From November 2, 2009, Brian Dickie, Life As General Director of Chicago Opera Theater.
This was the sixth Neue Stimmen that I have been involved with.  I started out in 1999.  And it was by far the closest contest.  On each previous occasion the first three places were really clear with the remainder some way behind and quite easily separated.
We the jury came out at the intermission of the Finals Concert on Saturday evening unanimous that this was too close to call - and could we not just have 6 first prize winners?!  Well that would have been a cop out of course!  But I think it illustrated the situation that we found ourselves in very clearly.

Some months ago, in a moment that at a certain point I thought was one of weakness - or maybe madness, I agreed to be Master of Ceremonies and Auctioneer for the benefit that Midwest Young Artists hold annually at this time of year. Well the moment arrived yesterday and the morning after I am now reporting that the whole thing was not a mistake at all - I really enjoyed myself and got through my debut in this role with people threatening to ask me to do it again.  For me that is quite something! I now know first hand what it feels like for it even to be suggested that I might be asked back. Maybe in my dotage I will do this more often - it was fun. And I do it for free.Typically professional auctioneers are employed for this kind if thing. They cost real money - believe me! I have seen a number of them in action and they are really good. No doubt I was a pallid imitation - but I managed to talk the talk and the hands went up. No problem!

MYA is a remarkable institution led and inspired by a unique character Allan Dennis. He has a dedicated board and a small staff - but above all a remarkable collection of young people who populate the various ensembles, chamber groups, orchestras bands etc that provide a multiplicity of thrilling activities for young musicians of all ages and levels. The best are very good indeed as was displayed last night by a variety of chamber groups playing String Quartets in the entrace lobby as we arrived, and the Schubert Trout Quintet in the silent auction room. We then had wind and brass ensembles during the rest of the evening between speeches and delicious food and my "performance" And the grand finale was the Big Band playing through to midnight. A great evening and a successful fund raiser most certainly.

John Adams was in the office for 90 minutes this morning - primarily to see (above) the set and costume designs for A Flowering Tree, but also to look at all the other things we are putting together around the performances of the very beautiful new opera next May.  It was a happy session all round and John was clearly very pleased with everything.  Thats a good start!  Below you see him with  three of our key staff, Colleen Flanigan, Marla Krupman, and Kara Kane, respectively directors of marketing, development and education.  Between them they manage to provide huge additional animation to our whole enterprise of opera production.  John is an enthusiastic contributor to and supporter of all their efforts.

This afternoon we had our annual staff Christmas party complete with Secret Santa gift exchanges.  I will not publish to photos of this exciting event here......!   Regrettably as a result of this event I had to miss a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Chicago Classical Music website.  That was bad of me but my staff come first.  I had hoped to slip away at 4 but one thing led to another including the excellent round of carol singing where our excellent pianist director of finance Dave Wise displayed his exceptional talent at the keyboard.  But please look at the splendidly relaunched CCM site.  It is doing very well and making a valuable contribution to musical life in this city.

   
Somebody wrote to me this morning "have a lovely relaxing weekend".  Well no chance but that is not say I will not be having fun.

We are at the opening of Julius Caesar this evening at Lyric.  Begins at 6.30 and will be done by 11pm.  Then a party so a late night no doubt.  You can all be there as well by tuning in to WFMT.  I believe that there is streaming too so you only need an Internet connection.

Tomorrow there will be one of Opera America's periodic singers workshops in which I am participating.  This is at de Paul University in Lincoln Park, Chicago, not too far from home and a very agreeable campus with an excellent music school.

On Sunday I am at the Regional finals of the Met auditions - not as a jury member (can't do that in one's own region) but as a spectator and intermission interviewee during the live broadcast on WFMT again!  Tune in to the event between 2 and 5pm  - I, and others, will be on air sometime after 4pm I assume.  This is US Central time and the clocks will have changed so we are back in sync with the rest of the world - well Europe anyway.  6 hours behind the UK and 7 behind western Europe.

Monday is the beginning of another week of travel - more later.