Brian Dickie

Back home this evening

I am actually writing this on my flight from New York to Chicago, after a nice day in New York visiting three friends of many years standing.  I had some excellent Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee with Matthew Epstein this morning (only the best) - in his apartment at The Ansonia which he has lived for more than forty years.  It has seen some parties!  He took it over from its previous tenant Richard Gaddes - of St Louis and Santa Fe fame.  But that was back in the day.........

And I then dropped in on Craig Rutenberg, in charge of Music Administration at the Met.  It is a long time ago that we met in Paris - he was working with Boulez, back in the 1970s I suppose, I got him from there to Glyndebourne on our music staff, and he has moved through the higher echelons of the opera world for four decades now.  He is recovering from an accident but should be back to work soon.

And then I went for brunch with Dietlinde Turban Maazel - one of the two inspirations behind Castleton where I will spend 12 days in July, hoping to be of some help working with the remarkable young artists that gather together there, as they have for the past four summers.  It is a happy place, and Dietlinde fills it with the perfect balance of warmth and professionalism.

We are now approaching Chicago so I am signing off now.

Gluck at the Juilliard

It was a great pleasure to be reacquainted with Gluck's Armide this evening - my usually rather good memory about these things played some tricks on me.  I had completely forgotten until quite late in the evening that we had done it at the Nice Opera when I was artistic adviser then in the 1990s.  Marc Minkowski had conducted and although we spent time together on the casting he really did all the work (he is very good at it unlike some conductors) so I hadn't had much to do with it!!  Terrible to have forgotten that I thought!

Anyway I wont forget this one.  Jane Glover is such an inspiration for young singers - the rigor and discipline she imposes, the scholarly musicianship and sense of theater that she brings to her work in the opera house is quite unusual.  So it was a really smart move of Juilliard to bring her in for this semi-staged version.  Jane's work for ten years with COT has been one of the joys of my tenure.  And a generation of young singers have benefited hugely from working with her.  

The monster title rôle was taken by the 26 year old Emalie Savoy, a member of the Lindemann program at the Met.  It was a considerable achievement for this young singer.  She will be watched with interest by all talent spotters!

I was delighted that two debutantes with COT this year, Renée Tatum and Deanna Breiwick, shone prominently this evening.  It will be exciting to have these two especially gifted young singers in the cast of our Teseo in April.  And how good also to hear David Portillo, former member of Lyric's Ryan Center, in the taxing rôle of Renaud.  He made it sound so easy.

And there were some fine contributions from some Neue Stimmen friends - Wallis Giunta, Alexander Lewis, and Luthando Qave.  All three are members of the Lindemann program - I had heard them first in, respectively, Toronto, Sydney and Copenhagen.  Small world!

I will be back in Chicago early evening tomorrow.  I will have a nice few hours in New York visiting with friends and colleagues. I think that it is snowing out there now - I hope I can get back safely.

Back to winter in Chicago

South Michigan Avenue 5:20 pm February 10 2012

We are having another wintery spat with the weather Gods.  And I have to get to New York tomorrow.  But I guess it will have cleared up by then. 

I had a lovely dinner with my board president this evening at the University Club, our usual haunt. And I am now home and ready for an early night.  I am looking forward to Gluck's Armide tomorrow at Juilliard. More after that.

An American opera?

Well I don't think that Show Boat is an opera, by any stretch of the definition, but it is undoubtedly a great and classic example of a unique art form, American musical theater.  And there is great pleasure to be had when such care is lavished on it as audiences will see at the Lyric in the coming weeks.

I hopped into the dress rehearsal this afternoon, just for the first half (it is a 3 hour 15 minute show), and there is little doubt that the Lyric will have a hit on its hands.  The last time I saw an American musical in a building more in tune with opera and ballet than Broadway shows was My Fair Lady at the Châtelet in Paris in January last year.  This was Robert Carsen's brilliant production -  I enjoyed it hugely - and am possibly more in tune with the piece than I am with Show Boat.  But hey!  I am English - or rather, like Bernard Shaw, Irish.

