Building a Super-Extended Family

One of the things I am enjoying on this my third engagement at Edmonton Opera is how the individual people in the company– administration, soloists, chorus, orchestra– become part of your super-extended family. You know more and more about them, and they know more and more about you.

Last Saturday was my son Ronan’s 3rd birthday, and I was very sad not to be there to celebrate with him. The night before though we had a big Act 2 rehearsal with chorus and principals, oh and kids too. Before letting everyone go I asked if they would mind singing Happy Birthday to Ronan, so I could video it and post it online for him to see when he woke up. Well, it was the most raucus and enthusiastic rendition I have heard in a long time, and made Ronan very happy. And now everyone comes up and asks “Did your son like his birthday video?!?!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0GPodCENGM

This is one of the wonderful perks of my job, and one of the things that makes being away from home for these long stretches just a little more bearable.

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