Much of life in Pittsburgh is interesting, but last night was exceptional. Pittsburgh has an excellent classical music scene, symphony and opera. In celebration of their 25th anniversary, EPCASO, Ezio Pinza Council for American Singers of Opera, along with the Pittsburgh Opera, presented a fabulous concert featuring Samuel Ramey, an excellent orchestra, and the great voices of graduates and members of the EPCASO program and the Pittsburgh Opera Center. The music was glorious with many of my favorite arias. Ramey performed his Mephistopheles Serenade, from Gounod’s Faust, with its wonderful, chilling laughter and concluded the program with "Some Enchanted Evening" from South Pacific.

My brother loved Samuel Ramey. For his 65th birthday, which he had never expected to reach, we celebrated with box seats at the Metropolitan Opera for a Samuel Ramey performance. Last night I enjoyed the music and spent much time thinking about Arvin.