Today I met my beloved friend and marvelous mezzo Nicole Piccolomini for lunch and a major catching-up session at Pain Quotidien. Nicole is just back from Europe where she polished off her second season at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and then traveled to the Spoleto Festival for her Italian debut in a Roussel rarity PADMAVATI (photo). Following the progress of Nicole's career since meeting her at Juilliard has been truly gratifying. In the summer of 2006, Nicole sang for the New York City Ballet's performances of Ratmansky's RUSSIAN SEASONS at Saratoga. Her winning of the Berlin American Opera Auditions sent her to the German city where she has sung Maddalena, Fenena, Lola, and the First Norn among many other roles. Last autumn she made a great impression as Astor Piazzolla's MARIA DE BUENOS AIRES with Gotham Chamber Opera here in New York City. She was recently interviewed at OPERA CHIC in conjunction with her Spoleto appearances. In August she returns to Berlin for her third Deutsche Oper season to sing - among other roles - Dryade in my favorite opera: ARIADNE AUF NAXOS. Nicole has a ton of wonderful engagements lined up which I can't divulge here due to contractual restrictions.
I love the costume and set photos from PADMAVATI, a production which originated at the Chatelet in Paris before being featured at Spoleto. It needs to be seen in other venues and hopefully here in New York City; it would be a treat to see at the Lincoln Center Festival for example. Nicole described the fantastic lavishness and detail of the costumes which were hand-created in India. It's great having Nicole here for a few weeks!
Here are a couple of photos I took of Nicole after our lunch. I have two more but I think I'll save them for a future time when Nicole gives me the go-ahead to announce her upcoming engagements.
Philip,
Besides my Mother, you're my biggest fan! Thanks so much for a great day and for always being so interested in my career. You're an awesome friend!
Posted by: Nicole | July 07, 2008 at 10:34 PM
Ms. Piccolomini looks beautiful and those costumes are to die for!
Posted by: Deborah | July 07, 2008 at 11:03 PM
She sounds as good as she looks!
Posted by: Philip | July 07, 2008 at 11:49 PM
Thanks!!
Hmmm, I wonder if that picture at the bottom is from Spoleto or Paris. Philip, where did you find it???
Posted by: Nicole | July 08, 2008 at 08:24 AM
Nic, I Google-searched "PADMAVATI Spoleto" and found several items. I'll try to find the blog this was on and send you the link. It looks like a phenomenal stage setting.
Posted by: Philip | July 08, 2008 at 08:31 AM