May, 2004 - Nr. 5
Zurich Connection
C
onnecting
Well, I must say that it’s been a while since I’ve told you about the surroundings here in the beautiful city of Zürich. I cannot glow enough, especially since Spring has now sprung. How glad I am that the weather’s at least 10 degrees more than in Toronto! Sorry, had to gloat. Well, ok, take a few degrees away because I live quite a few metres higher than downtown. However, people are out and about all the time, bicycles are numerous, ice cream shops are doing brisk business and the Böög (large Snowman) has exploded last week for Sechseläuten, the festival to say Bye Bye to Winter and Hellooo Spring, along with the Parade of Guilds and many a competent marching band!
It’s been quite busy on my end of things here as many rehearsals and concerts have kept me beyond busy, to the point where I didn’t have any weekend; yes, that’s right, working everyday of the week. Ah, such is life as a performer. I wouldn’t trade it though!
I hope you’ve had a restful Easter. I must say that mine was not spent in Switzerland, but in Vienna. Yes, a little cross continental travelling. Caroline was visiting me for a few days before we both returned to the gorgeous Vienna to sing in the Augustiner Chor festivities for Easter and Easter Monday, not before having raided the Lindt chocolate factory that I live across the lake from! What a joy to sing Haydn’s "Lord Nelson Mass" with orchestra! And how could one go to Vienna and not visit the Staatsoper! Well, with the new staging of Wagner’s "Parsifal’’, Caroline and I decided to brave the long line-up for standing room tickets for the, count it, 5.5hour show!!! Don’t know how we made it that long; ah yes, it was the beautiful music AND the interesting new production, quasi-pornographic actually. Much symbolism which was not left to the imagination did not really make for your average family show. Definitely a show to talk about! We also took in Verdi’s Aïda to regular praise from the audience.
And now I’m back walking through forests, along the lake, people watching, taking the tram and just being busy. This last weekend, I had the great opportunity to go to the symphony on a whim and watch/hear the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks with Mariss Jansons. What a concert! I definitely needed it and it was great to hear them since they were guesting this one and only performance.
I’m off to Düsseldorf this afternoon for a choral festival and look forward to the music making that will come about there. So, I shall bid you adieu from Zürich for now.
Ade mitenand!
Elizabeth
Comments to: ekuehn@echoworld.com
