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A cinematic journey to France
Inspired by the BFI London Film Festival I attended in October (it took place from the 2nd to the 13th of October 2019), I embarked on a cinematic journey around Europe. My first stop was the Nordic countries (‘A cinematic journey to the Nordic Countries’). I then continued my journey to East (Estonia, Russia, Poland), Central (Germany, Austria, Belgium) and South Europe (Spain, Italy, Greece). I now continue my cinematic journey to France, a country with a rich cinematic tradition. As both a cinephile and Francophile, I have always been interested in the French cinema, and naturally the French Film Festival UK (due to take place nationwide from 1st November…
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A cinematic journey around Europe
Inspired by the BFI London Film Festival I attended earlier this month (it took place between the 2nd and the 13th of October 2019), I embarked on a cinematic journey around Europe. My first stop was the Nordic countries (‘A cinematic journey to the Nordic Countries’). As well as attending mainstream film festivals, such as the BFI London Film Festival, and the Leeds International Film Festival (due to take place from 6th to 20th November 2019), I also attend lesser-known ones, such as the European Psychoanalytic Film Festival (EPFF). EPFF takes place in London every two years and is due to take place from 31st October to 3rd November 2019. Every…
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A cinematic journey to the Nordic countries
A keen traveler, I am also a music lover, and I particularly enjoy discovering and listening to music from different countries, often in languages I don’t understand. A few months ago, I published the post ‘Beyond Eurovision: A musical journey around Europe’, where I ‘visited’ 22 European countries, listening to some of my favorite musicians from each of these countries. This musical journey was followed by similar ones to Greece, Norway, Iceland, and California. But, I am also a film enthusiast, and as such I enjoy watching films from other countries, not always in English (as long as they have subtitles). To marry my love for cinema with my passion for…
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A musical journey to California
When I launched this blog last year, I said that I loved traveling the world. In fact, traveling has always been an important part of my life. As well as enjoyment and pleasure, traveling provides huge learning opportunities, helps us widen our horizons and opens us to different perspectives and viewpoints; all these can lead to a better appreciation of our own lives. As a Psychiatrist, I am passionate about optimal work-life balance and wellbeing, and I try to lead by example. So, I travel whenever I have time off work. A music lover, when I travel I get to discover new music, artists and songs I’ve never heard of before.…
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A musical journey to Iceland
Iceland. A country that I am yet to visit. Nonetheless, sometimes I feel as if I have already traveled or even lived there. I guess this is probably due to my obsession with the Icelandic culture and the many Icelandic crime novels I’ve been reading lately. I have previously written about my favorite Icelandic crime authors: Arnaldur Indriðason, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir and Ragnar Jónasson. Today, however, I’m going to write about my favorite Icelandic musicians: I’m going to continue my musical journey around Europe. The soundtrack to this musical journey to Iceland will include some my favorite musical ambassadors of the country. Ready to take off? I’m kicking this musical journey…
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A musical journey to Norway
It is no secret that I’m obsessed with Scandinavia and Norway in particular. So, following last week’s musical journey to Greece, this week I’m going on a musical journey to Norway. Sissel Kyrkjebø My first acquaintance with Norwegian music (Eurovision aside) goes all the way to 1998, when I first visited the Nordic countries. I clearly remember the soundtrack to the Norwegian leg of the journey: Sissel Kyrkjebø’s ‘Soria Moria’, an album that had been released almost a decade earlier, in 1989. With a career now spanning three decades, the famous Norwegian soprano has released 12 studio albums and has collaborated with many international musicians, including tenors…
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Now & then: a musical journey to Greece
A few months ago, I published my post ‘Beyond Eurovision: A musical journey in Europe’, where I ‘visited’ 22 European countries, listening to some of my favorite musicians from each of these countries. When I visited my home country, Greece, I struggled to choose among the many musicians I grew up listening to. In the end, I went on with those I consider ‘the classics’: composer Manos Hatzidakis and soprano Maria Callas. Then… a musical journey to Greece Manos Hatzidakis Manos Hatzidakis (also spelled Hadjidakis; 23 October 1925 – 15 June 1994) was a Greek composer, whose music has traveled the world. In 1960, he won the Academy Award…
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Traveling solo and jazz festivals in Norway
Last summer, I planned a trip to Norway with a few friends of mine, my so-called ‘travel buddies’. I planned the itinerary to include Oslo, Bergen and Ålesund. Disappointed I realized we did not have enough days to visit Trondheim too. Upon my return, I found out there was a direct flight from London to Trondheim. And then, I read about the jazz festivals taking place all over Norway from late spring till the end of summer. Trondheim Jazz Festival, which takes place in May, was just the excuse I needed. Decision made. But this time I went without my travel buddies. It was my first time traveling solo from…
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Beyond Eurovision: A musical journey in Europe
I have to admit that the Eurovision Song Contest is one of my guilty pleasures. Every May for several weeks (before and after the contest) all I listen to is europop – quite a departure from the music I usually enjoy (jazz, country and indie). Today, however, I’ve decided to embark on a musical journey around Europe, and listen to music (not necessarily Eurovision songs) from different European countries. I’m starting this journey with classical music from 12 different countries, but I’m also going to visit countries with a huge tradition in music (albeit not in classical music). Some Eurovision pitstops have also made it to my itinerary, and…
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Vienna: Search for Meaning & the Mozart Effect
I recently visited Vienna for the fourth time in my life. During a previous visit, I went to the Opera and saw Giuseppe Verdi’s ‘Nabucco’. This time, I opted for a rather more low-key concert with music by Wofgang Amadeus Mozart. The concert took place in St Peter’s Church (Peterskirche), a beautiful baroque church situated in the heart of Vienna, not far from the famous St Stephen’s Cathedral (Stephansdom). Built at the beginning of the 18th century, it provides the perfect backdrop for the music of the famous Austrian composer (concerts start at 8 am; tickets from 29 euros). I also visited the apartment where Mozart lived between 1784 and…