I spent all of yesterday and all of today in Ganz Hall, the very beautiful recital hall in Roosevelt University named for the long time Director of the Music College which is now the Chicago College of the Performing Arts. This is Rudolf Ganz. Follow the link for a bio of this remarkable man who contributed so much to Chicago's musical life.
The stained glass window pictured above is just one of a series which adorns this lovely room. It is as good a place as any to do this work!
We had two good days, in contrast to the same event last year which was depressing. Maybe we have got better at sorting out the candidates in advance, or maybe those who felt the sting of my tongue last year have been frightened off! Anyway we had two productive days with some nice discoveries and no really weak links. But once gain one is reminded of the fiercely competitive nature of the business of becoming an opera singer. There are many excellent singers who wont make it to the top. But there will always be some valuable work for good ones if they can bear to accept that the Met or the Scala may not be in their future.
Yesterday evening I spent an enjoyable evening in the company and as the guest of members of the Wagner Society at one of their regular dinners. They most generously gave me the opportunity to give a hearty plug for COT. And I was delighted that so many of them are already fans of what we do.
The first events of the Opera America Board weekend begin tomorrow. We kick of with a meeting of the National Council. More of this later.
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