22.5.17

Music and poetry...

Sorry for having been a lousy blogger for a while… and probably will be so still for another while. I’m quite busy with a number of things right now. One of them has been the involvement in a chamber concert which took place last week.

It all started with an article about me in the Göteborgs-Posten, my birth town’s local newspaper. The article was read by a leading violinist in the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, more or less on her way to Paris. Her name is Marja Inkinen-Engström. She read about Paris walks, my interest in music… She contacted me… and we met. I arranged a meeting with a local friend and professional pianist, Cecilia Löfstrand, and we met in the 17th century apartment of another friend, author and poet, Birgitta Lindqvist. Spontaneously, it was decided to, as soon as possible, use the place - and the piano - for a chamber concert.

A couple of weeks later, in May, two weekend concerts could take place. Marja took a few days off, came to Paris again, and was joined by her friend Per Nyström who also flew in from Sweden with his cello. So, Marja, Cecilia and Per could perform together, concentrating on French rather contemporary chamber music. We had invited some selected guests, mostly members of the local Swedish Art Association, who could during the music pause listen to some wonderful poetry by Birgitta… and drink a glass of champagne.

Sincere thanks to everybody who made these memorable moments possible – the musicians and Birgitta – not forgetting the journalist who wrote the article which started it all, Johan Tollgerdt!


Unfortunately there is no video from the concert – you have to imagine! It was a moment never to forget!    

7 comments:

Shammickite said...

What a marvellous "comingtogether" of art and music, creating this memorable chamber concert. What a wonderful event. Congratulations on your involvement, I am sure everyone enjoyed it immensely. I love the pictures.

Dédé said...

Belle initiative. Bravo mon cher Petel. J'aurais bien voulu écouter cela. Je t'embrasse.

Jeanie said...

Oh Peter, that sounds so wonderful. Something both Rick and I would love. Alas, no video or audio but I know it was magnificent!

Mabelita said...

...but you are the music...while the music lasts...
T. S. Eliot

Virginia said...

I read with great interest and wishing all of this could have happened while I was in Paris. I would have loved to hear them all. Maybe you can start organizing for my next trip??? Thank you for organizing and sharing, Peter!
V

Anonymous said...

Thank you, dear Peter for this beautiful post. I love your photos! If only we could listen to the music and the poetry...

It is easy to imagine the size of that room by the way the piano lid was open. Not just by looking at the photos it looks huge, it is huge! And what a beautiful home!

Through my great curiosity about the life of Ida Bäckmann (she loved to visit my country for long periods at a time) I have come to know the sublime poetry of Gustaf Fröding. There's one poem of his about every newlywed having to buy blue and white china. So spot on😜 And I love his sense of humor, the mischief in his words...

So glad you came back to share this wonderful evening with us. We always miss you!

Maria O. Russell

P.S. And what is that under the piano, Peter?

claude said...

Tu es homme à tout faire, Peter. Bravo !