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x--daughters-of-darkness--x · 4 years

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Delain’s Charlotte Wessels: “Speaking out against the ‘female-fronted’ genre has been frowned upon”

Delain singer Charlotte Wessels on the lessons she’s learned from a life in music – and why’s never going to stop fighting the ‘female-fronted metal’ tag

Since co-founding Dutch symphonic metal band Delain as a teenager in 2002, Charlotte Wessels has become one of metal’s strident voices onstage and off. Unafraid to air her views on everything from feminism to the climate catastrophe – the latter an inspiration for the band’s latest album Apocalypse & Chill - she looks back on the lessons life has taught her.

Change is a good thing

“Martijn [Westerholt, keyboards] and myself have been the core songwriting team for Delain since the very beginning but Timo [Somers, guitars] has really flourished on Apocalypse & Chill; he’s not just making arrangements and writing parts but writing entire songs, like One Second. The fact that we play live so much has had an impact on how we write this time. We’re writing from the idea of how it will work when we perform. Martijn did the entire production again and he’s done a great job! We wanted to do some things we haven’t done before while staying really true to our sound – we’ve added in some real choirs, which is something we’ve wanted to do for quite some time.”

Don’t judge a book by its cover

“A lot of things [in the process for this album] remained as they were for [2016’s] Moonbathers. For example, in the approach to song- writing, a lot has stayed the same. But when it comes to production, some things developed – especially the name. Some people think we’re joking! [The title isn’t] the gothic, romantic, frozen moon thing we usually go for. I had a demo called Apocalypse & Chill that didn’t go anywhere, and when I looked at all the songs on this album, all the post-apocalyptic content combined with people’s attitude today, it fits.

Let your own work shine

“There are a few guest spots on Apocalypse & Chill – such as Yannis Papadopoulos from Beast In Black and a guest violinist who used to play for Eluveitie – but not as many as we’ve had in the past. I think that was a conscious choice. In the past, we’ve always let ourselves be led by people that we really like but didn’t exactly fit into the music, but the exposure to their fanbase was also a factor. We didn’t think about that at all for this album; we were just doing our own thing and it felt like a perfect fit.”

‘Female-fronted’ is no more

“I’ve spoken out against the ‘female-fronted’ genre in the past and I’ve always thought it’s been frowned upon. Because there are, like, three women in metal and all the rest are guys, it was a term that used to work to group those bands together. I think by now people realise that there are women in metal, death metal, nu metal, symphonic metal and they’re all vastly different things, so I’m really happy to know people are warming to the idea of ditching the term altogether. For me, it wasn’t just about the term being disrespectful or inaccurate; it was also not nice to the rest of the band to let their genre be decided by what’s hanging (or not hanging) between the frontperson’s legs! That’s taking such a small part of the ingredients of the band. I’m still optimistic and I hear a lot of things that keep me optimistic both online and offline. I think we’re heading in the right direction; in general I think there’s more equality than there has been in the past. I also feel people are becoming more and more aggressive in their opinions and less open to conversation, as more conversations are taking place anonymously and behind screens. I’m not sure how that’s going to develop.”

Criticism can be motivational

“There are some conversations that really stick with you in life. I remember very early on in my career, when I was 15, my classical singing teacher once told me, ‘If I were you, I’d leave that band and just go join a choir – everybody is always looking for sopranos like you.’ She basically didn’t see the value in any non-classical music but to me, that was such a ‘Wait, I’ll show you’ moment in my life. It’s more reverse psychology than the best advice anybody’s ever given me but it had the most impact on what I ended up doing, even though it was a long time ago.”

Stop trying to make everyone else happy

“You simply cannot please everybody. That was a tough lesson for me. In a band like this, you’re doing everything together and when you’re writing with multiple people, you’re already making compromises. Within my creative group that’s fine, but there’s a limit to the amount of people you can keep happy while also staying true to you and your artistic vision. I felt like I really had to learn that the hard way because teams in music can get very big and it quickly becomes very complicated to have everybody on the same page. Sometimes you try to compromise too much and you end up with something nobody is happy with, so I’d rather have some very excited people and some saying ‘meh’ than having everybody on a medium level of excitement.”

Inspiration can come from anywhere

“I have different inspirations for different parts of music. I love Nick Cave for lyrics and writing words in general, and Thom Yorke for music. I’m always super-impressed by how Radiohead keep changing and evolving their sound, they’ve been my favourite band forever. Also, Amanda Palmer for the way she navigates the music industry. I think it’s very impressive what she’s built and how she is so radically herself in everything she does.”

Set your goals high

“Before Delain, I was in a band that had a side- project that Martijn was working on as well, that’s how we met. He asked if I could write a few lyrics for this project he was working on and it grew from there into me being part of the first album, but it was still supposed to be just a project. Now we’re 15 years later and Delain have grown so much. If I could go back, I’d tell myself, ‘Hey dude, this is going to be the next 15 years of your life at least so go all in, this is the real deal!’ There’s so many crossroads in life and you’re always going for the long-term thing but one day you wake up and it’s such a big part of your life and it’s amazing.”

