Brian Dickie

Ryan Pasquale

It has been a weird day - it was practically dark when I left the house at 11 am - and we then had a spectacular thunderstorm and heavy rain.  And now, 6pm its a gorgeous evening.  And I am home after an enjoyable few hours at the Ryan Center's Don Pasquale "workshop".

This is not an opera of which I am particularly fond, notwithstanding some of Donizetti's most winning music. Maybe I am unduly sensitive about the subject matter!!  But seriously I have never felt much sympathy for any of the characters and their implausible situations.  And I do not think the piece makes up for it by adding anything to one's understanding of the meaning of life! 

But the five Ryan Center members participating made a brave shot at it.  Emily Birsan is not a born Norina (for which she may very well be grateful) - but demonstrated some really interesting potential in the bel canto repertoire. She has developed into a most interesting artist in the short time she has been at the Ryan Center.  I hear Bellini and the big Donizetti women (Lucia and the Queens) somewhere in the not too distant future.  She has a really lovely quality and is a credit to Gianna Davis and the Ryan Center.

I always enjoy the work of Joseph Lim and David Govertsen who took on Pasquale and Malatesta, and Bernard Holcombe the cruelly taxing Ernesto.  Will Liverman made an impression as the Notary! Very good indeed!

I am not sure how one defines a "workshop" - in any event Loren Meeker devised a clever production in the William Mason Rehearsal Hall.  One can not ask for more.

But we got more, with outstanding playing from Alan Darling (Acts 1 and 2) and Craig Terry (Act 3).  This makes such a difference - and must have been hugely appreciated by the conductor Eric Weimer.  It is always nice to have the Vienna Phil at your disposal - Darling and Terry are the next best thing!

I was supposed to be leaving for Washington DC tomorrow morning at 6:25 am.  The flight was cancelled so I will have a two hour relief.  But it will still be an early start.  I am so looking forward to my 12 days in Castleton.

Chicago neighbourhoods

One of the advantages of not going to the office everyday during these last weeks in Chicago is that I can explore some of the parts of town I have not really encountered very often over the years.  Yesterday it was Greektown.  This evening it was Andersonville.

Two notable places on Clark Street are Andies (above) and Simons (left) which goes a long way to recognize the Swedish elements in this part of town.

But let us not forget the Irish.  On the corner of Clark and Berwyn is Lady Gregory's, an excellent pub in the same family as its siblings Wilde and Beckett.

Lady Gregory is of particular interest to me since my great uncle Walter Riddell was a young playwright who was closely involved with Lady Gregory at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.  His play The Prodigal was produced there in 1914.  He died in his 20s - a promising career unfulfilled.  He also served for a short time as the theatre critic of The Times.  I had to come to Andersonville to be reminded of this!

Itr has been a real scorcher today, up to over 100.  Tomorrow I am looking forward to being at the Ryan Center's Don Pasquale.  These summer productions are always a wonderful opportunity for the singers to showcase their achievements and for us to keep up to date with the developing talent.  So much good has come out of the Ryan Center.  Emily Fons in the Vivaldi in Garsington was a standout.  And on Sunday I am lucky to be seeing the Barbiere with Cecelia Hall as Rosina in Castleton.

Lunch in Greektown

British Museum - some of the loot from the Parthenon - Sunday June 24 2012

So I had lunch with our old friend Jerry Fuller at Athena in Greektown today.  Alas we did not feel free to display ourselves quite as they did in the good old days in Athens as depicted above.  But we had a good decorous time all the same with first class Greek food - an excellent taromasalata and superb souvlaki.  All washed down with delicious cheap Greek wine at $5 a glass.  As you can see below our fellow lunchers were also well behaved.

This evening I am off to supper with lovely colleagues Chris Gillett and Lucy Schaufer, both home in Chicago for a bit after stints at La Scala for Chris, and at Aldeburgh for Lucy.  There should be tales to tell.

Back!

I am completely here in Chicago, and completely exhausted.  I will get back into the groove tonorrow.

Last day in London

It has been a mad rush around town all day - of no interest to anyone so I wont go into it!  I am now ready for sleep as I have to wake at 5 am to make my convoluted return to Chicago tomorrow.

Meanwhile you might enjoy reading Anthony Tommasini's review of the Garsington Olympiade in the NYT.

Garsington

This country house opera company has now been part of the English summer festival season for more than twenty years and from small beginnings has developed into greatly loved institution now most conveniently located a scant hour from London, something that gives it a considerable advantage over the othe two Gs, Glyndebourne and Grange Park.

For my American readers, and you are the majority, it can most be compared to Glimmerglass.  But the food and drink are better at Garsington.  The weather this year, alas, not.  The delightful pavilion theater has a view from its front entrance to the lake as seen above.  And adjacent to the theater there is a perfect small English garden, in full bloom in June with stunning herbaceous plantings. 

