Last night we went downtown to the Chicago Opera Theater to see the opera "Owen Wingrave" by Benjamin Britten.
The drive took longer than we had planned. We wanted to go to the pre-opera talk since we knew nothing about this production. We had to decide between a meal at a real restaurant, or fast food. We chose the fast food route so we went to Noodles and Company on Michigan Ave (and it was actually very good.)
We made the talk on time, and listened to a brief introduction from one of the assistant directors (I think). After about 15 minutes, she ran out of things to say. She said that she spoke faster than she had planned, and confessed to know nothing about the music, being that she was a director.
I was thinking that maybe we should have had a real meal rather than fast food when a man in the audience asked in a deep resonant voice if he could say something. Relieved, the presenter agreed, and the man stood up and said "I am Benjamin Luxon, the original Owen Wingrave"
He proceeded to regale us with stories of his work with Britten on the first production. Fascinating.
He closed off with a tale about his first visit to the USA, to the Opera at Saratoga. He was asked to attend a party by a very attractive lady, so naturally he agreed. As the evening wore on he was surrounded by opera fans of the female persuasion, who enticed him with comments like "We can go off later, my husband will get drunk and pass out soon" and similar lines. He enjoyed the attention, but did not partake of the offerings. On the way home he asked his companion if America was always like this. She confessed that the group had decided to try to find out if he was gay.
He said "They never found out!"
At that point the conductor of the night's performance Steuart Bedford who had also taken part in the original production came in, cried "Benjamin" in a surprised voice, and ran to embrace him.
Cast of Owen Wingrave
The drive took longer than we had planned. We wanted to go to the pre-opera talk since we knew nothing about this production. We had to decide between a meal at a real restaurant, or fast food. We chose the fast food route so we went to Noodles and Company on Michigan Ave (and it was actually very good.)
We made the talk on time, and listened to a brief introduction from one of the assistant directors (I think). After about 15 minutes, she ran out of things to say. She said that she spoke faster than she had planned, and confessed to know nothing about the music, being that she was a director.
I was thinking that maybe we should have had a real meal rather than fast food when a man in the audience asked in a deep resonant voice if he could say something. Relieved, the presenter agreed, and the man stood up and said "I am Benjamin Luxon, the original Owen Wingrave"
He proceeded to regale us with stories of his work with Britten on the first production. Fascinating.
He closed off with a tale about his first visit to the USA, to the Opera at Saratoga. He was asked to attend a party by a very attractive lady, so naturally he agreed. As the evening wore on he was surrounded by opera fans of the female persuasion, who enticed him with comments like "We can go off later, my husband will get drunk and pass out soon" and similar lines. He enjoyed the attention, but did not partake of the offerings. On the way home he asked his companion if America was always like this. She confessed that the group had decided to try to find out if he was gay.
He said "They never found out!"
At that point the conductor of the night's performance Steuart Bedford who had also taken part in the original production came in, cried "Benjamin" in a surprised voice, and ran to embrace him.
Benjamin Luxon
Cast of Owen Wingrave
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