There was a series of lovely performances.  Angela Renée Simpson is a rich and fruity Queenie.  And Morris Robinson a totally stunning Joe.  His Ol' man river stopped the show - twice, once in the middle and then at the end.  He was to have been our Osmin at COT in 2006 but had to back out at the last minute.  But he is a star now......as I had always felt he would be when he first auditioned to me at Boston University in November 2004.

Alyson Cambridge and Ashley Brown are extremely fetching as the gals, Julie and Magnolia, and Nathan Gunn inevitably as dashing as you can get as Gaylord.

And Chicago actor Ross Lehman gives a virtuoso performance as Captain Andy Hawks - brilliant and hilarious.

With the leadership of the prodution in the hands of Francesca Zambello and John DeMain you can't go wrong!

I left at half time to be sure not to be late for Jerry Tietz's little birthday party.  He will only reach 30 once!

Beers and Baritones

Jane Hulbert and Jerry Tietz

We had a great party last night.  This was one of the regular events we have to keep the under 45s young.  And it works really well as a marketing ploy as well. We brought on another nine subscribers from a group who are mostly regulars anyway. 

And speaking of the under 45s - Jerry Tietz, our Director of Artistic Operations, will be 30 tomorrow.  Happy Birthday Jerry!  He is much helped in his work by Jane Hulbert, returning to us to our great delight after a great season last year.

Anyway we had a fantastic turnout and Revolution Brewery on Milwaukee at California in the Logan Square area is a stunningly good place for a party.  I was freshly arrived from Europe and stayed the course.  And took a bunch of photos of the action..........I think that they may be on the COT Facebook page tomorrow.  Meanwhile you have two here!  I am not sure who the folks below are but they are under 45 and clearly having a good time!  Do you need to know more?  Join up with the Opera Underground lot and you will have a good time too.

PS - I love the internet - within minutes one of these fine and beautiful people posted a comment identifying the full gang.  Go to the comments and see for yourself. Thank you Mara Winston - I love you!

Quick stop at Heathrow

Fortunately the snow has vanished and everything seems to be on time.  I will comfortably be back for Beers and Baritones this evening!

A quick day in Paris

Place Saint-Sulpice from the steps of Manon and Des Grieux's meeting place 12:30 pm February 6 2012

It was a treat to go to Saint-Sulpice today - but alas there was no one playing the great organ. That will have to wait for another day - for the wonderful majesty of Widor who was organist here for more than 60 years!  

But there was another treat this afternoon - a revealing exhibition in the lovely little Musée du Luxembourg. This is Cezanne and Paris.  We associate Cezanne so much with Provence and Mont St Victoire, that we forget that he spent half of his adult life painting in Paris and its surroundings. So this was a special opportunity to be reminded of that.  If you are in Paris during the remaining three weeks of this expo do take the opportunity to go to this delightful place.

Tomorrow I will be back in Chicago after this nice day off in Paris

Winter family weekend

It has been bitterly cold and, with 6 inches of snow last night in London, everyone is temporarily paralyzed.  Above you see the view on the street where I am staying at midnight last night.

I arrived on Friday morning and have had three days with family.  And last night I went with Anthony and Camilla Whitworth Jones to the Arcola Theatre in Hackney to see a brilliant production by Edward Dick of Philip Ridley's disturbing The Pitchfork Disney.  The cast was led by an outstanding performance by Chris New, a name to watch if you have not come across him already, as is the director Edward Dick who is into opera as well..........my primary reason for going to this show.  I think that the review on the Arts Desk site describes my experience somewhat closely!  It was a very disturbing evening.  If you have the stomach for very strong stuff indeed try to make the trip out to the Arcola.  It feels rather like the Almeida of thirty years ago - a remarkable place.

And if you like Turkish food, or didn't realize that you could, then Mangal is the place for you - conveniently near by, and a wonderful way to finish such an evening.

The snow somewhat ruined my Sunday which was to have been a trip to Sussex for the fifth birthday of one of my eight grandsons.  But to have attempted to drive down there with an eight year old in the back seat on such a day would have been not just foolhardy but irresponsible.  So we remained in town and admired the snowmen!!

I hope to get to Paris for a day tomorrow and I will be back in Chicago on Tuesday afternoon.

London calling

So my poor London friends and family are complaining about the cold.  Meanwhile here in Chicago we are waiting for winter still.  Anyway I am on my way this evening and am now at O'Hare ready to take off in 90 minutes.  And a gorgeous afternoon it is.

