To celebrate St George's Day, Shakespeare's birthday, the birth of my father in 1899......and the day 50 years ago I started work at Glyndebourne (and also started to pay taxes) - yes all these events on April 23 - I had a party last night with the casts of both of our productions, and a few other assorted characters including some board members, and friends from coasts east and west - about 40 in all.  I wish I could have coped with many more but this number was a scrum enough.  So any readers who feel miffed at not being invited can be assured that they are in extremely distinguished company!

We began at 6:30 and the last to leave at 11:30 pm were three hearty lads from the cast of Moscow Cheryomushki who between them managed to finish a bottle of Black Label.  I hope they recover in time for the last performance on Wednesday!

I am taking a day off from the office after a strenuous weekend which began on Thursday with the General of Teseo - four very late nights.  This evening I will be back at the Harris Theater for Music of the Baroque's Mass in B minor.  As some would say, with no little justification, the greatest music ever written by man - but JSB is scarcely human!

I am delighted of course that our two productions this month have been so warmly received by both press and our enthusiastic audiences.  A gratifying way indeed to end my time here in Chicago.

It is a gorgeous sunny day here in Chicago - a lovely way to start the week.  Meanwhile the clean up after last night is pretty well done.