Meisterklasse

So far I have said little about the musical experience this year. As it was last year, the program at AIMS is jampacked with activities. The singing in the public performances with orchestra has been at a generally higher level than last year, but there have still been a few that were not up to par. The orchestra, on the other hand, is phenomenal. They say it's the best in years (and it was pretty darn good last year!). It is outstanding on every concert, playing with precision and great subtlety. On my end of things, the Concert Studio, we have lately enjoyed two masterclasses by high profile singers. Bo Skovus, the Danish baritone, came over from Salzburg (where he is singing Guglielmo at the Festspiele) at the beginning of the week. Barbara Bonney, the American soprano, also made her way over from the City of Mozart today. Both classes took place in the Minoritensaal, a large room that is part of a functioning monastery. The room itself, splendidly and unashamedly Baroque, used to be the refectory, but it is no longer used as such as the community of monks is too small. It's a great space. The AIMS orchestra concerts were held here for many years, I'm told. The photo is of the Minoritenkirche from the outside. It was a gloomy day.