Joseph Volpe, the general manager of the Metropolitan Opera, will retire at the end of this season. He's currently in Seattle on a book tour for his recently published memoir, The Toughest Show on Earth: My Rise and Reign at the Metropolitan Opera (Knopf 2006). Hosted by Norm Hollingshead, Mr. Volpe gave a talk tonight about his memoir at the Bellevue Regional Library. I bought his book and got his autograph.

I have many fond memories of the Metropolitan Opera. One that I am looking forward to revisiting once I return to New York will be the free summer concerts by the Metropolitan Opera (as well as by the New York Philharmonic) on the Great Lawn in Central Park. Let me set the scene. Imagine a warm summer evening in the pastoral setting of Central Park's Great Lawn. You and your friends are eating a delicious picnic (perhaps from Zabars) while listening to beautiful classical music. With a glass of wine in hand, you stand up to stretch your legs and gaze at the tall skyscrappers that surrond the park's perimeter. Could it get any better?

Now I already know that the New York Philharmonic concerts in the park will be on Wednesday, July 12th and Tuesday, July 18th. But I'm still waiting for the Metropolitan Opera to post the dates of their free concerts! So tonight, I asked Mr. Volpe two questions. First, could he inscribe in the book "Welcome back to New York Robert" - which he graciously did. And second, "When will the Met be performing their concerts in Central Park?"

"August."