Let us all wish Andrew Davis a Happy Birthday - d.o.b 2/2/1944.  He is celebrating it (or not) in Glasgow I believe.  We miss him in Chicago but he will be back soon......

Meanwhile we look forward to the forthcoming Show Boat at Lyric, and of course Rinaldo.  They are going to have to manage those without him.

And above all we look forward to Teseo and Moscow, Cheryomushki at COT.  Time marches on and we will soon be there!  I can not believe that any of my Chicago readers have not obtained there tickets yet.  But if you haven't - get on with it!

 

I will be back in town on Tuesday in time for Beers and Baritones.  If you are under 45 (or not more than that in spirit, like me) you will be most welcome.  All you can eat and drink for $25 if you book in advance, plus music from some of our singing lovelies.  Not to be missed!

Away again!

I am off to London tomorrow evening - an almost exclusively family affair - I have a grandson (one of eight) who has his fifth birthday on Friday and will have a party on Sunday afternoon in the village in Sussex where my second son and his wife are bringing up three splendid boys and a girl.  So I am going for that but will of course fit other stuff in as well - so watch this space!

Meanwhile Chicago opera lovers as well as those from further afield should take notice of Chicago's classical music station, WFMT.  On February 11, Henry Fogel, former President of the CSO and a passionate amateur (in the positive and best sense) of opera, will be presenting what promises to be a fascinating survey of 20th century singers and singing.

This is something new at WFMT and you have a full year to experience it.  Join WFMT for an all-day seminar on Saturday February 11, 2012 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm CST -- streamed live with audio and video -- featuring audio recordings by the greatest singers in history, photographs, DVDs, and more.

Live from the WFMT Studios, before a studio audience, the day will feature a lecture, discussion, and great music. Henry is one of the world’s most knowledgable collectors of recordings generally including vocal records, as WFMT listeners have come to know well over the years.

Henry will lead a journey of great recordings of opera singers from the last century, including Luisa Tetrazzini, Rosa Ponselle, Mario Del Monaco, and Feodor Chaliapin, and what made these singers great.  He'll discuss their personal experiences with Puccini, Mascagni, Leoncavallo, and Verdi and examine how opera singing has changed over the past 120 years.

The cost for the all day stream is just $20 for the general public and $15 for WFMT's Fine Arts Circle members (and you all should be members!). And all subscribers to this seminar will have on-demand access to it for one year. Information and registration here.

I should say that Henry is also a member of COT's board so do not be surprised to hear a few plugs for us.  And be even more surprised if you don't!!

Child's play

Our choreograpoher for Moscow, Cheryomushki, Eric Sean Fogel, was in the office today playing with the model of the set - just like playing with the model railways of his childhood he said - irresistible! 

He is in town for the production of Show Boat at Lyric for which he is responsible for the substantial dance element.  He is having a ball, particularly with our old friends director Francesca Zambello and conductor John de Main.  And, he says, a wonderful cast.  I am greatly looking forward to being at the dress rehearsal on Thursday next week.

Other than that a quiet day - and a warm one.  54 degrees in January in Chicago?  Ridiculous!

MOB on form

I am just back from the Music of the Baroque concert - a program of comparative rarities.  Especially pleasing was the Handel Concerto a due cori written for a 1747 production of Judas Maccabaeus.  The two cori (choirs) of the title were Brass (4 horns) and woodwind (4 oboes and 3 bassoons).  This was altogether magnificent - a splendid piece unknown to me.  Handel borrowed bits and pieces from other works - but good for him.  It was all his own work!

And we also had Haydn's delectable 98th symphony, written in London in early 1792 as he received news of Mozart's death on December 5 1791.  We know the London Symphonies well of course - but Haydn is little enough performed in Chicago alas.  So this was a real treat.

Nicholas Kraemer was on sparkling form - so I had a nice evening after a long day in the office.  And on the bus on the way home on my 151 bus one of the COT audience, who has been living in Chicago for 50 years but was brought up and educated in Westphalia, started up a conversation.  So we gossipped about Bertelsmann and Gütersloh.  A good end!

