It was a snowy, blowy December in the American Northeast, and the bad weather even managed to blow away two of Camerata's scheduled Christmas concerts, an unwelcome first in our long history of holiday performances. But the shows that did take place, under Anne Azéma's direction, were a joy.

Winter in Europe on the days following was milder.....but we still needed coats to pose for the accompanying photo, taken outside Paris' Theatre de la Ville, where Joel and the Camerata, along with our friends from the Sharq Ensemble, performed Mediterranean Christmas for a large and vocally enthusiastic crowd. The audience in Metz the next day was equally warm and welcoming.

Camerata's winter mini-season in France continues in January with a nationally broadcast radio appearance and two performances of Tristan and Iseult; the Paris show sold out months ahead.... Oddly enough, though Tristan has toured widely in North America, Europe, and Asia, this will be the Paris première! We'll be back in Boston in February to share the magnificent Tristan legend, for the first time in many seasons, with our home audience. Meanwhile, best New Year's greetings from the other side of the puddle :-).