I just wanted to let you all know that I'm going to have to postpone my Zankel Hall recital this Tuesday because of a family medical emergency.
We were so looking forward to this brand new recital and with working with our friends in the Pacifica String Quartet, but I'm afraid life had other plans.
Hopefully, we'll be able to reschedule before too long.
N
I'd like to thank everyone at the party last night for coming. The American Repertoire Program and all of us at OCP greatly appreciate your support. Although I didn't get to meet all of you last night I look forward to other opportunities in the future to do so.
I'd especially like to thank Allen and Judy Freedman for hosting this party. They have a beautiful home and are the most welcoming of hosts.
The American Boychoir school celebrated it's 75th year this year and invited me to join the choir this past weekend for their annual lessons and carols service at the Princeton Chapel "Voices of Angels" and then a family concert "Winter Wonderland". It was a quick trip, but incredibly fulfilling. The boys did sing like angels and behaved like excellent young men. Anyone out there who has a son or grandson who loves to sing I'd strongly encourage him or her to look into the American Boychoir. They've just moved into a new building (I understand it looks a lot like Hogwarts which never hurts).
I just returned from Philadelphia after having attended a workshop performance of the new opera by Jennifer Higdon and Gene Scheer based on Charles Frazier's "Cold Mountain". The workshop consisted of five highlights from the first act of the opera. I was bowled over. I don't have the words to describe just how incredible this new piece is. From the very first notes that are sung the audience is on the edge of it's seat waiting for what will come next. I know the piece isn't going to make it's debut for another 2 and a half years, but I'm already anxious for it to happen.
I'd like to just say congratulations to all the students at Curtis Institute who performed for the workshop. You all did an incredible job.
I'm back to Pennsylvania in a couple of days to perform with the American Boychoir. This is my first time with an all boy choir and I'm sure it will be a lot of fun. If singing with a bunch of men in the opera Bill Budd is any standard by which to judge such events I know I'll have a good time.
BTW, don't forget to look for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas show this year. It's a beautiful event and a great way to start off this season of love, giving and forgiveness.
Had an amazing time in D.C. this past weekend and I'd like to thank everyone who came out on that beautiful Sunday afternoon to support me for the Celebrity Series concert with the Washington National Opera. Also, thank you Bill, Emily, and Ted for your contribution to the concert. It certainly wouldn't have been nearly as successful or fun without you.
I'd also like to mention just how incredibly our capital is. I sometimes forget that. The Lincoln Memorial, for example, is awe inspiring. I finally read the inaugural speech that Lincoln made after being re-elected. It's inscribed on the north side of the memorial building. This is something that everyone should take the time to read.
Anyway, it was a great time and I feel like I finally have gotten to know the town a little better and those who support the opera better as well. It was a good trip.
Yes, back at Ravinia... Great cast, perfect hall, and one of the best orchestras in the world! If only I could put them in my pocket and take them everywhere I go!
I'm struck by the beauty of Napa every time I'm here which, unfortunately, is not too often. I can see how and why the great wine families for Europe turned Napa into the wine country that it is today. The grape vine is a wondful thing and it's fruit gives us great pleasure, but there is something noble about the olive tree and it's fruit. Not many of you know this but my favorite animal is the cow and I think my favorite plant is the olive tree. It's a plant that is rugged and resilient. It's would has a wonderfully sweet earthy scent and can be used for a variety of things. The olive itself is a wonder of nature that is a food, a medicine and a tool. I just LOVE the olive tree (fitting that one of my little ones is named Olivia)
Today Flute opens. It is an incredibly charming production and beautifully done. Normally, I'd say "the colleagues are great and that's why it's wonderful or that the set is beautiful". The reason this production is so wonderful is because EVERYTHING works so well together. The set compliments the costumes which compliments the blocking which compliments the singers..... it all works incredibly well together and NEED each element to make it work. I find it fascinating. My children have seen many Magic Flutes as have my in-laws and they both liked this production best of all.
toi toi toi to my colleagues!!!!
This week has been wonderful in the sense that we are on the set now of that great John Dexter production of Billy Budd and less than wonderful when it comes to illness in the cast. I don't know if it's just all the germs from a season of opera lingering in the corridors of the MET or if it's the mold of a set that has been in storage for the last 15 years that is the cause. I, luckily, knock on wood, feel great. I love singing this role and it's a little bitter sweet because I'm not sure if this is going to be my last crack at it. It's been in my repertoire for 12 years now. There are so many wonderful baritones out there ..... we'll see. Anyway, the great thing is watching all these men (not not a small number of boys) literally giggling when they first saw and were able to board the "Indomitable". It's an adult playground. If anyone has seen the movie "Master and Commander" with Russle Crowe you'll know what this set looks like. It's absolutely fantastic. All the levels of the ship are seen at one time or another, the canons fire at the French "a dumplin for Froggie", hammocks are slung, and, of course, there is a proper hanging in the end. We only have 3 nights, but they are going to be wonderful... definitely a production for the books.
It's time to start thinking about a resolution, or a "revolution" as my 9 year old son calls it. His is to become more "awesome" this year. It sounds like a revolution to me. His sister wants to become more independent also she is going to still live at home and let me pay for stuff and let her mother cook for her. I've heard from friends about how they are going to lose 10 lbs. or not work as much. Some are going to try to be in contact more. That sort of thing doesn't interest me too much although they are all things that I should be doing. Now that I'm 41 years old I do think that I should take better care of myself. I should eat better and go to the gym regularly, etc. Maybe I will, but it's not good enough for a "revolution". Maybe mine should be like Nick's except with a twist. Maybe I should resolve to be okay with not having to be awesome? It's kind of the same thing and probably a lot easier to attain. I suppose the hardest part will be keeping a strong work ethic while letting go of trying to control the outcome. Hmmmmmmmmm, it's worth some more thought.