Handel and Haydn are coming to town

There is a lovely program at the Harris Theater tomorrow evening from our friends at Music of the Baroque.  The orchestra's Pricipal Guest Conductor, Nicholas Kraemer, will be doing the honors on the podium.  I hope that you will be there - this is a delicious program ending with "Papa" Haydn's 98th symphony.  That's a lot of children - he went on to give us 106...........if you include the so called Symphones A and B from the 1760s, when he was writing symphonies at the rate of one every three months.  And since he is also regarded as the father of the String Quartet and wrote almost 70 of those he can't have had much sleep!

So do go along and hear Nicholas Kraemer tomorrow at the Harris.  He and Jane Glover were on the music staff together at Glyndebourne more than 30 years ago.  They even shared digs and shared the conducting of performances of Die Entführung with our touring company.  And now they are sharing responsibility for Music of the Baroque. And I guess they hardly ever meet these days! 

Jane meanwhile is on the east coast preparing Gluck's Armide at Juilliard/Met, as well as doing a gig with Mark Morris at the Kennedy Center which closed last night. Our world sometimes feels very small!

Bitter wind

 Belmont Harbor 4:15 pm Saturday January 28 2012

It has been a gorgeous day here, as long you stayed inside.  There is a fierce wind accompanying the freezing temperature, an unpleasant recipe.  But out I went for some fresh air and a little exercise, and soon scuttled back after 30 minutes extreme exposure!  The marina at Belmont Harbor is deserted of course - by June it will be jam-packed again.

Some of my colleagues, including my Board president are in Long Beach this weekend for the opening of the Long Beach Opera's production of Astor Piazzolla's Maria d Buenos Aires.  This is the company run by my successor, Andreas Mitisek, who takes over on September 1 this year.  And not only is he conducting it, he has conceived, directed, and designed the production as well!  Good luck to him I say!  There are just two performances, tomorrow afternoon and next Saturday at 8pm. 

Piazzolla's nuevo tango music is very seductive - and no doubt will be a great treat for those fortunate enough to be there.  I alas am not - so cannot report first hand.

24 hours later!

Chicago River from Wabash Bridge 1:30 pm Friday January 27 2012

And here you have Chicago basking in sunshine at 1:30 pm today - something of a contrast with yesterday's picture in the post below taken from around the same spot at the same time.  And they are now telling us that we will have 2 inches of snow tonight.  (PS - we didn't!)

I spent this morning in Ganz Hall at Roosevelt University where we had auditions for the two places available in our COT/CCPA diploma program next academic year (2012-13).  I was joined by Scott Gilmore, who also played, as well as by Andrew Eggert and Cynthia Clarey.

It is always so good to see Cynthia.  She was the Serena in the famous 1986 Glyndebourne production of Porgy and Bess conducted by Simon Rattle and directed by Trevor Nunn.  She also appeared there as Ottavia in Poppea.

Anyway we heard 10 singers shortlisted from the multitude of CDs sent in.  We have just the two places as we had a larger than usual intake last year.....so we will be able to be quite selective.

I think that I will be taking the weekend off musically speaking.  I am not sure that I can really cope with Carmina Burana - so I will do much needed domestic chores - and start my taxes!

Misty moisty morning............

Chicago River from Wabash Bridge 1:30 pm Thursday January 26 2012

Yes, cloudy is the weather today - but it is cozy inside and I took the opportunity to go to the Pub for Fish and Chips. Cod was $11 and Halibut $19.  I saved the $8 for future purchases.......

And to keep in tune with the general gloom we are looking ahead to the final development of the 2013 budget, the approval which needs to happen on February 21, the date of our next board meeting.  I am sure that we will get there in time.............we have to - the 2013 season will be announced in March/April.

At last I have a full evening at home today.  I am resisting going to the CSO - but Muti is back.

Stop thief!!!!........

That is a pretty futile cry these days.  And in my case today particularly useless.  During the lunch hour when a good many people were out of the office and the others not paying particular attention - they were working after all - someone walked in, wandered down the corridor, into my office, nabbed my iPad off my desk, and calmly walked out again, down the stairs to the side exit. He, and an accomplice, were recorded on the CCTV.  But just generic folks - no particular characteristics. 

