I am back from Katya - an evening of first class music theater combined with first class music making - not a regular state of affairs alas!  But this was one of those evenings where it mostly came together.  And what a pleasure it was.  Karita...

I am at the Lyric this evening for Katya Kabanova - something that is very special to me.  I first heard this marvellous opera at Sadler's Wells conducted by Charles Mackerras.  This was at a time when Janacek was pretty well unknown but, thanks to...

We had an enjoyable visit today from the two people doing so much work at MIT to get Death and the Powers off the ground.  They were Ariane Martins and Bob Hsiung. She is a Brazilian singer and guitarist and general musical polymath who has been...

As we get to the end of 2009 people think that we are at the end of a decade.  Well we are not - the last year of the first decade of this young century is of course 2010.  Never mind - lets not be pedantic.  But we are at the end of the "noughties"...

Of course the first delight on arriving at the Shedd Aquarium on a clear day is the unparalleled view (above) of the city from the South - terrific during the day and even better at night.  We live to the north of the city so see the other view...