One of the great pleasures of working in a city with as many fine institutions as Chicago has is that there are always great opportunities for collaboration, for adding a magical extra piece of value as a result of a collaborative relationship. One is Chicago Opera Theater's post-graduate performance diploma at the Chicago College of the Performing Arts. And today was a great opportunity to spend some time with David Holloway, who, in addition to being the inspiration behind our program there, is in charge of the apprentice program at the Santa Fe Opera.
We are old friends going back more than 25 years, and he is an old pro who sang his first performance at the Met with Franco Corelli in the cast. Therefore, we are much the same generation -- actually, he is my junior by a year or so -- and we have many of the same perspectives and values. Some of these values are not so appreciated these days perhaps -- such is the fate of the old curmudgeon.
Anyway, we had a grumpy but genial lunch today at the Park Grill. And we parted company deeply optimistic about the future! I think that our little program together may be unique in the U.S. -- a conservatory and opera company working so closely together. We have a fine little troupe of youngsters in the program this year. And you will be able to see their work in October and November -- I will try to remind you nearer the time with more details of time and place.
And on my walk back to the office from lunch on this gorgeous day, the warmest in Chicago for six weeks or more, I framed this nice picture below of the old Public Library built in 1893 -- now the Cultural Center where so many of our "extra-curricular" activities take place.
