“Remarkable beauty” is an important phrase in the libretto of A Coffin in Egypt, and it’s what comes to my mind when I think of that opera’s star, the woman with whom I’m privileged to make music this week, Frederica von Stade. Remarkable and beautiful, inside and out, full stop. We have opened our show, garnered a nice review in the LA Times, and now have two performances this weekend before we move on to our next projects. What a joy to tell this story together again.
Here’s the review: Frederica von Stade is regal.
Meanwhile, more music happens all across the country, projects that I’ve had a hand in to some extent. My students at UT Austin open La Bohème tonight under the musical leadership of my wonderful colleague Kelly Kuo. For some of them, this is their first complete operatic role, which makes their accomplishment even more impressive. I’ll be with them in spirit! In Houston, while the Rheingold cast has a day off, Carmen has its opening night. The cast and chorus are full of good friends from my HGO days, but I’ll be thinking particularly of Ryan McKinny, who is doing double duty these days as Donner and Escamillo. Another good friend, Carrie Hennessy, sings the chamber version of Das Lied von der Erde in the Bay area tonight – I enjoyed helping her prepare it!
The musical world feels big and wide to me today, and that is a remarkably beautiful thing.