English Country Houses. Part 2. Haddon Hall

Next up: Haddon Hall. Located a short drive from Chatsworth my friend and I went there on the same day after having had that memorable afternoon tea.
Haddon Hall was a favourite of mine even before I visited it since it happens to portray Thornfield Manor in the best adaptation of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre, the [...]

Read Full Post »

English Country Houses. Part 1. Chatsworth.

I promised you reviews of country houses in Britain and I will give you reviews of country houses in Britain. But first let me tell you two things: 1. Never go to Stratford-upon-Avon. It is the worst tourist trap I have ever seen (and I broke the UV-filter on my camera). 2. Go to the [...]

Read Full Post »

Viktor & Rolf at the Barbican

I just returned from a short trip to London where I was dragged (OK, I came willingly) by my sister to see the Viktor & Rolf exhibition at the Barbican Centre. And it was totally cool!
What did I know about Dutch designer duo V&R? Well, the Flowerbomb perfume aaand…H&M collection…and that was it. Turns out [...]

Read Full Post »

Go with Peace Jamil

I just returned from the cinema and the Danish film Go with Peace Jamil. This story about revenge and love takes us through a parallel universe to what I know as Copenhagen. A Copenhagen where ancient strife and ancient codes of revenge make men kill each other in a never ending vicious circle. They all [...]

Read Full Post »

The Science of Sleep

I just watched the nicest film: The Science of Sleep.

Young Stephane Miroux has trouble dividing sleep and dream from waking and real life. His dreams are extremely vivid and a source of creativity but they are also tyrannical in their control over Stephane’s life.When he moves to Paris he falls in love with his neighbour [...]

Read Full Post »

After all – the show must go on

I have been watching Ingmar Bergman’s masterpiece Fanny & Alexander. Having loved that film for years rewatching it just confirmed the magnificence of the beautiful pictures and the disturbing text.
The first part with Christmas in the home of the Ekdahls is like condenced Christmas – this is how it would be if all the real [...]

Read Full Post »

The Golden Compass

Last Friday I went to see The Golden Compass, the film made after Philip Pullman’s book Northern Lights. I had been looking forward to this film for ages and unfortunately I was sorely disappointed even though the acting was very good and the art direction and effects were impressive. What was (is) a magnificent book [...]

Read Full Post »

Stalked by Felipe

Today this man has been stalking me…or was it the other way round?

First I witnessed his late-life actions in Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Don Carlo at the dress rehearsal of this staging. I have always loved the opera and find the role of Philip especially intriguing. Because I am talking about King Philip II of Spain. [...]

Read Full Post »

Pinturicchio in Rome

The day before yesterday I arrived in Rome where I will stay for the rest of September to begin writing my thesis at the Accademia di Danimarca – The Danish Institute in Rome. More on that later.
Today I went to Palazzo Venezia to see a Pinturicchio exhibition that turned out to be a communicative tour [...]

Read Full Post »

Cecilia Bartoli in Copenhagen

In May Cecilia Bartoli visited Copenhagen and left a trail of happiness behind her.
She sang arias from her latest cd Opera Proibita which is a collection of beautifully silent pieces and brilliantly breathless virtuosity.
I have now witnessed three concerts with Cecilia Bartoli and I feel entitled to some conclusions about her performances. The thing about [...]

Read Full Post »