I had fairly high expectations for this concert, Franz Schubert: Master Storyteller by Benjamin Appl and Sholto Kynoch, which was also the opening concert of this year’s Oxford International Song Festival, for three reasons. Firstly, I had heard their wonderful performance back in May in Heidelberg, Germany. Secondly, I have been a lover of Lieder …
“Lange lieb’ ich dich schon…” — Friedrich Hölderlin “I have loved you for a long time…” wrote Hölderlin in his poem Heidelberg. But how long is a long time? How about twenty years? It was in 2005 when I first visited this enchanting, romantic city with my sister. We were tourists then, right before I …
In five minutes, the train was supposed to arrive at its destination. Suddenly, an emergency occurred, resulting in at least an hour of delay. This real-life travel experience mirrors my current life situation—filled with pauses and unexpected turns. The Malaysian embassy in Germany once told me, “Please be patient, your new passport is coming.” I …
How long does it take to get back into the rhythm of your life after travelling? This time, it took me three weeks. I changed the light bulb, swept away the fallen leaves on the path, at last, my laundry mountain piles has gone, I know where the forks and knifes are placed again, bedsheet …
It has been three months since my last blog entry about W.A. Mozart’s life and opera and my trip to Würzburg at June 7, 2024. If you have not read it, here is the link:https://thejourney-writing.com/2024/06/w-a-mozarts-life-and-opera-my-wurzburg-diary-june-7-2024.html Summer was great, having roots (family) and wings (travelling and playing organ) at the same time is the kind of …
“Ich kann nicht anders – ich muß eine große opera oder gar keine schreiben.”“One thing is certain—I must compose a great opera or none.” W.A. Mozart an Leopold aus ParisAus dem Brief vom 31. Juli 1778 W.A. Mozart was a child prodigy, multi-talented musician and play several instruments. Fun fact, he rejected the opportunity to …
I’m back from the trip to friends’ wedding. The wedding was very inspiring, loves were flowing everywhere. The reason we gathered there was to celebrate the love between the newly-wed. Love is a decision and they made the decision in front of us, what a privilege to have witnessed that. Besides, I saw what mother …
“It sounded an excellent plan, no doubt, and very neatly and simply arranged; the only difficulty was, that she had not the smallest idea how to set about it … ” – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll This can explain my current situation. So many wonderful things planned for this year, and I have …
On 14.2.2024 my organ arrived, a month later, on 13.3.2024 my visa until next year February arrived. Yesterday, I was busying talking to my dearest family and friends about this, finally I can plan oversea trips. The next thing to do is to earn enough to support all these wonderful trips. Summer Europe trip with …
Time continues to play its organ diligently,Its little song sings to you every day,Mixed with sounds that are not cheerful,That no one wants to hear. The sounds continue. And as the years go byIt becomes a full singing society.It makes you go through the roof.You’d like to be somewhere else. Well, all right. You do …