Find a label that loves you for you

“When Roadrunner Records were sold and we were at Warner all of a sudden, Warner got a lot of bands alongside all the bands they actually wanted out of Roadrunner like Nickelback and such. I had the idea they were like, ‘OK, we have Delain, let’s see what we can make of it so people will buy it.’ They were looking into what we could become, which was very different from our own vision. When we were talking with Napalm Records, it was a night and day difference to that because they wanted to work with us for us, for what we already were. Of course we have our disagreements from time to time, but we really noticed what it was like to be with a label with all the best intentions for us.”

Touring life isn’t always easy

“You become a family of sorts when you spend so much time together on a bus, and everyone develops their own little habits to keep themselves sane. Touring can be loads of fun and it usually is, but it’s also very tiring at times. One of my things is I don’t really sleep well when the bus is driving, so at the beginning of the tour I’m usually alright but a few weeks on, I don’t know what day or time it is. It gets really weird but everybody has their own routines and it’s just a matter of giving each other the space to do what you need to do. In the end, it all comes together during those hours on the stage. There’s always days off where we go on hikes to nature parks. There’s not a lot of them but we always try to do it.”

Our new songs might surprise you

“One Second is going down so well live already, I really like singing with Timo and it’s great being able to do that song together, I’m so happy to have that little duet. Combustion is really nice for me because I finally get a break! I think Let’s Dance will become a favourite, it’s kind of a party song and it gets people moving very quickly even though they’ve never heard the song before. It gives off a vibe that people can automatically roll with and it’s very nice to still get that kind of energy back from the audience.”

#Charlotte Wessels #Delain #2020 interviews

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katoktm5 · 5 years

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Safe and Sound!

Thanks to those of you who checked on why I hadn’t posted in over 24 hours. His hotel‘s Wi-Fi is so bad. One bar at the most and everything keeps disconnecting. But it’s a new day I’m going to try again. This Airbnb is fine. It is more like a hotel than an Airbnb. It is very simple, certainly no Akrotiri. But it is fine. I have a nice patio a comfortable bed, and a clean bathroom. But I will mention that a group of ? 20 year olds came in at 1:38 this morning literally screaming at the top of their lungs. I feel sorry for the families are staying here. I just got up and took a NyQuil. New ferry new island. Naxos. Yesterday waked old town...I bet everyone is getting tired of seeing photos of white buildings, blue doors, and bougainvilleas! But the other choice would be cats in doorways, windows, streets, sun, etc...I am going to stick with white. Walked to edge of town to the “magical gate” it is called, Portara...or, the Great Door, or the Doorway to Nowhere. Made of marble, built as a temple to Apollo, but was never finished. The doorway faces the place of Apollo’s birthplace. Naxos was ruled by the Venetians in the mid-500 BC time, when this was being built...but the Turks conquered them and took apart the temple to build a castle...but the door was too massive to destroy, so it still stands. Supposed to have the same type of “magic” that Sedona has...when you are there you are calmed and centered...etc.

Then though the maze of streets and up up up to the castle...which everyone talks about, but no one mentions you can’t go in the castle! So hot, I stopped at cafe at the top which overlooked the city and had my first Greek coffee. I thought I would hate it, but actually really good. It is the consistency of chalky hot chocolate, and comes in a tiny pot to pour from. Before they make it they ask how much sugar you want. None, some, or a lot, I went for some. The sugar goes in when they make it not after you get it. And no cream. And very strong. Very very strong. Actually, it was really good and it kept me awake until of course I went to the beach.

Kept walking, everyone here seems to be a jewelry designer. There is jewelry, unique jewelry, to be bought everywhere I’ve met the artist named Yanni. After admiring his symbolic jewelry, I can’t really explain it, so I’m not going to try. But there’s a picture.

Back to room around 5:30, changed and walked to beach. I think tomorrow I will search for a more remote beach. Possibly even take the bus to one. This is was your typical locals and tourists gather and pay lots of money for food and drinks and fill the ocean with children. Fortunately I was there late enough in the day that they did not charge me for my chair, they did not make me order anything, and most of the families left so the ocean emptied out. Normally you have to spend 30 euros to use a chair! This water is supposed to be warmer but I think it’s colder than Parros. I read, slept, then when things cleared out around 7:00, I went into the ocean.

Walked back quickly, jumped in the pool for my shower, and headed out to try to catch the sunset. This is the first sunset, actual sunset I have seen in Greece. It was beautiful but you don’t get to see the sun dip into the ocean because it goes behind Paros. But the pictures are not filtered and beautiful nonetheless. I was the only one who clapped when the sun went down. Haha. I looked like the crazy woman.

Next dinner. Moussaka and Greek salad with “Naxos famous cheese”. This was more sour, almost like two scoops of goat cheese. When I said to the waiter, “oh my gosh that’s a lot of cheese” he said “you can’t get too much cheese.” Well, I think you actually can... after dinner he brought me a shot glass of homemade yogurt, made in the restaurant. Aside from the stuffed calamari, I think this is the best thing I’ve had in Greece. It was amazing. home at 11:00! My jet lag will be so bad!

