Munich and Belgrade…
This week was full of travel. I went to Munich on Monday for the rehearsals before the concert on Wednesday. Monday early evening rehearsal and tuesday from 4.30 pm until almost midnight general rehearsal. Frau Wuss which is the lady organizing the concert wanted to do 2 runs through of the whole program so we did the whole concert twice. On wednesday we had the concert at the Akademischer Gesangverein München. It was representation of different opera scenes and there I sang the scene from La Boheme at the end of the first act with some recits and both Mimi and Rodolfo arias. It went really well and the audience really enjoyed the whole evening which was not short but lots of different beautiful music.
The next morning I flew to Belgrade in Serbia. Akiho was there for a concert and I was able to go there and support her. I also did some sightseeing. She performed Mozart Mass in C Minor with the Belgrade Philharmonic and conducted by Gabriel Feltz. It was a very nice concert, both singers and the orchestra were really good, the choir was also outstanding. I really enjoyed to watch this concert and listen to such beautiful music. it was really high level music.
I really enjoyed the Serbian food and to learn of the traditional dishes was very nice. I really enjoyed the Cevapi and Ajvar. Went to several specialty coffee shops and street markets. I really loved the hospitality of the Serbian. I was quite impressed that they still smoke inside the establishments such as restaurants, bars and coffee shops. I was suddenly very nostalgic and remember how it use to be back when I was younger. I could no help myself but I had to have a cigarette with a coffee inside in a various places, which was great as the weather was really windy and rainy on that day. It is incredible that some parts of the city remind the me of Colonia Condesa in Mexico, I do not know how to explain it but the vibe was really similar in some parts with all the coffee shops.
I must say Belgrade was very different compare to any other european city I have visited. You have to visit it to know what I mean. I am really happy to have been there and enjoy the friendliness of people and its food. I am glad I got to visit this country and to see Akiho perform. If she was not performing I think it was very unlikely that I would visit Serbia, not because a particular reason, only cause it is a very foreign country to me. Now that I was there I am glad and definitely I hope to return and explore more of it. It is a very young country but with a hug long history behind it. So I look forward to the next time.
Take care and until next time.
