The Aspen music festival & school has again been the highlight of our summer. Huge new dimension for us though has been having a brilliant young oboist Amanda staying with us for the full 9 weeks of the festival. Apart from the very substantial perks of free access to all concerts, recitals and masterclasses , and regular inspiring oboe lessons in-house for me , not to mention having with us my resident personal reed maker , she was an absolute delight to have here. When she left a week ago , the house seemed very quiet in more ways than one. Her practicing was like having a daily professional concert in your living room.
We went to something in the Festival virtually every day . What we looked forward to more than anything was the weekly opera masterclass at the Wheeler Opera House See photos. Simply brilliant . We'd cycle into Aspen early each Saturday morning , get our free tickets , enjoy coffee and muffins in the square outside Paradise Bakery in donwntown Aspen, and take our seats ( always in the very front row ) at 10 am for 8 or so excerpts from different operas on which the students would then be critiqued on their performance and do it , or parts of it, again. Sheer bliss. Stars of the future opera world we have no doubt.
Then another superb bike ride home and often in to Aspen again for a concert in the evening. Just day after day and night after night of stunning performances.
What we didn't get free access to were the 3 operas ( this year La Boheme , Britten's Rape of Lucretia , and Don Giovanni ) , and we splashed out a bit for seats for all 3 . Again quite magnificent - all directed by the brilliant Juillard, and Aspen Opera director Ed Berkeley - see photo. The Britten we enjoyed particulary bringing back stirring memories of Turn of the Screw in Glasgow all those years ago.
Concerts at the Benedict Music `tent` we enjoyed from inside and out . The latter often enjoyed with picnic , wine and delightful company - see photos of both .
Will try to cover all the other activities of a memorable summer in separate entry. Jane and Johannes arrive in a few days , so I need to get on with it.
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