Metrophilia 1996
Students from La Salle Academy, Providence, after a performance of Madama Butterfly at New York's Metropolitan Opera, went backstage with me to meet with soprano Maria Spacagna, who had sung Cio-Cio-San. She is from our native Rhode Island. The students were the marvelous (l-r) Mike Parente, Mike Zompa, Elana Rintala, Shanna O'Brien. Our 1996 trip lasted three days, and boasted only five of us.
Also on the trip was the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island. We all partook of great eating, great shopping, and the great music of Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly and Giuseppe Verdi's Aïda. We had time for the magnificent Gianni Amelio film Lamerica. I used to try to do such trips annually when I taught, though there were numerous omissions.
I just bought a spiffy new scanner to replace my dyspeptic one and have been setting aside batches of older photos I need to compulsively scan and exhibitionistically post to appease my addiction. These are among the first, though a couple of the set were seen before. Enjoy.
Gluttony sandwich contest at Carnegie Deli between Mikes Zompa and Parente.
The restaurant is Prego on 6th Avenue
Elana checks out the perfume at Saks Fifth Avenue.
Mike Zompa checks out the skating at Rockefeller Plaza.
Gerry DeLuca in front of namesake deli Dean & DeLuca