The excellent Apple "Find my iPad" system immediately established that they were professionals.  They had wiped its data off already.......I changed the password, so apart from the loss of the hardware no further harm done.  I called Verizon and they credited me back $20.  I thought that was nice of them!

Lesson to be learnt?  Well I really do not know - we have all been behaving the same way in that building for 13 years.......I guess there are no more crooks now than ever there were.  Just bad luck I guess.  We really can not lock up every time we go out, any more than we can lock up our daughters.

Anyway I will not replace it yet - there will be new one out in March and mine will be available still but at half the price I would have to pay for it this evening.  And I can go back to reading the New Yorker on paper two days later.  But it is a great device.........so we shall see!

Our dear colleague Evamaria Wieser in in town again.  We will be having supper this evening at the Osteria via Stato - on State Street of course.  That's my day!

"Junior" Flute

Chicago's Lyric Opera did a school performance this afternoon of Die Zauberflöte.  Of course it was the same production that has been a staple of the Lyric season since well before Christmas. And very well it has done.

But the feature of greatest interest today was the appearance of some young members of the Ryan Center in major rȏles.  And of course the highlights were the Tamino and Pamina, René Barbara, last year's winner of Domingo's Operalia Ccmpetition in Moscow; and Kiri Deonarine. 

René won a huge amount in Moscow at Operalia - including a very nice Rolex thank you very much!  Three prizes in total.  And he still sings extremely well and was a beguiling Tamino vocally.  Kiri likewise, with less money and no watch as far as I know, sings utterly wonderfully too - this is a classy Pamina indeed.

Other than that my day has been quiet, but I did have the crowning glory of a lovely dinner with two board members at the University Club.  You must think that my life consists of just opera, eating, and drinking.  Well there really is more to it than that but the rest is somewhat repetitive.  And I fear that this blog is becoming likewise.

So I will now go off to watch some tennis from the Aussie Open - and then to sleep.

Gloomy weekend

Its those January blues time again - the remnants of a heavy snow fall on Thursday creating a slushy obstacle course, then rain to wash away the remaining white stuff, then a rare late night thunder and lightning storm - rare that is in January but a regular exciting summer phenomenon.

But the brighter side?  A visit to the Met HD live screening of The Enchanted Island on Saturday afternoon was a great treat.  I had seen it live at the Met two weeks ago.  This was something different again, with nice interviews by presenter Deborah Voigt in the Intermission, in particular with the birthday boy Plácido Domingo, and the enchanting Danielle de Niese and Joyce DiDonato, as well as the eloquent David Daniels and Luca Pisaroni. And of course the Emperor of Baroque himself - William Christie!

I am an unashamed fan of these screenings - they are so well executed in every department.  They give the opera audience away from New York some memorable performances, and add so much the to knowledge of the repertoire which no opera company can possibly cover in its entirety.  But let there be no misunderstanding.  They are not a substitute for the real thing, the live performances in the theater - an altogether different experience. 

So buy your tickets now for the COT season.  This spring you can see two operas which you will not see in the Met HD live series.  And if you really love opera you can surely not get enough of it!

More snow!

We had another dumping of snow yesterday.  The picture above is of what it WILL look like later today!  Figure that out!

The Enchanted Island is on screens around the city today from 11:55.  You should try to see this - it seems that there will be reprise next month so all is not lost of you miss it.  But you might want to see it twice!!  I do - having been to a performance at the Met two weeks ago I am happy to spend $20 for another look!

Fun day

Masterclass - Marlena Malas and Louise Rogan - Sarah Cushman at the piano

Marlena Malas'a rare appearances in Chicago are greatly anticipated and it was a treat for the singers at the CCPA this afternoon to get a dose of such rigorous and experienced advice.  And also to see and hear what a difference just a few tips and and a few minutes can make.  I was able to be there for 75 minutes or so during which time two of the young people in our diploma program, Andrew Harris and Louise Rogan, were put through their paces.  And their friends and colleagues looked on - terrifying I would have thought!

I then went back to the office for a few last minute signatures, and on to the offices of the Chicago law firm Mayer, Brown who were hosting the Chicago Harvard Club's Lyric Opera event - Anthony Freud announced to be speaking about his first 100 days as General Director, but in reality delivering a brilliant description of his philosophy and attitude.  And speaking also about his pride in guiding what he rightly regards as a magnificent opera company through the treacherous waters of the 21st century.

