As I threatened last week, this column is a report on our visit to Chautauqua this summer. In addition to “settling in” to our new summer house inside the Institution, we were treated to a wonderful variety of experiences – high level lectures, concerts, classes, and memorable social occasions – all against a backdrop of beautiful weather. Coupled with the environment of the Institution grounds, it made one think of Camelot.
Each week during “the season”, the Institution presents a series of lectures on specific themes, featuring prominent expert speakers in the 4,400 seat Amphitheater. The “Amp” is a covered open-air arena with a welcoming feel. This week’s theme was “The Middle East: The Gulf States’ Emerging Influence”. The lectures begin at 10:45 am and end promptly at Noon. We attended all five and I personally learned a lot about the Gulf States. On Monday a scholar from Georgia State University gave a comprehensive review of the history of the Persian Gulf and its role in maritime trade between the Occident and the Orient from antiquity to the twentieth century. The Tuesday lecture, by an Iranian émigré associated with Johns Hopkins University, reviewed the recent development of the oil-rich Arabian countries on the southwest shore of the Gulf and their ominous neighbor Iran on the opposite shore. On Wednesday journalist Robin Wright discussed the recent efforts by the Arab Gulf States to take advantage of their wealth by diversifying into other fields, primarily by developing luxury and celebrity-based tourist destinations, mimicking the Riviera. This concept was exemplified the next day by a educator/filmmaker from the Georgetown University branch campus in Qatar with a presentation focused on the emphasis on arts and culture and the opportunity they provide for the non-elite to influence society. Finally, on Friday Tom Friedman summed up the current Middle East from his perspective, based on four decades of perceptive observation.
Mr. Friedman began his talk by describing today’s major crises – the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the Israeli response to Hamas – as contemporary incidents in a struggle between the “Inclusionist” network, led by the United States, the European Union, and their allies; and the “Resistance” network, led by Russia, Iran, and North Korea (and occasionally China); a struggle that he dates back to 1979. That year Islamic reactionaries overthrew the Shah of Iran and replaced him with the Ayatollah Khomenei as the authoritarian leader of a sectarian (Shi’ite Muslim) state. The same year Muslim militants seized the Grand Mosque of Mecca in an attempt to reverse a trend toward secularism by the Saudi leaders. Their reaction to this, once the rebellion had been quelled, was a major shift toward conservatism and significant reduction of individual freedoms. The same year, the Three Island meltdown in this country signaled the end of nuclear energy and increased our reliance on Saudi oil as an energy source. The Saudis’ drift to the right was accompanied by the rise of Osama Bin Laden and extremist groups like ISIS, Hamas, and Hezbollah. At the same time, it initiated the aborted Arab Spring in 2010, a clear indication of the desire of progressive Arabs for change. Friedman views today’s conflicts as the natural consequence of Ukraine’s desire to join the West and Israel’s to join the East.
Weekly short courses are a popular tradition at Chautauqua. This year Beth taught one on the historical background of James Clavell’s novel “Shogun”; and Mike, one on Russian stories dealing with doctors. Concurrently Sara, Nora, and I were students of one on composers of the American songbook. Taught by my close friend Phil Atteberry, it covered Harry Warren, Harold Arlen, Hoagy Carmichael, Burton Lane, and Jimmy van Heusen. Needless to say, it was the highlight of the week for me. Phil’s knowledge of the subject and his communication skills, particularly his ability to incorporate music and videos into his presentations, are unexcelled. My opportunity to have lunch and a long chat with him was “icing on the cake”.
Each evening there is a high-quality musical concert at the Amp. We heard the CSO (Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra) three times. Tuesday’s feature was Schubert’s Third Symphony; Thursday’s, Berlioz’ “Symphonie Fantastique”; and Saturday’s, Gershwin’s “Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in F”. All three evenings were excellent; the fact that 2025 is the one hundredth anniversary of Gershwin’s composing his masterpiece in a practice building at Chautauqua, made it even more memorable. The CSO is not at the level of the Pittsburgh or Cleveland Symphony Orchestras, but it is much closer than I had realized. I also greatly enjoyed a concert by the Canadian Brass.
Two of my neighbors – Howard Alex and the Foxes, Ann and Randy – have summer homes here; we have been entertained royally by them in the past. When Beth invited them to our house for dinner, we hit the jackpot. Another neighbor family, dear friends Ann and Norman Cohen, were visiting Howard for the weekend and were immediately added to the guest list. Beth has inherited her mother’s flair for hosting successful dinner parties; this one was no exception. When it came time to open the wine, we discovered that our remarkably well-equipped house lacked a bottle opener. Quel dommage! Sara saved the day by borrowing one from our neighbors across the street. And, of course, two days later we found an elegant set of wine aficionados’ equipment in an obscure cabinet. This elegant meal, enjoyed outside on our patio, in company with our very special friends is another strong candidate for highlight of the week (as is our Monday evening dinner on the porch of the Athenaeum Hotel overlooking the lake on a sunny August evening).
It is hard for me to imagine a week so filled with exceptional experiences. It truly “doesn’t get much better than this”. If only my wife were still alive to enjoy them with us!