Harpsichord in the Hall

Camerata Pacifica debuted its latest import-flutist Sébastian Jacot in a most impressive concert at the Music Academy’s Hahn Hall, with a program including music by Bach, Haydn, and Jolivet.

Geneva-born Jacot, who began studying music at the age of six, also holds the position as principal flute at the prestigious Berliner Philharmoniker. He plays a rare wooden Haynes instrument from 1999 and a 14k Parmenon.

Accompanying him was Estonian Irina Zahharenkova on harpsichord and grand piano.

A heady terribly talented twosome…

When Life Gives you Lemons… Make Lemonada

Meghan Markle has made a new podcast deal with female-funded network Lemonada Media which aims to “make life suck less” with shows about sex, grief, and the LGBTQ community.

The move, after the $25 million Spotify contract ended early last year, will also see Lemonada distribute Markle’s previous series, Archetypes.

She made the announcement on Sussex.com just 24 hours after the website was launched, alongside a new portrait taken by her friend Misan Harriman.

New Judgeship Available

Santa Barbara warbler Katy Perry, 39, is quitting her longtime job as a judge on the ABC show American Idol.

She revealed her decision on Jimmy Kimmel’s TV talk show which comes after seven seasons on the music competition series.

Kimmel asked the former Dos Pueblos High student how long she wanted to continue her run with fellow judges Lionel Richie, 74, and Luke Bryant, 47.

“You know, actually this fall in September I’m going to be doing a huge music festival in Brazil called Rock in Rio… I think this is possibly my last show, my last season for Idol.

“It has connected with me like the heart of America, but I feel like I need to go out and feel the pulse. I want to see the world and make some
new music.”

There is now talk about Jennifer Lopez replacing her…

Guest Speaks on ‘Good Morning America’ – from Canada

Prince Harry is considering U.S. citizenship.

The Riven Rock resident tells ABC correspondent Will Reeve on Good Morning America that it is not a top priority, but says he is enjoying his new life in America.

“It’s amazing,” the Duke of Sussex declared while being interviewed in Whistler, Canada, during his attendance of an event to promote next year’s Invictus Games for veterans and disabled servicemen.

But, according to U.S. Immigration rules “any applicant who has any titles of heredity or positions of nobility in any foreign state must renounce the title or position.”

So I very much doubt it will happen…

Pulling for a Cause

Santa Barbara’s Alpha Resource Center is flying high!

On Saturday, March 2, the charity is hosting its third annual “plane pull,” an extreme team challenge where teams of 10 play tug of war with an Alaska Airlines E175 airplane weighing nearly 100,000 pounds at Santa Barbara Airport.

Teams pull the plane 20 feet, with the fastest time in each division crowned division champions.

Each team of ten needs to raise $1,000 to compete – $500 for the schools’ division.

Jeff Henson, Alpha’s director of development, says: “I have run “plane pull” fundraisers for other nonprofits around the country and I knew it would be a great way to raise funds. Our goal is $65,000 with 25 to 30 teams competing.”

Launched in 1953, the charity supports children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

But When Is the Reboot?

Filming has secretly started on a new series of Downton Abbey, the glorious period drama which ran on PBS eight years ago.

Bosses are hoping to bring back many of the big names including Hugh Bonneville, Michelle Dockery, and Joanne Froggatt who appeared in the previous six series and two
movie spinoffs.

The relaunch of the much-loved show is filmed at Highclere Castle – the imposing English home of the Earl of Carnarvon. Downton Abbey covered many of the social changes and world events between 1921 and 1928, and the relaunch is expected to be on TV screens worldwide by year’s end.

I can’t wait…

Lawyers’ Fees May Come to a Close

Actor Kevin Costner and his ex-wife Christine Baumgartner have settled their acrimonious divorce and finalized the judgment nine months after filing documents.

The battling exes have signed and filed a Marital Settlement Agreement, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ.

As Baumgartner filed divorce documents in May 2023, the case is now considered closed.

California has a waiting period of six months for divorce finalization and Baumgartner’s filing was done nine months ago.

NFL Green Yet to Comment 

Not only was Super Bowl LVIII the most watched in TV history, but the biggest event on the NFL calendar also attracted a near-record number of private planes to Las Vegas.

According to the business flight tracker, WingX, there were 882 private jets that flew in and out of the gambling Mecca for the big game.

Only Super Bowl LVII last year in Glendale, Arizona, saw more private air traffic with 931 flights.

The match at Allegiant Stadium was the second best in Sin City’s history, trailing the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix last November, which saw nearly 1,000 private jets wing to
southern Nevada.

ETC in LORT

The 45-year-old Ensemble Theatre Company has been accepted as the 81st member of the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the largest professional theater association in the U.S.

ETC joins the seven other southern California LORT companies including the Geffen, Pasadena, Laguna and La Jolla playhouses, and the Old Globe.

“Being recognized as a member of the League of Resident Theatres marks a major milestone in ETC’s evolution and signals that we are building a reputation as a premier regional theater company,” says Scott DeVine, ETC’s executive director. “This recognition also reinforces the quality contributions ETC is making to Santa Barbara’s cultural hub, which offers experiences for both artists and audiences that rival any community in the country.”

I couldn’t agree more…

Sightings

Former tennis ace Jimmy Connors noshing at Lucky’s… Supermodel-turned-business tycoon Kathy Ireland picking up her Java jolt at Pierre Lafond… Katy Perry and daughter Daisy Dove, 3, joining fiancé Orlando Bloom on the London set of his new movie Deep Cover.

Pip! Pip!