Anthony has speedily embedded himself in the cultural community of Chicago and is widely liked and admired.  This is a very good thing indeed for Lyric.  He is leading his team into what I am sure will be another golden period.

I then returned to my Roosevelt friends - supper at David and Deborah Holloway's, with Marlena of course, as well as Richard Stilwell, Michael Best, and Judith Haddon - all voice faculty members.  A happy ending to a fun but frigid day.  We are in for another little snow storm tomorrow.

Happy memories

 

The Chicago River 4:50 pm Wednesday January 18 2012

I walked north on Wacker Drive from the Opera House and then headed east along the Chicago river back to the office after the dress rehearsal of Aida this afternoon.  And I reflected on the many performances of Aida I have seen over the years. 

I suppose that the one that must be the most important personally was on my 20th birthday, July 23 1961, in Verona.  Carlo Bergonzi was the Radames and Gabriella Tucci the Aida.  We also had Fiorenza Cossotto and Aldo Protti; and last, but not least, the young Nicolai Ghiaurov as Ramfis.  Gianandrea Gavazzzeni conducted. 

We then, we being me and two friends from Trinity College, Dublin, also opera fanatics, repaired to a splendid restaurant, the 12 Apostoli.  It still flourishes.  Imagine now three students dining there - how times have changed!  But this was over 50 years ago - oh dear!

But then there was Jon Vickers, Galina Vishnevskaya and Giulietta Simionato at Covent Garden in 1964.  Unforgettable also.......just more recent!

Notwithstanding those memories I had a fine time at Lyric this afternoon.  Nicolas Joel's venerable production, first seen at Lyric in 1983 I believe, still serves the piece very effectively.  And Radvanovsky and Giordani, as I predicted, were distinguished........I am sure that it will do well.  This is your irresistible grand opera!

Tomorrow is more fun.  Meanwhile please note than a good many of the links above are to Wikipedia which is blacked out for 24 hours.  It makes you realise what a fabulous resource this is.  I think that they will be back up and running tomorrow,  Meanwhile think about it and support them as best you can.  Please!

Today......

I will be at the Lyric Aida dress rehearsal this afternoon.  How nice for a change to hear a "Grand" opera!  I will report later on the hordes of supernumeraries and the Lyric Chorus in full cry.  And of course the rest.......including one of the best Verdians of the day, Sondra Radvanovsky, and the excellent Marcello Giordani who was Pinkerton and Romeo all those years ago in Toronto when I was General Director of COC.  The boy has done well!

And another lazy one.......

But actually I got a lot done today while the office was closed for MLK Day.  I broke the back of a piece I am writing for Opera America's excellent magazine.  Some other distractions prevented me finishing it this evening, but it will be done tomorrow.

I had the pleasure of lunch with James Gandre, Provost of Roosevelt University and former Dean of the Chicago College of the Performing Arts.  Before that he was a senior guy at the Manhattan School of Music.  Dean of something or other!  He is a positive optimistic spirit who has accomplished an enormous amount during his ten plus years in Chicago.  He arrived soon after me and we have worked really well together.  The establishment of the COT/CCPA diploma program is down to Jim - and me a bit too!  He is one of the many colleagues I will miss when I leave Chicago.

The reason for our getting together was that years ago he invited me to join the advisory board of the CCPA.  And I have served on it for eight or so years I suppose.  It is time to give it up and let my successor perhaps take over - that is up to them.  It has been an enjoyable time and I think that we have made a difference for a series of excellent young singers.  And we have supported an hugely transformed faculty under Jim's leadership, and that continues under his successor Henry Fogel.

Actually there is more CCPA stuff this week although I will not be at the board meeting tomorrow.  Marlena Malas, perhaps the most widely recognized of the great singing teachers here in the US, is giving a masterclass on Thursday.  She is an old friend and I admire her hugely.  It will be good to see her work her magic with some pretty gifted CCPA students.

It was mild and damp today.  It will get colder again as the week progresses.  Now off to watch the Australian Open.  A good way to switch off - difficult enough these days!