Spencer, Mark and Nancy Gruett, and Andy

High of 90 and 65% humidity–that’s the forecast for the week. In other words, it’s hot and sticky here. Fortunately, there is a nice breeze off the Adriatic, which helps cool the air, especially at night.

This morning, we said goodbye to our friends Mark and Nancy Gruett, former members of the Deutsche Oper chorus. They’ve been IMFA groupies for the past week, attending concerts and classes and offering sessions for the students. It’s been wonderful to have them here and we all look forward to keeping in touch with them.

This afternoon, Stefano introduced us to the works of several composers unknown to us: Hans Werner Henze, Antonio Bibalo, and Erwin Schulhoff. There is much to learn from each of these musicians, and it can often be inspiring, when working on a project, to put your own work aside and listen to the work of a master composer.

We will be resident in Duino for the remainder of the festival, with the exception of Friday, when we will travel to the town of Rovereto.