Monthly Archives: November 2025
TMoTM S04E06: Pirates!
Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty premiered on December 31, 1879, where it was well received by both audiences and critics. Yet even as far back as that opening, the show has been a harbinger of change — blurring the lines between light comic operetta and musical comedy. The recent Broadway re-imagining Pirates! The Penzance Musical pushed those boundaries even further.
In this episode of The Magic of The Musical, Host Caledonia Skytower explores this Gilbert & Sullivan classic’s remarkable history and its role in making the once vaunted exclusive realm of the “savoyard” accessible over 140 years after its premiere.
Where Have You Been? S05E08 – A Museum to Get Lost In: The Vordun
Even nine years ago when it opened, the Vordun Museum & Gallery was impressive — lots of European artworks celebrated in the style of the great museums of the world, and it even then had a touch of the innovative using some then-just-emergent media and experience tools to enhance resident’s visits. Back then it was on a sub-parcel of the Fancy Decor store region, of which Jake Vordun is also the creator.
It’s certainly grown since then. The Vordun Museum & Gallery now fills its own region. And truly, it fills it. Not only are there works by Reynolds, Rubens, Gainsborough and a host of luminaries from throughout art history, but there are galleries featuring specific exhibitions — ten in all! The passion of its creator for art, for modern museum curation, and for the experience of visiting a world class museum is clear. It begins even before you enter, with the siting of the Museum on a rise with its staircase concourse, its water features and sculptures.
The Vordun offers some unique experiences to complement the works and themes featured. The exhibit “Musica Antiqua”, for example, focuses on early music in art and instruments. Both audio and video support are provided to enhance the experience. In the gallery featuring “Allegories of Artemisia” a series of vibrantly colored rooms take the visitor on a journey through the work of Italian Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi, drawing parallels between the subjects of the artist’s work and major events in their life. “Proverbs of the Low Countries” explores Peter Bruegel the Elder’s 1559 oil “The Blue Cloak” or “Netherlandish Proverbs.” The painting features 110 proverbial phrases, some of which might be familiar to you, such as “armed to the teeth” or “belling the cat.” When you accept the museum experience, a HUD will appear on your viewer screen and allow you to navigate close-up through each of the proverbs depicted in the work.
Visiting The Vordun really feels like you are visiting one of the great houses of Western art in London, Paris, Rome, Vienna or New York.
This episode airs at 12 noon and 4pm SLT/Pacific Time on Wednesdays and Saturdays through the end of November.
Region: The Vordun Museum & Gallery – Moderate
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Vordun/155/252/26
Owner: Jake Vordun
First Sundays, November 2, 2025: The Peace & Joy of Yo-Yo Ma
This programme is now available on Mixcloud to Listen Again.
Yo-Yo Ma is a French-born Chinese American cellist and songwriter. Ma is known as much more than a musical prodigy and a virtuoso. He is celebrated around the world for his ability to connect with audiences and for his collaborations with artists from other genres and cultures. Today, Caledonia celebrates his works and collaborations, inspired in part by his album “Songs of Joy & Peace.” Sunday, November 2nd, on Virtual Community Radio. Tune in at 2pm SLT/Pacific Time on https://main.vcradio.org!
At Virtual Community Radio, we believe Sunday afternoons are the perfect time to treat yourself to something special. That’s why we invite you to join us at 2pm SLT on the First (usually) Sunday afternoon of each month as we present a different musical treat: one hour of music on a theme. It could be anything from new age music, orchestral classics, soundtracks, or music celebrating a particular culture.
