New York Day 3

Lots and lots of good singing. WTOC alum Jason Hardy’s performance of Claggart’s aria from Billy Budd will stick in the memory for a long time. Best alternate aria: Sventurata (Clorinda’s aria) from Rossini’s La cenerentola. 4 minutes.
After dinner, a late night meeting with composer John Musto and conductor Michael Barrett. Michael, John, and John’s lovely wife Amy Burton had just finished a rehearsal, and we talked about commissioning a new opera over pasta and wine at midnight. John’s Volpone was such a huge hit at Wolf Trap last year, that we can’t wait to get started on a new piece. Looking for co-commissioners.