FRED PLOTKIN is one of America’s foremost experts on opera and has distinguished himself in many fields as a writer, speaker, consultant and as a compelling teacher. He is an expert on everything Italian, the person other so-called Italy experts turn to for definitive information. Fred discovered the concept of "The Renaissance Man" as a small child and has devoted himself to pursuing that ideal as the central role of his life. In a “Public Lives” profile in The New York Times on August 30, 2002, Plotkin was described as "one of those New York word-of-mouth legends, known by the cognoscenti for his renaissance mastery of two seemingly separate disciplines: music and the food of Italy." In the same publication, on May 11, 2006, it was written that "Fred is a New Yorker, but has the soul of an Italian."
What a wonderful 2 hours between two friends who understand the world in their own ways but can relate totally to each other, and we can try to keep up by making memos to remind ourselves of all these ideas and connections, places to visit ourselves someday, things to listen for while attending certain operas, and much else. One theme you two agree on was the need to have Robert Gambill on Fred's show; a wonderful opportunity to hear his wealth of experience! Bob also has been a wonderful friend thanks to our mutual connections to certain personalities in the Purdue Univ. math department, which included Bob's sainted Dad, and have led to marvelous musical occasions: Bob's debut as Tami…