Off I am now on a quick tour over the next ten days - starting in Berlin yesterday and today with auditions at the Staatsoper. We have two heavy days from 10 am to 8 pm with eight singers an hour if they all show up. Yesterday just 54 made it to the audition - it was tough! And I guess today will be the same.
I have joined two other colleagues, Evamaria Wieser and Sophie Joyce, so I am able to share the stress of listening to more than 100 singers over the two days. Berlin ought to yield four or five finalists and produced soprano winners in 2007 (Marina Rebeka) and 2015 (Elsa Dreisig). So we look forward to great quality here. After day 1 we seem to be on target.
I had a busy last week. On Thursday I was at the Orange Tree in Richmond for a new play by Zoe Cooper - Out of Water. The Orange Tree is consistently providing top notch theatre at affordable prices in a magical small space. Richmond is easy to get to whether by train or tube, and the theatre is two minutes walk from the station with a Carluccio and the excellent Bacco next door for refreshment. If you haven't been there give it a try and you will be thrilled - and if has been some time since you were there its good news that it is on top form.
On Saturday morning I was at the piano run of Garsington's new Don Giovanni. We are in for a treat - I will be back in time for the dress rehearsal on May 26. Until then..........
And Saturday evening was a visit to the Barbican for the excellent programme by the BBC Symphony. We had Augusta Read Thomas, Osvaldo Golijov, and John Adams. It was a treat to see Joana Carneiro in charge of the BBCSO. She was with us in Chicago for John Adams' Flowering Tree back in 2008 since when her conducting career has blossomed. She is Principal Conductor of the Portuguese Symphony Orchestra in her home town of Lisbon with a busy calendar throughout Europe as time allows. In fact she is in Gothenburg this week when I am there after Berlin but my audition schedule and Figaro at the Gothenburg Opera will prevent me being at her concert.
My final report from Berlin may have to wait - there is an early start for Gothenburg tomorrow morning - 7:15!
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