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THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
12/01–12/02/12
Nights at the opera Singers at Del Rio bring special holiday cheer
Opera singers have entertained patrons at the Del Rio Restaurant since 1972.
photography courtesy pigati family
■ by
angelika labno
Opera nights at Highwood’s Del Rio Restaurant, the familyowned establishment of almost 90 years, give the holidays a special glow. From Dec. 7-23, patrons can enjoy an ensemble of opera singers serenading them throughout dinner. Even with two shows every weeknight other than Mondays, seats during the holiday season are a hot commodity; the phones rang off the hook the day after Thanksgiving, when owner Bill Pigati began filling the golden-ticket reservations. “I have a decent voice, but these folks have magical voices,” Pigati said of the singers. Pigati has been bringing in opera singers since 1972. Having worked for years at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Pigati knew there were few places young singers could go and perform in those days, “so we’d pull up the piano on a Friday night and we’d sing,” he said. Some of the original performers went on to sing all over the world. Nowadays, Pigati mixes it up by bringing in older and
newer voices, some coming from Broadway or European tours. The playlist may include musical comedy, opera, Christmas carols and Hanukkah tunes, with guests invited to sing along. Del Rio also gets in the spirit of giving, as Pigati adds that every four years or so, he gets the singers to record a CD and donates all the profits to charity. “We never quite know how we’ll find ‘em, but we’ll find ‘em,” said Pigati of the singers. Just the past weekend, Pigati — who sings in a choir — encountered a baritone whose rendition of “Ave Maria” at a church function impressed him so much, patrons will likely get a chance to watch him in the upcoming nights. Pigati once thought that he, too, might focus on a music career, as he had no idea he would take over the family business until his father planned to sell it. “I got into it after two days and absolutely loved it,” said the natural restaurateur. “I love wine and I love cooking, so it worked out.” The cooking and the wine are exactly what make the
restaurant thrive after several generations, beginning in 1924. The extensive wine list includes some 4,000 choices. Pigati is “crazy about having good stuff,” featuring exclusive recipes from Bologna, Italy using quality ingredients. The veal is raised for the restaurant in Wisconsin, and the fish, usually wild from the ocean, are out of the water for no longer than a couple days, he adds. The defining character of Del Rio comes from being such a long-standing, family-owned Italian restaurant. Pigati often sees the grandchildren of people who used to come in when they were the grandchildren of someone else who visited. Said long-time patron John Dick of Lake Forest, “I have gone to that bar to celebrate the afternoons my children were born. Now I’m taking my grandchildren there for special dinners.” And opera singers aren’t the only special visitors ever seen at the fun-loving restaurant. “I once ran through the restaurant with a gorilla suit on after graduating from business school,” Dick said. “Everyone knew it was me.” ■