1.26.10: After Midnight with the Maestro

After Midnight with the Maestro

A bouquet of roses frozen on The Lake, outside the Boat House in Central Park. 3:00 PM. Photo: JH.

January 26, 2010. Heavy rains yesterday and the night before last with the Sun breaking out briefly midafternoon. Followed by more rain.

Last Tuesday I got a “last minute” invitation to a “hush-hush” supper for Placido Domingo (who turned 69 this past Thursday at Doubles after his performance at the Met in Verdi’s “Simon Boccanegra.”)

The party would commence after his performance – which ended at 11:30. They were celebrating the maestro’s 50th Anniversary on the musical stage and his birthday (which was the day before). Jacqueline Mars (think Mars Bar) was hostess and the guest list of fifty was made up of Washington National opera supporters. Maestro Domingo would be arriving about 12:15. A.M.

Would I like to attend?

Placement ...

Friday is my semi-day-off and it is highly valued for its precious moments of leisure. Frankly I often don’t leave the house on Fridays. Except to walk the dogs of course.

So. However. One of the greatest living opera stars of our time? His birthday, his anniversary, and a night’s performance in a three-hour opera? I could only feel honored to share his presence.

I am not a big opera fan, meaning I am not well-versed. I have never attended enough to get to that point where so many are touched by the experience that it develops into a private passion. However, I love music. I love classical music; I love many operas I’ve heard. I love to sing and play the piano (both badly) and to me those like Placido with the voices that thrill us, are ambassadors of the human spirit. They are graced.

“Simon Boccanegra” was also a special occasion to fans and critics because he sang baritone instead of tenor. Actually when he was a kid of 18 and first auditioning for the Mexico National Opera, he sang baritone. After that they asked him to sight-read some arias in the tenor range. So there it began.

The cake.

Closeups of the left and right side of the cake marking the maestro's history at the Met.

The room.

Charles Isherwood in The New York Times wrote the following day about his first performance in “Simon Bocconegra” the previous Monday night: “(Placido’s) thrilling turn as a trouble-plagued doge in 14th-century Genoa. Verdi’s opera ranks as one of the most resonant and affecting performances I’ve seen him give. Mr. Domingo may enjoy being a one-man opera industry, but his contribution to the art form will ultimately rest on what happened — what continues to happen — in performance.”

When I arrived at Doubles, only Prince Dimitri and his friend (and distant cousin) Madeleine Frowein, had arrived. A little after midnight everyone started streaming in, including the maestro’ wife and son (who is a ringer for the younger Placido); as well as Jacqueline Mars; the Russian Ambassador, Caroline Kennedy, Kenneth Feinberg (Obama’s pay czar), Brenda Johnson, the Ambassador to Jamaica (a Bush appointee).

There was a cocktail hour while we waited for the maestro. Wendy Carduner gave me a first look at the dining room and the special birthday cake. People were lively despite the hour. I don’t know why this surprised me as I’m almost always up at that time. Then Placido arrived and Cutty McGill photographed him with many of the guests.

Ms. Kennedy is an "International Director" of the Washington National Opera.

Madeleine Frowein and Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia.

Alvaro Domingo, Jacqueline Mars, the Maestro, and Marta Domingo.

The Menu: Salad of Bibb, Endive, & Watercress with Walnut Viniagrette ... Choice of: Medallions of Veal with Artichoke & Potato Gratin OR Homemade Agnolotti with Taleggio & Baby Tomoato Fondue ... A Trio of Sorbet with Berries. WINES: Beringer Chardonnay Napa Valley '05 ... Marques de Riscal Reserva, Rioja, Spain '03.

He has a presence that is unassuming and comfortable, like the Mediterranean version of the jolly good fellow. And, naturally he looked like a man who had had a long day. But he made his way around very energetically happy to see everyone, the consummate host. It was hard to believe he’d just come from singing an opera for three hours.

We were seated for dinner at about one o’clock. Jacqueline Mars welcomed the guests and thanked the maestro for his contribution to Grand Opera and for his directorship and conducting with the Washington National Opera (he is also Director of the Los Angeles Opera). After she toasted the maestro he spoke to the group, thanking everyone profusely for being there to celebrate. Then he introduced certain guests, including the Russian Ambassador and Caroline Kennedy who is an “international director” of the Washington National Opera.

The maestro and Ms. Mars toast.

Placido was so appreciative of our presence. The chefs at Doubles had prepared a light-ish supper and the room was as energetic as an eight o’clock dinner. Which continually surpised this night-owl who was feeling, frankly, exhausted.

I was the first to leave a little after two-thirty. I was told that it was the latest a supper party ever went at Doubles – almost three. I wasn’t surprised. It’s the opera. These are the same people who line up on the sidewalks 24 hours before to get a ticket for SRO for a performance. The only difference is that they don’t have to line up; they can buy a season with a check (and one hopes, a donation). And they all do it for the same reason: they love it, they even worship the experience. That is the nature of the beast. Passion. That runs deep.

