Den Haag, Belfort, Vitznau & Basel, ...and Lisbon & Sintra (!)
Finally back home!
12 cities. 8 countries. 66 days.
What a journey this has been. I keep saying that, but… this summer in Europe - the amount of magic, the growth, the unexpected adventures, friendships, stories, experiences - I really shall treasure them dearly. Coming back now, of course I’ve missed Canada and Montreal and my incredible castle in the sky intensely, but I feel like there’s now this new perspective. Of what I want to do, could do. Of Europe. Of possibilities professional and personally. Moving to Europe, pursuing more crazy opportunities?
I’ve really fallen in love with Europe this summer in a brand new way. Even while floating, wandering around, there’s a possibility of belonging. Perhaps because of the people. The right people I needed to meet and connect with and make music with. So who knows what the next chapters will bring … I’ll keep searching and exploring :’)
Meanwhile, so many exciting projects to look forward to this year back in Canada! More updates soon. For now, another brief recap of the summer adventures part 2!
September 2-9 Den Haag, Netherlands
A deeply heartwarming, peaceful, restorative, all-around beautiful rehearsal period but more than just rehearsal period with my favourite partner in crime. Everything from the music to the home cooking/baking, bike rides, morning reads on the beach, hikes, movies, long talks … each moment brought so much wholesome happiness~ a much needed refuge in the middle of all the summer’s craziness.
September 9-12 Belfort, France
Le Festival International de Musiques Universitaires (FIMU). What a festival this was. Completely different from the classical music festival world.
The entire city that weekend came alive to be full of music of all kinds - popular, jazz, world music, classical, electronic … there were 10 stages simultaneously with different sounds emerging and mixing together at the same time. As you walk through the streets, one sound world melts into the next. All the crowds dancing to the rhythms, grabbing their crêpes and fries and beer, cheering and laughing … the atmosphere was thrilling. And what’s strange was that as I stood in the front of a show by a world music band Sina kienou @ Badenya, as we all joined in their sing back phrases, I felt so happy, so part of something that’s foreign yet inviting and powerful. I was moved to tears.
Our own performances were incredibly memorable as well. We loved this program dearly and every moment felt so spontaneous and connected. On the second night, the entire church was packed. People were sitting all around the stage and standing crowded at the back. Everyone was listening so intently to the haunting resonances of the Jewish melodies, the lighthearted dances of de Falla, and the bizarre, curious, shocking effects in Fazil Say’ We were gleaming with just the presence, the rush of feeling from being able to be there and then playing wholeheartedly for all these people. Sharing, daring, making this music come alive. What a privileged life, again and again.
September 13-14 Lucerne and Vitznau, Switzerland
After a long summer of intensive music-making, I thought I’d treat myself to checking off a long-time item on my bucket-list: hiking the Swiss Alps! This two day adventure was plain extraordinary, to say the least. Not only the nature, the symphony of cowbells, the colour and tones of the water, the air above the clouds … but also the secret little mischiefs going about, that really brought an exhilarating spark to this whole dreamy getaway. Well, that’s story for another time… <3
September 14-19 Basel, Switzerland
One last week exploring Switzerland, seeing old/new friends, walking along the Rhine, more crazy party nights, baking the best carrot cake and chocolate fudge pie. Oh and of course, somehow still productive! We had lots of fun preparing and recording Beethoven Violin Sonata No.1~
September 19-21 Lisbon and Sintra, Portugal
The last surprise. Plus surprise. Plus surprise. 3 days extended vacation aka. stuck in Portugal! What a dramatic, stressful, exhilarating, bizarre, exciting, memorable end to this trip. What was supposed to be a 24 hour layover to walk around the beautiful city of Lisbon turned to be a disastrous fail on my part to return to my own country… But thanks to my derping and the authorities at the airport cooly making this experience terribly stressful, I got to make yet another family in Lisbon, acquire three new adorable siblings, find a new close friend who introduced me to the breathtaking Sintra (the most magical Pena Gardens and Palace), and take some final peaceful, spiritual alone time to reflect on and be grateful for everything that has happened, is happening, will happen.
Thank you for everyone, every step, every note, every bite that has been part of this summer. I repeat myself, but we like repetition. There’s a meaning. Each repetition is different. So again, thank you. I am so honoured and blessed. I will keep trying my best.
Sincerely yours,
asiantinkerbell~