Brian Dickie

Publio comes into his own

At last we have a low voice getting the limelight.  We are into Act 2 and Publio has his aria which they were rehearsing this afternoon.  This is our old friend Andrew Funk here with music staff Rachel Andrist and Stephen Hargreaves, and Jane Glover (right).

It is a nasty old day out there - quite mild but windy and wet.  I am back in the warmth of the office now but will be back for the end of the rehearsal - and then have dinner with a Board member this evening.  Tomorrow I fly to London for the wedding of my elder daughter on Friday.  It is a quick trip and I will be back in Chicago on Sunday.

Neue Stimmen deadline

Today is the deadline for applications to participate in the Neue Stimmen competition.  But it has actually been extended for some reason until April 10 so those singers out there should sign up now by going to the website linked to above.

One of the cast of our Tito, Paula Murrihy, was telling me that although she was not a prizewinner in the 2007 competition, she won the best prize of all, a series of contracts including one to be a member of the Frankfurt Opera, where she is now a leading mezzo having success after success.  And she puts it all down to Neue Stimmen.  Actually it might also be somewhat down to her as well - she is very good!

But it really is a prominent platform.  The new Chairman of the jury, succeeding Gerard Mortier, is the new Director of the Vienna State Opera, Dominique Meyer.  Other jury members include Evamaria Wieser, Artistic Manager of the Salzburg Festival, and Bernd Loebe, Intendant of the Frankfurt Opera.  And of course there is always me as well.  So lots of employment opportunities are out there for those that show up.

There are auditions in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Toronto on this side of the ocean.  Lots of European cities as well.  Also Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Sydney, Beijing and Yokosuka (near Tokyo).

The MOB

This evening there was another refreshing concert by the indefatigable Jane Glover and Music of the Baroque.  Not much Baroque about Mendelssohn, but never mind!

Anyway we had a splendid evening and most of the Tito company was there.  Now that this MOB activity is over they will get their conductor back full time.  For those who are not regular readers of this blog you had better scroll down a few days and get the info about what I am referring to here!  But a shortcut would be to click this link.  Its late and I need to switch off for tonight.

Our You Tube competition!

The deadline is Wednesday - so hurry up and post your videos.  If you do not know what I am talking about see my post of March 4.  We have a good few wonderful entries - you can see them here and vote on them.  I will have my own opinion on which is the best - but the winner is chosen by "You the people" not by "We the management".

I am so impressed by the trouble that people have taken and in some cases the brilliance of imagination and professionalism of execution.  Awesome!  (Our marketing department's adjective)

I will eventually post the winner's video here.  And I will also post my own favorite if you and I disagree!

Daniels has a wow factor......

David Daniels was his supremely magnificent self this afternoon - singing with an elegance and beauty of tone, a musicianship, and sense of his theatrical persona - he was consumed with what he was doing , and he captured this audience completely.  And he rewarded them with an encore.  Quite right too.

But let it not be said that he had the stage entirely to himself.  I am sure that he would be the first to admit that the remarkable violinist Nadja Zwiener had no less a role in the success of this afternoon of music making. I am sure that many of my readers are passionate musicians - so you know when there is a remarkable performer there.......but of course David is peerless, and he was on top form with deeply moving singing, a gorgeous sound, and and an ability to catch the audience in the palm of his hand. A standing ovation naturally.

The audiince was full of professionals in his field.  This is always a tribute to a singer.  I then took a few of them off to an improvised early supper at home.  So I had a nice relaxed Sunday evening with time to spare to let you know about it. It is now just 9.35 pm. 

Yes, it is snowing on March 29

And here you see the evidence, captured just 20 minutes ago at Sheridan at Wellington.  Mucky stuff - it will be gone by the end of the day.

And now I will be having a quick lunch before braving the elements and tripping down to the Harris Theater for the David Daniels concert with Harry Bicket and his band.  As good a way to spend a winter Sunday afternoon as any.  But its spring!!  Oh well - its Chicago.

There was a work through of Act 1 this afternoon and it is already clear that Chicago is in for a considerable revelation with our Tito.  I have known Christopher Alden and his work for years, but this is the first time that we have worked together.  I am totally delighted with the outcome at every level.  We have a magical young cast working with a director of the greatest intellectual acuity.  He has a passionate love of this composer and his expressive world; and an understanding of how human beings behave which he applies without compromise to his production of this wonderful work.  All will be revealed - above all Mozart's genius and humanity.  Above you see some action - yes, maybe even dancing!  Here we have Charlotte Dobbs, our Servilia, and Dominic Armstrong (Tito).

The weather men are saying that we are in for two inches of snow tonight and tomorrow.  Seems unlikely - but it is horrible out there and I am happy to be home for the evening.  In the coming days I will be adding to my photo site some old pictures of COT productions going back to 2006, and maybe if I can get round to it earlier years as well.  So check there from time to time of you are interested .  There is a link to the site towards the top of the left hand column of the page that you are looking at.

