Frank Diliberto

Principal Bass

At this moment …

We would find Frank riding horseback. Frank and his wife Judy own the Double D Horse Ranch, in Sherwood, Ore. Judy competes in dressage, while Frank shows Western cutting horses. "We own about 11 or 12 horses and board another 20," Frank explains. "I have to keep them fit."

On the DVD player …

Frank's been watching a DVD of a 1978 Chicago Symphony concert led by Sir Georg Solti in the Royal Albert Hall, in which a young Frank can be seen playing in the bass section. "It was so long ago, I almost didn't recognize myself."

In the kitchen …

Frank's special recipe comes from his Sicilian grandmother. "Every so often my family insists I make it," he explains. "It's a red sauce with everything: meatballs, breaded veal, Italian sausages, boiled potatoes, hard-boiled eggs. We eat that the first day. The second day, when the sauce tastes better, we have it over pasta."

On the music stand …

Christopher Rouse's Phantasmata. Although Frank is well-versed in the standard orchestral repertoire, newer works can be challenging. Frank considers himself an "orchestral specialist," someone who plays orchestral, rather than solo, repertoire. "I really enjoy leading this bass section," he confides. "I know our contribution is vital and we're there for Carlos and the music. We get a kick out of what we do."

And on the nightstand …

Brunelleschi's Dome by Ross King, the story of Renaissance-era architect Brunelleschi and his immense dome for Florence's main cathedral. For lighter fare, Frank is also reading The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson, a factual bestselling murder mystery that occurred during the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.

Before you left …

Frank would introduce you to his favorite cutting horses: Stellina, Crystals Starlight and Shivers Centerfold. "Riding a great horse is like conducting a great orchestra," he says. "The animal knows how to move; a great orchestra knows how to play. Your job is to motivate without over-controlling or over-rehearsing. Less is more."