Saturday afternoon I read an email from Carthage’s business manager which caused me to tap dance with glee: my studio, which is about to be repainted and re-carpeted, does not need to be cleared until a week from today. (Originally, I thought it was today.)  And because of Honky Tonk craziness and other distractions,  there was probably six hours of boxing-up yet to do and that’s what I was going to spend all day yesterday doing.  So a week-long deadline extension was great news indeed,  and I celebrated by driving to Williams Bay, WI (a few miles past Lake Geneva) to enjoy a recital of American songs by the greatest baritone in the world,  Thomas Hampson.

For anyone doesn’t know the name, this guy has sung on opera stages and concert stages all over the world with exceptional distinction.  (I saw him for the first time when I was in standing room at the Vienna State Opera.  He has also sung at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and is a mainstay of the Metropolitan Opera.)  He is also an incredibly smart guy, which is why interviewing him by phone for my Morning Show one week ago was a very intimidating yet ultimately satisfying experience. . . and as I heard him talk about this program of songs from throughout American history (presented under the auspices of the Library of Congress) it made me very sad that he would be singing the recital 42 miles away from where I would be cooped up in my window-less office, throwing stuff into boxes.    So the chance to experience the recital after all was a lovely turn of events.

(But what a close call.  I didn’t leave until 2:30 because I wanted to make sure that our Tivo unit did what it was supposed to do when the Met’s Madama Butterfly was to be recorded – when in fact I should have been out the door sooner than that.   I ended up pulling up to George Williams College – site of the recital – with all of ten minutes to spare, only to be told that people were supposed to park at Williams Bay High School – wherever the heck that is – and be shuttled to the concert site. . . .Arrrrgh! . . . .  but I must have had a very pitiful and bewildered look on my face because the security guard, before I could utter a single word,  said i could park right next to him.  I was tempted to give him every dollar in my wallet as a tip,  but I still had a ticket to buy -and it wasn’t going to be cheap – but I thanked him for being so kind and helpful to an out-of-towner who had never been there before and obviously didn’t know what was going on.)  And my late arrival proved to be a godsend because by the time I got to the ticket booth,  all of the lower-priced seats were sold. . . so they gave me one of the $100 dress circle seats for the lower price.   So there I was,  seated in the fifth row, exact center,  for Thomas Hampson’s recital.  .  . which was gorgeous and compelling from start to finish.   (It was 22 songs by 20 different American composers.)

The venue is drop-dead gorgeous. . .  an open-air pavilion somewhat reminiscent of Ravinia but perched pretty much right on the shore of Geneva Lake, under tall trees.  There was the matter of boats riding by a little too loudly once in awhile, but that wasn’t too awful a distraction.  (I think the presence of boats is probably why he chose as his second encore a famous Aaron Copland song which begins “Heigh Ho the Boatman Row!” )    A bigger distraction- but far sweeter – was something you can see if you look closely at the photo.   The Far Eastern-looking structure behind Mr. Hampson is part of the set for “Madama Butterfly” which will be performed next weekend.   And just above the upper right hand corner of that pagoda (is that a pagoda?)  you can just barely make out the silhouette of a bird’s nest, and several baby birds being fed by their mother.   Those baby birds were quiet most of the time,  but as soon as the mother bird returned with more good, they began frantically chirping – and straining upward, their little bodies quivering desperately.  It was fun to watch and hear- especially because those baby birds would quietly settle down once the mother had flown away, as if they knew she would be back –  as if they were settling back to enjoy the singing of the world’s finest baritone.   But when it was time to eat again,   it was Who the Heck is Thomas Hampson?!?!  I wanna eat again!!!!!!     It was a delightful little addition to an already delightful afternoon.