Getting to the end of Week 1

We had a quiet end of the week.  Tito rehearsals continue very smoothly, we have ironed out this week's technical wrinkles satisfactorily, and we have a happy company working exuberantly down in the rehearsal room. 

I began my day with a review of all the Young Artists and their variety of assignments.  The report cards were good.  We are in good shape with all the understudies ready at any moment in the unlikely event of any of these healthy young singers getting under the weather.

A spent a couple 45 minute stints at the rehearsal room this afternoon with a break back at the office in the middle.  I try to keep an eye on what is going on down there.  And it is probably a good thing that I am seen to be taking an interest!  I am told that this is unusual - but whatever may be the situation in other houses that is the way I was brought up in this business. 

My predecessor's predecessor at Glyndebourne was Rudolf Bing.  He set the standard for a management's engagement and interest in the work of his company.  I can not imagine another way.  So I try to be there as often as possible and be ready to assist directors and conductors, and any other member of the company who needs a helping hand or support of any kind.

But there is more to life.  I have been struck on a number of occasions recently by the sight of the Wabash Street bridge over the Chicago River just a few yards from our offices.  It has been elegantly raised in response the various works related to the construction of the Trump Tower.  And it also salutes the landmark Marina Towers which preside over that stretch of the river.  So I grabbed a quick shot after lunch before going down to the rehearsal room.

And at rehearsal this afternoon there was more great stuff from Christopher Alden whose production is shaping up quite splendidly.  We are all excited.  He has now blocked the production to the end of Act 1 and this will be reviewed tomorrow. And on Monday they will get their teeth into Act 2.  So we are on schedule.......and below you can see Christopher at work with Renata and Paula, our Sesto and Annio.

After the rehearsal I spent a happy hour with Majel Connery, a doctoral student at the University of Chicago who has been observing our Tito rehearsal process for the last ten days.  Majel is one of those people who seems to have to time, energy, and talent to turn their hands to any interesting challenge that presents itself.  She even has an opera company -  Operacabal.  And, ever curious, she is spending the evening at Lyric to see Cav and Pag for the first time in her life......well that will be something different!

Just my point of view.....

We had a very happy event at the Union League Club this evening.  Amanda Majewski and Dominic Armstrong knocked their socks off with a terrific program devised by the immensely clever Scott Gilmore, our Head of Music Staff and guide and mentor to all our young people.  We had a good mixture of opera, operetta, and lesser items...............that means Guys and Dolls, and West Side Story.  Terrific stuff from both all the same.

It was an entirely exuberant event.  We had a good crowd of warm supporters.  And I was proud that we had a truly delightful and representative selection  from the company present in support of their colleagues, demonstrating that this is no ordinary group. 

It has always been my objective to assemble a group of people that would not only work well together professionally, but also create a "family" of like minded people who would establish a special atmosphere of friendship and collegiality during their six weeks together.  It is very pleasing if one finds, as on this occasion, that there has been a measure of success.

Sp I am pretty happy this evening!

Otherwise today I had some hassles.  Its all in the routine of dealing with teething troubles.  We had a  production meeting this noon time.  And had had a technical meeting in the Harris Theater at 9.15 this morning.  Of course there are early issues.  And it is my job to try to resolve them.  So that is what I try to do - all good fun!

No pictures today.  We may have some tomorrow.  I am in for a comparatively quiet day I am glad to say.

Miscellany

Life is settling into the normal routine of the rehearsal period.  But there is much else going on in Chicago so let us consider some other musical events we have to look forward to over the coming days.

There is a rare opportunity on Sunday afternoon to hear the premier counter tenor in the world today David Daniels in concert - this time with the British orchestra, The English Concert, under Harry Bicket.  Anyone interested in the very best music making of its kind to be heard anywhere has to be there.  This is a delectable program of Bach and Handel - at the Harris Theater and not to be missed.

And on Monday evening Music of the Baroque and Jane Glover have an appealing program of Purcell, Handel, Haydn and Mendelssohn - all the aniversary boys.  This is also at the Harris.  I have a particular affection for Mendelssohn's Italian symphony, so I will be especially happy with this program.  As a teenager I played and played until it wore out a marvelous LP recording by Guido Cantelli and the Philharmonia Orchestra which I had saved up my pocket money for. Cantelli was appointed Music Director of La Scala in 1956 and died in a plane crash in Paris a week later.  He was 36.

Tomorrow we have an event at the Union League Club here in Chicago - cocktails, munchies, and music from a couple of our young cast members.  This is intended to raise money and increase ticket sales, and to give an opportunity for opera lovers to get together and enjoy each others company.   It is also an occasion when board members can introduce new and old friends to the joys of COT.  I have no doubt that it will do all of those good things.

Now for an early night.