There was a true sense of occasion yesterday evening at the Four Seasons Centre for the opening night of our Flying Dutchman. For the first time, «mon Johannes» (as I call him when I speak with my wife) stepped in the pit to conduct a performance as the COC's Music Director. From the company box on the Grand Ring I have an excellent view of the pit and it was wonderful to observe our musicians' commitment and response to their new leader's generous music-making during the performance.

The whole evening was a resounding success. Christopher Alden's production is powerful and extremely well thought-through and it was made even stronger through our completely committed cast, led by Evgeny Nikitin (you have to hear his soft singing to believe how beautiful a heldenbaritone can sound) and Julie Makerov (singing her first Senta and dealing with the murderous difficulties as if she had been singing the part all her life).

This morning at 10 a.m. our brave musicians were back in the rehearsal room for the first orchestra rehearsal of Idomeneo. After the opening is before the opening.