The maestro takes his seat at table.

Some more. Last night in New York, Grammy Award winning violin virtuoso Joshua Bell teamed with chef Brian Lewis of the Bedford Post Inn to host an intimate salon and cocktail reception for “Education Through Music” a non-profit organization with Bell’s Music Unites. Both are dedicated to bringing music instruction to at-risk children at inner-city public and parochial schools who would otherwise have no or limited exposure to the arts. Passion.

I missed this one, feeling a bit under the weather myself but I did attend a similar evening at Mr. Bell’s which he hosted with KiptonART.

Click to watch scenes from Joshua Bell's performance on his 1713 Stradivarius on the occasion of his 41st birthday in his Manhattan apartment. 12/10/08.

The violinist has a large duplex apartment in the Flatiron District. The main living room is perfect for concerts with one party elevated a step or two (and a curtain that runs across its width. That night the guest list was made up of a cross section of professional musicians, writers and the younger social set. Olivia Palermo, for example, was there. It started out as a pleasant cocktail party with the staircase and the sofas and chairs filled by people in conversation. Then came the performance. JH video’d it. It was magic, as you can see.

Last night was a fund-raiser. Education Through Music has been very successful in its mission. It has “harnessed the power of music to enhance the academic performance and general development of its students.” Their words, not mine. But that aforementioned Bell concert demonstrated it beautifully in retrospect. ETM currently serves over 11,000 kids in 23 inner-city elementary and middle schools in New York City, and another combined 5,000 children through its affiliate programs in L.A. and San Francisco. For more information please visit them here.


	Ashley and Mike Ramos.

Music in the air. It is my pleasure to announce to the world that my friends Ashley Schiff and Mike Ramos became parents to Samantha Lawler Ramos on January 3rd. Mother, I’ve been told, could use some of Placido’s energy at this point, thanks to the new arrival.

Grandmother Schiff, is an accomplished pianist and a record producer. Father is the longtime road manager for Jimmy Buffett. So, it’ll be all around her, all kinds. Although Mother’s a polo player (father’s a surfer), so you’ll have to wait and see ...

Jill Lynne covers the Contemporary Native American Art opening at The Chelsea Museum

When I was a wee one, growing up in New York City and occasionally allowed to watch “Cowboy & Indian” sagas on television (which was rationed to only a few hours per week) my progressive Mother always urged me to root for the “Indians.”

She explained that they had gotten a “raw deal” – their wonderful culture decimated in the settling of our great nation. When my parents passed, I inherited some “artifacts” with certificates, noting she had dutifully supported a number of Native American causes and schools.

JoAnn Kay Chase modeling cape-wrap by Native American designer, Dorothy Grant.

"Coyote with Hot Dog" by Steven Yazzie, Navajo.

Painter Mateo Romero.

So I almost inherited my interest and concern for the Native American community – Being a young activist for that cause, among many, during the 60's Civil Rights movement.

As an adult I continued, Associate Producing a Native American play, being involved with the NYC branch of the Smithsonian Museum, photographing the Native American Music Awards (which became part of the Grammy’s) ... realizing that many I admired – from Rita Coolidge thru Jon Densmore were Native American. Sometimes I think I actually was a squaw in some pastlife – or perhaps “Princess Summer-Fall-Winter-Spring” for all you Howdy Doody veterans.

Chelsea Art Museum Curator of New Media,
Nina Colosi.

Gail and Murray Bruce.

Bill Cunningham photographing Co-Founders UNRESERVED — Gail Bruce and Michael Chapman with Co-Curator, Clariss Dairnple.

Along the way I met Gail Bruce, an extraordinary woman of Cherokee descent – whose many accomplishments included the creation of The Native American College Fund. She and her husband, producer Murray Bruce, own Ramscale, that awesome Penthouse atop Westbeth, where you may well have attended a fabulous special event.

Gail’s new organization, co-founded by Michael Chapman, “UNRESERVED: American Indian Fashion and Art Alliance,” is the sponsor of the new contemporary Native American Art exhibition at the Chelsea Museum.

Carol Brodie &and Allyson
Bainridge Riccardi.

Viewing traditionally-inspired contemporary Native American pottery.

On view are works by 24 emerging and established artists, utilizing painting, photography, sculpture and assemblage to create fascinating art that reflects the traditions, iconography, mythology and materials of Native American culture.

Today there are 2.5 million American Indians and Alaskan Natives from over 500 tribes. As in the case of a significant portion of indigenous peoples worldwide, many Native Americans still live in underserved communities, battling poverty and its effects. UNRESERVED seeks to empower through education, fostering tools to encourage youth in artistic expression. During NYC’s upcoming Fashion week it will present the first show of Native American designers.

— Jill Lynne
Jilllynne.com