Knoxville

On the rough wet grass of the back yard my father and mother have spread quilts. We all lie there, my mother, my father, my uncle, my aunt, and I too am lying there.…They are not talking much, and the talk is quiet, of nothing in particular, of nothing at all in particular, of nothing at all. The stars are wide and alive, they seem each like a smile of great sweetness, and they seem very near.

~ from “Knoxville, Summer of 1915,” as performed by Leontyne Price

 

A few hours after some people were attending their Xnth performance of Radiohead’s new tour (grrr), I was seeing Renee Fleming perform “Knoxville, Summer of 1915,” one of my favorite soprano pieces  Since cameras and phones were not allowed, I followed the rules (for fear of being whacked by all the rich old people around me—I was in the expensive seats) and didn’t record. I wish I had. Renee Fleming is a wonderful performer as well as soprano: gracious, graceful, graced. I admit I cried during the performance—the words are very evocative and the music is melodic and very American in its sound. One of the most famous to sing the piece is Leontyne Price, a big inspiration and teacher for Renee Fleming and an inspiration for today’s look.’

My dress with a buckle across the top is a chic and stylish look from ValentinaEvangelista for Shiny Shabby, one of her many self-designed knock out pieces. Paired with AvaGardner’s gorgeous feather-inspired earrings, also for Shiny Shabby, and t-strap shoes from Aleida Rhode for the Cosmopolitan Room, I hope the look evokes a modern sense of the ever-stylish and beautiful Leontyne Price.

 

Of course, my gorgeous skin from Nicole Button on the Catwa Candy mesh head is another inspiration. I used the makeup HUD from Nicole liberally in making my lovely Leontyne  The short wavy ‘do from Neveah Niu is the perfect cut for this look—a touch of finger waves and style that completes my look.

Hair: ICONIC:PEI-HAIR by Neveah Niu for ICONIC, available at Hairology *

Skin applier: EgozyFoxy (Nougat) with Egozy.Foxy (Make Up) Nougat – Coffee by Nicole Button for Egozy *

Mesh head: CATWA HEAD Candy V4.9 by Catwa Clip for CATWA

Eyes: Mesh – Marble Eyes – Journal by Soleil Reid for Dead Apples

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V3.5 by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Dress: :V.e. Shimmy Dress MAITREYA Violet by ValentinaEvangelista for Valentina E. Couture, available at Shiny Shabby *

Earrings: (Kunglers) Natalia earring – Quartz by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra, available at Shiny Shabby *

Shoes: Elysium –  Asta strappy heels (Maitreya) – eggplant by Aleida Rhode for Elysium by Aleida Rhode, available at Cosmopolitan Room *

Poses by Luth Brodie for Reel Expression (no longer available)