Alumni Freiburg celebrated its first day with the opera on Saturday, April 21 taking in a performance of Verdi’s Luisa Miller at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and it was truly a wonderful and special experience.

The day started off with an early morning breakfast and lecture at the apartment of Sarah Stephens.  Sarah works in the field and was able to give us insight into the world of opera, the specifics of Luisa Miller (deriving from Friedrich von Schiller’s Kabale und Liebe, the German element of the day) as well as the performers we were to see which included Placido Domingo.

Sarah lives in a very famous building – The Ansonia – which has been home to many of the world’s great musicians over the decades.  After breakfast and the lecture, we ventured to its rooftop, where there had once been a rooftop farm and Sarah shared with us the history of the Ansonia.

The performance was wonderful;  a gripping story, beautiful music and singing, nothing short of an excellent production.  The group met up afterwards at Fiorello’s across the street from the Met and the conversation continued late into the afternoon.

We are indebted to Sarah Stephens for putting together a truly exceptional experience and the planning for the next Alumni Freiburg Day at the Opera (sometime in October) has already begun!

Additionally, the German Consul General in New York, David Gill and his wife, gave us the honor and attended the day.

(Text by Jeffrey Himmel)