Nico Castel is an actor, singer, linguist, teacher and director with a forty -year career in all aspects of the arts. Almost all. I don't think he can dance en pointe any more but you'd have to ask him. A few years ago he was told to audition for an idiot stage director who was casting a new staging of Richard Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos. The pivotal role of the Haushofmeister (Major-domo or butler) had long been a Nico specialty. And here thirty years into his career he's asked to audition. This quick video was Nico Castel''s response: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHhFhN0IXew They don't make them as multi-taleneted as Nico any more. The said director? Trust me. He ain't on YouTube.
Christopher Purdy is Classical 101's early morning host, 7-10 a.m. weekdays. He is host and producer of Front Row Center – Classical 101’s weekly celebration of Opera and more – as well as Music in Mid-Ohio, Concerts at Ohio State, and the Columbus Symphony broadcast series. He is the regular pre-concert speaker for Columbus Symphony performances in the Ohio Theater.