Around the World with Pat Beresford, continued

Updated report:

Santa Fe was great -- particularly Madame Mao, a new opera about Mao Tse Tung's wife, composer Bright Sheng, who lived through it all in the Cultural Revolution in China. The libretto and direction were by Colin Graham, who has directed a number of productions here, most recently Streetcar, and did a great job with this one as well. I was privileged to spend about three hours with him over lunch.  He is truly one of the greats. He started as a young director, working with Benjamin Britten and directing the premieres of all of Britten's operas (except for Peter Grimes, as he was otherwise engaged).  We have been friends for about five years and had a wonderful afternoon together.

Young Anna Christy (soprano) was the young Madame Mao and she is packing up to come here for Mother of Us All.  You will love her.  I spent time with her, as well as conductor Yves Abel, who was engaged here a number of years ago.  Like Marco Armillato, he is an up and coming Maestro in the firmament.

The frosting on the cake, however, was the beautiful and ebullient Susan Graham. She came around and picked me up and whisked me off to her new home in the hills. We sat out on the terrace, I with her precious little dog on my lap, and watched the sun set over the mountains, sipping strawberry margaritas. It was a magic moment indeed when she started to sing -- that beautiful voice, soaring out over the hills. I felt so privileged.

Some singers are removed from the rest of us, either by conscious or unconcious design.  For some I suppose it is survival or the fear of being "used" or the need for total privacy from strangers. But Susan is a remarkable, lovable young woman with a great talent, which she truly shares with people.  Oh yes, she sang in La Belle Hélène earlier in the week and it was not only good singing but it was hilarious!  

I am now off to Glimmerglass Wednesday morning. Four operas with several singers well-known here (Christine Brandes and David Pittsinger in "Orlando" for instance) and about four recent Merolini, including Kevin Burdette.  Home the following Monday, and Tuesday night I leave for Australia and Dead Man Walking with the gorgeous Teddy Tahu Rhodes!

If I survive, I'll see you all at the opera!