We at COT have been heavily committed over the last eight years or so to the encouragement of participation by young people in "doing it" - that is to say not just passively sitting back and enjoying, or not, a specially tailored and potted version of The Magic Flute or The Barber of Seville, but actually taking part in a production or concert version as performers. My belief has always been that having the opportunity to get in there and sing and act is the best stimulus. And these are the opportunities that we try to provide through our education and "outreach" programs in the Chicago public schools. And we also have this presence in the city supported After School Matters program.
This evening was our winter "showcase" in the Claudia Cassidy Theater of the Cultural Center. And a fine turn out there was. There was a mixed program of Mozart, Bizet, Gilbert and Sullivan, Sondheim, and Lehar! And the quality of talent and commitment, the sheer energy and passion, was so encouraging. The above two scenes are Carmen of course. And on the left we have a Susanna and Countess moment from the third act of Le nozze di Figaro.
There was at least one young woman who seems destined for a career in the business, She is fired with enthusiasm and enormously talented. I wonder of this would have happened without COT? Maybe - who knows? But I feel certain that we have been able to give her the extra push and the confidence to pursue her dream. And a greater understanding perhaps of what is possible. I hope that a proportion of these young people will come to our performances next year, and may as a result begin a rewarding journey through life discovering music and theater.
Apart from that I had a reasonably quiet day with a delightful interlude at lunchtime when we joined Bernard and Patricia Haitink for lunch. Bernard has been in town with the CSO for three weeks and his concert tomorrow evening is his last on this stint. I missed last week's as a result of a heavy cold and I was away in London and Berlin for the previous programs. But at least I will make it to Bruckner 7 tomorrow.
I have an early start tomorrow as well - an 8.30 am down town meeting. So another 14 hour day I suppose. Who cares? - it will all be good.
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