EXCITING OPENING NIGHT

The first performance of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro took place tonight in a picture-perfect outdoor amphitheater in the beautiful coastal village of Vietri-Sul-Mare. Behind the orchestra and facing the audience was a magnificent view of the Mediterranean Sea and the lights of the city of Salerno.

The performance went off without a hitch, and starred Mason students Jessica Buckman as Susanna, Darrick Speller as Antonio, and Stephanie Edewaard as Cherubino. It was a truly magical evening, as these photos will attest.

Several Italian newspapers have given glowing reviews to the concerts the students have given over the past week, and tonight's performance drew several reporters--and many Italians amazed to hear the exceptional way in which young American students could sing in their romantic language.

The all-Italian orchestra was conducted with brio by Joseph Walsh, associate director of the Virginia Opera. Tomorrow night, Adrianna Sgarlata will sing Susanna, Darrick Speller will be Dr. Bartolo, and Wayne Jennings will sing Don Curzio and Don Basilio. We can't wait!

Mason students working hard in Amalfi

The Vocal Students from Mason and Professor Patricia Miller are in Amalfi and working hard. They will be documenting their experiences at the Amalfi Coast Music Festival via BLOG as well. Read about how they are preparing for their production of Mozart's Marriage of Figaro at http://masoninamalfi.blogspot.com/ . Also stay tuned for more updates from the Friends of Music in Amalfi as they share their account of watching these Mason vocal stars blossom.

Report from Amalfi Number 3

Actually this report is from Fairfax, since Bob and Pat returned late on July 15. Bob's photos are posted on Picasa and can be viewed by using the following link (copy and paste in your address line if it doesn't link directly): http://picasaweb.google.com/bobBysox04/Amalfi_2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCNmEpvXn_PGYQQ&feat=directlink

Friends depicted in the photos include Pat and Bob, Alice, Barbara Jacksier, and Everett Chasen. The latter 3 people are still attending the festival, along with Patricia Miller of the Mason Department of Music, and 9 George Mason University vocal students. By way of explanation, the first half of the festival (the half we attended) was devoted entirely to piano, and there was no respresentation from George Mason University.

Bob W.

Performing Arts Building Expansion

The de Laski expansion for the Performing Arts Building has begun! A groundbreaking ceremony took place on July 1, 2009 and construction on the project began last week. You can read about the progress and view pictures on the de Laski Performing Arts Building Expansion Blog

Report from Amalfi number 2

After today's cooking class, we went to the Hotel Scapolatiello in Cava dei Tirrene, only a short distance away from our hotel. We used the pool there. The hotel is in an idyllic mountain location, very serene and peaceful. We then rode in a local bus down the hill to the town, where we walked through the throng of shoppers, and then had another fantastic meal in the Ristorante Pizzeria Il Giardino. Leslie arranged our reservations for 8:00PM, and said we could take the bus back to the hotel. After leaving the restaurant at 10:00PM, we waited at the bus stop for around 45 minutes, and were then told by a young man that the busses stop running at 9:00PM. We called Leslie for help, and two people, including the general director of the festival, drove from the hotel to transport us back. This was a memorable conclusion to another great day.

Bob W

Report from Amalfi number 1

Alice Heyer and her friend Franke arrived on July 7, Pat and Bob Warakomsky arrived on July 8, and Barbara Jacksier and Ev Chasen arrived on July 10. We have been busy at various activities, such as attending piano master classes taught by Ian Hobson, John Perry, and Aldo Ciccolini and attending evening concerts. We went to the town of Amalfi via coach along the narrow, winding, and treacherous coastal road to eat dinner at Da Maria Trattoria and attend a piano recital by Michele Campanella in the museum adjacent to the Cloisture (Chiostro del Paradiso) and Cathedral (Chiesa del Crocifisso). The next day we journeyed, again via coach, to Ravello, where we toured the Cathedral (dedicated to San Pantaleone, patron saint of Ravello) and the Villa Rufolo. Ravello is also hosting their annual music festival at this time. Alice and Franke will return there on the 18th to attend a Wagner concert. Returning to the hotel, we attended a piano recital by John Perry. The next venture was travelling to Sorrento by coach, but this time via the Autostrada, which was faster and smoother, but I'm not sure if less dangerous! We toured the Correale Museum, which was followed by a marvelous performance by the Fine Arts Quartet of Mendelssohn music in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of his birth. This was followed by a buffet dinner at the museum that started after the concert about 11:00PM. The next evening we attended a flute recital given by Nancy Stagnitta, accompanied by Ian Hobson, in the Vietri Sul Mare Oratorio. On Sunday, we travelled by ferry from Salerno to Positano. This was a wonderful trip along the Amalfi Coast, we could marvel at the houses punctuating the cliff sides, and the numerous terraced lemon trees. After touring the Cathedral that is home to the Black Madonna, Alice, Pat, and Bob took a local bus that traversed a loop around Positano. We stopped and had a marvelous lunch at Il Grottino Azzurro, which was written up in Frommer's Guide and lived up to every word in its description of the food. In the evening, we attended a piano recital by Ian Hobson.

Everyone is enjoying our stay in Vietre Sul Mare, and all the events. The only down side is the unavailability of the pool and beach at our hotel. Today Pat W. attended a cooking class along with Tom Mastroianni.

I will post all photos taken during our stay (we are leaving on July 15) upon our return home, and I will provide the link here in the blog.

Click here to learn more about the Amalfi Coast Music Festival

Bob W.

Scholarship Concert Reception

Friends of Music uses the Scholarship Concert Reception as an opportunity to thank its donors for their generosity and to award its annual honoree. University Professor Anthony Maiello was bestowed this honor for 2009. This year the Scholarship Concert and Reception took place on Sunday, May 3rd 2009 at the Center for the Performing Arts at the Fairfax campus. Approximately 107 guests were in attendance for the reception and were treated to delightful pastries compliments of the Swiss Bakery. The concert featured six outstanding students who won the 2009 Department of Music Concert Competition (Amanda Cook, Katherine Kane, Patricia Hussey, Sujin Kim, Claire Sampson, and Min Son), the George Mason University Symphony Orchestra, GMU Chorale, GMU Woman's Chorale, and GMU Singers. This concert was a momentous occasion as it was the last time Maiello will conduct the GMU Symphony as the head conductor. Photos below are from the reception and the concert. Want to learn how you can become a Friend of Music or join our e-list? Visit http://friendsofmusic.gmu.edu!