubborn, hard-headed, volatile, and seem to be the type of people that will shout at each other one moment and make out in the next moment. It’s not like I have anything against these type of couples, with the exception of Inuyasha and Kagome, as I cannot stand how much dominance she thinks she has over him with the Beads of Subjugation, hence my deep-seated hatred for this pairing, it’s just that at times the Takahashi couple do tend to be entertaining but when their relationship status drags the plot along, it can be rather tedious to see the two characters as a plausible or healthy couple. You may be asking, why do I not like Inuyasha and Kagome as a couple, but like Butch and Buttercup together? Well, it all chalks down to Butch and Buttercup being the toughest and strongest fighters of their groups and, boy, do they do a lot of the fighting. So, being emotional or lovey-dovey or syrupy is completely out of the question, as I am sure that they are the type of people who have zero tolerance for anything saccharine. However, when they combine their combat prowess, it is definitely a team-up to be reckoned with, and their ritual as a couple would be pummeling criminals by day and making steamy love to each other by night. Inuyasha and Kagome, on the other hand, I could never get into this pairing because there are times that Kagome, in spite of her growing archery skills and her position as the main female protagonist, is often given the role of being the damsel in distress, and it’s usually up to Inuyasha to save her. While the usage of the Beads of Subjugation was meant as protection in the first half of Inuyasha, there were times in later episodes that they were used for petty punishment against Inuyasha, even if he did not deserve it. Thus, making Inuyasha’s and Kagome’s relationship kind of toxic, as Kagome comes off as domineering towards Inuyasha as the lapdog. At least with Butch and Buttercup, sure, they can get into each others’ skins, but at least they…