Last night's performance of La Périchole was hugely enjoyed by the full house.  There were terrific oerformances from the immaculately chosen cast, and the translation and direction by Jeremy Sams entertained as much as his work on the Enchanted Island at the Met earlier this season.  He is a versatile and very clever fellow indeed!

New Yorkers will be delighted to hear that Juilliard's dazzling young graduate student, Naomi O'Connell, was a hit in the title role - Robert Murray was her lovely Piquillo, and splendid singing acting performances from Geoffrey Dolton and Simon Butteriss were stand outs as the Viceroy and the Governor of Lima - both hilarious.  And the whole piece was lovingly and seriously prepared and conducted by David Parry.

The garden at Garsington Opera at Wormsley with the theater behind

I have had a busy family Sunday, including a couple of hours at the British Museum.  Tomorrow is a similar rush around town and I leave at 7 am on Tuesday mornng.  I will be back in Chicago in the early afternoon.

Nightmare journey

British Airways is trying to emulate Ryan Air, the airline everyone loves to hate, in their services to Italy out of Gatwick.  I took the brunt of this - I will not go into detail - but trust me, do try to avoid the BA services from London's other airport.  They are cheap, but you got what you pay for.  I eventually tumbled into bed at 3 am.  And apparently at least Ryan Air are punctual whatever other privations they impose on you......

But I was invigorated after a short sleep by reading a characteristic piece in yesterday's Guardian by George Christie, in time for the opening of a new production of Figaro at Glyndebourne next Wednesday.  George is, I believe, the only person living who was on the stage at Glyndebourne for the opening performance of the Festival on May 28 1934.  His mother was singing Susanna - George was born on January 31 1934 - 7 months later.

He captures the spirit of the place and its endeavours perfectly.  And he speaks with his own unmistakable voice.  I immediately called him and told him so.  He was very pleased!

I am now off to Garsington.  At the moment the sun in shining.  And no doubt Offenbach will keep us smiling whatever.

Back to London

Today in Certaldo started cloudy and then warmed up.  But I am on my way back to London - other than that nothing to report from here - Pisa Airport. I am feeling rested and relaxed and ready to take on anything - including my flight back to Chicago on Tuesday.

I will be spending two weeks in Virginia at the Castleton Festival from next Saturday June 30.  I am looking forward to reporting extensively from there.  It promises to be fun.  I am on the "faculty" for the CATS - the young artists (and there are 48 of them) participating in the Castleton Artists Training Seminar.

It will be hard work - 8 sessions with six singers in each.  And the poor young things will also be working hard in performances of Carmen as well as rehearsing A Little Night Music.  But it is a magical place and the days will be long on pleasure as well as work.  We shall see..........

Certaldo Alto again

It is a three-minute trip up the funicular to Certaldo Alto so it was tempting to pop up there again.  It clings to the side of its hill (above) and is welcoming with a number of excellent restaurants, notably the Antica Fonte with its entranced tucked into a little ally (left) but with a beautiful terrace dining area, and Da Messer Boccaccio, both excellent value for a simple lunch.  So if you are around these parts………

Tomorrow it is back to London after this welcome but short sunny break.  It seems that the summer is still reluctant to appear in the UK.  I will be at Garsington on Saturday for the Offenbach which some wag has dubbed La Perishinglycold!  This is slightly unfair since Garsington's splendid new pavilion in their new location at Wormsley is really very warm.  Oh well, it was a nice thought!

Pienza and Monticchiello

Pienza, from Monticchiello 12 noon June 20 2012

Thirty five or so years ago, when I went on a good many wonderful fun (but hard working!) trips with my then boss and predecessor as General Administrator of Glyndebourne, Moran Caplat, we made a diversion when driving from Venice to Rome to pop up to Pienza.  I have longed to go back there – and today I did. 

This is an enchanting place that any visitor to Tuscany should try to see.  If you are south of Siena it is an easy ride, especially if you want to take in Montepulciano and/or Montalcino, as you should.  Distances are short and the driving easy.  And all these destinations are worth a detour, for the beauty of the landscape, the charm of these small towns, and of course the superb country cooking in the restaurants.

A 6 mile ride away from Pienza is Monticchiello.  And there you will find a medieval village and a splendid 21^st century restaurant, the Osteria La Porta.  This is a perfect place for a midday extended pause – something very welcome after exhausting sightseeing in the heat of the Italian June.

A typical corner of Monticchiello June 20 2012

Back in Certaldo a trip is required up the funicular to Certaldo Alto, the home and final resting place of Boccaccio.  You will find his house on the Via Boccaccio, as well as his tomb in the adjacent church.

I think that it has been cooler today but still way into the 80s.  Lovely!

Via Boccaccio, Certaldo Alto