Hamburg, Valentine's Day, Lustige...

Hi there! This week I was in Hamburg from Monday to Thursday. Friday and Saturday had rehearsals for Die Lustige Witwe and today (Sunday) we had a performance. I think it was our performance number nine. It went really well, I had a new Valencienne and she did really well.

For the first time I was properly in Hamburg, this time as a tourist and I enjoyed my time there. I met with Akiho there and we discovered few places to eat and several coffee places. As you may know I am a coffee lover and wherever I go I search for the best coffee, and rosteries. Hamburg has many coffee shops and I brought home few coffee bags with different roastings and origins. On Valentine's Day, we went for the first time at the port to visit a Submarine and went inside, it was a really cool experience and I am so glad we decided to do it spontaneously, we drank several coffee cups and some protuguese baked goods and also hopping in different neighborhoods, plus amazing lunch in a fish restaurant we found and loved. We also went to the Opera to see Norma with Olga Peretyatko and Marcelo Alvarez (already in his early 60's). We met Marcelo after the show and I got to meet him and had his contact, he was really nice and I really admire what he has accomplished. I remember I also told him that he was one of the first tenors I had bought a CD from, it was an album with french arias. It was a cool experience he gave me the contact of his secretary to keep in touch, he was really friendly and warm.

In Hamburg, of course went to UNIQLO and walked at the Hafen and Fish Market, etc... We basically walked the whole time, it was very rainy but it did not stop us as the rain was not heavy but just constant. We were lucky it was not so cold, only few times really windy but we already expected it was going to be like this.

I am preparing a nice Lied programm and among the works I want to include the "3 Sonetti di Petrarca" by Liszt. Among the recordings I love are the ones from Gedda, Camarena and Pavarotti. These recordings are very different among each other as these three singers are complitely different, but I think my favorite is Gedda.

I keep doing my exercise routine 4 times a week, also reading Epictitus and "The daily Stoic" by Holiday. It was a very interesting week and as you know I love travelling and getting new perspectives. I hope you are well.

Take care and see you next week.