Let me introduce you to my new neighbors.

This is Asako Tamura, who is to sing the role of Leila in Bizet’s “Pearl Fishers” at the Sarasota Opera in February, and you can find all about her at http://www.asakotamura.com, and you can hear her on this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8f1Cxd4mZxk, which was recorded in Montevideo which, as #1 son Michael would tell you, is the capital of Uruguay.

And here are her mother, Ryoko, who came from Japan to babysit, and daughter Marina. Mother is a singer too, in choruses, so she told me.

They moved in about a week ago and are to live next door to me for a month or more. They make a big contrast to the 4 Swedish guys who rented next door before the Tamura’s arrived; they were all about golfing, fishing and alcoholic libations-very nice guys, too. This year in Sarasota I am being exposed to a bevy of international people; the lady who resides on my other side, Loretta, is half Italian and half Greek and we converse in Italian, so I am getting practice for my upcoming stint in Castiglione della Pescaia.

Arrivederci!!