It has been a year now since I have started posting on this blog. On 25th June, 2008, my appointment as the new General Director of the COC was announced at a press conference on the stage of our beautiful Four Seasons Centre. Since, time has flown by and I can hardly believe that I've been with the company for a complete season already. We've made huge steps forward with the planning of our future seasons (up to 2012/13 and soon 2013/14), and with Johannes Debus we have found our new Music Director.
 
You might have noticed that there has been no posting on the blog for a few weeks and one of my good resolutions for my second year with the COC is to give you much more frequent news about what I am doing.
 
Tonight, my wife Eloise, our daughter Marnie and I will embark on a three-week trip to Europe that will lead us to London, Paris, Aix-en-Provence, again London and Manchester. I will see performances, hear young singers in audition and meet with colleagues and friends. Stay tuned for my reports.
 
Today also happens to be my grandmother's 86th birthday. Congratulations, Oma!