Today, I might go to a village in the center of the island, Chalki. It’s known for liquor that is only made on this island. Called Kitron. The liquor taste like orange, I had some samples yesterday, but it is made from the leaves of the tree not the fruit. The distillery is the only one of its kind. Also, this town is known for its many hiking trails. It has to cool down a lot for me to hike but it is a possibility too. Or I might bus to beaches.

I wonder if this were actually ever post on to Tumblr. My pictures too. That was my first of three days in Naxos. Over and out.

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ziva-david · 6 years

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Hi! Here’s the first (unedited) scene from a fic I’m working on. It is a take on the whole they-went-away-at-the-same-time-to-“unplug” situation. This will be a platonic fic, following the idea that they have their first heart to heart on Ellie’s doorstep in 16x02.

Please let me know how you feel about this :)

P.s. although this is my attempt at a “canon” story I am well aware of the flaws in this fic i.e. it taking place during the May long aka the last long weekend of May, while the whole yanny vs laurel thing happened ~ May 16 but I’m trying y’all I swear.

P.s.s. As I mentioned this is a WIP so if there are any ideas you want to have happen during their time away message or send them in my inbox and I will try my best to include them in the story. (Not making any promises though)

It was finally the Friday of the May long weekend. A day that was circled in Ellie’s calendar, and she had set a countdown to the very second with an app on her phone. It was supposed to be a joyous time for Ellie. To recuperate, relax, and unwind from the stresses of the modern world. However, after Clayton was shot and killed, and Abby left NCIS permanently; going away for her own pleasure felt wrong.

The NCIS office was nearly empty. As soon as the clock read 17:00 the majority of the employees left right away. There were a few lucky few that took the entirety of Friday off to extend their already long weekend. ‘Team Gibbs’ closed their last active investigation on Wednesday so now all that was left to do was paperwork. Gibbs did next to none, and McGee sped through his the previous day so he could spend the entire weekend with the twins. Ellie and her fellow teammate, Nick Torres, were the only agents left in the bullpen.

Ellie had finished her last report hours ago and could have left with the herd of bureaucratic employees exiting the building, except she didn’t want to leave. It felt weird to sit at her desk each day, and not have Clay talk to her from his desk: telling her about his morning commute, asking about her family, scolding her for calling potato chips “chips” instead of crisps, or whatever. She waited desperately to hear his voice. To have one last conversation with her best friend.

Nick seemed to finally finish the report he was working on and started to pack up. Throwing on his jacket, and grabbing his car keys from his desk.

“Bishop, have any plans for the long weekend?” Nick asked as he approached her desk.

Ellie didn’t look at him right away, she was busy formulating her thoughts. She was unsure how much of the truth she wanted divulge.

After a couple of seconds of silence, she finally took her eyes off of her computer screen and looked at him.

“Yes and no.” She started, “I'm supposed to go on a retreat in Virginia. But now I’m not sure.”

“I know it’s hard, but don’t cancel everything just because he’s gone. Clay wouldn’t want you to put your life on hold.”

“Trust me, I know. It was his plan for us to go there.”

“You and him?” Nick squeaked. His voice always raised an octave when the discussion included Ellie and another guy that wasn’t Jimmy, McGee, or Gibbs. It had been a while since she heard that tone from him, since before his date with Anne at the diner. If the circumstances were different, Ellie probably would’ve cracked a smile at Nick’s reaction.

“Yeah.” Ellie took a breath before continuing, afraid she would start crying the more she discussed Clayton. “When I was planning my annual unplug this year, I invited Clay. It was his idea to go there. We hadn’t been on a hike together since when we met up in Scotland. He thought it would be a nice way to forget about all of the bad things we see at work.” Her voice hitched at the end as she felt the tear start to form in the corners of her eyes. The irony of what she just said did not escape her. Nothing they’ve seen on this job could compare to the horrors of seeing his lifeless body down in autopsy.

As the first tear began to fall down her cheek, Nick came closer. He placed his keys in his coat pocket and then sat on the edge of her desk. He pulled her into a giant bear hug.

They stayed that way for a few minutes until Ellie regulated her breathing. Arguably, Ellie stayed in his arms longer than she what was socially acceptable, or what she truly needed, but there was something that felt so right about being in his arms.

“Sorry, I’m such a mess.” She softly spoke, as released herself from his arms and wiped the tears out of her eyes.

“You’re not.” He told her, his tone was just as faint as hers. Nick’s right hand slowly caressed her face, before he moved to her hair and gently ran his fingers through it.

“What about you, what are your plans?” Ellie asked trying to think of anything, but Clayton. “Do you have any big plans with Annie?”

Nick’s hand immediately fell from touching Ellie as soon as she said Annie’s name.

“No, B. That didn’t work out. We, uh, realized we wanted different things.” The way he averted his gaze and nervously twitch his hand told Ellie there was more than he let on. She decided not to push the subject matter any further though.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine… you didn’t know.” He sadly smiled and patted her shoulder for reassurance.

“Well, aren’t we a fun pair?” Ellie sarcastically asked. Nick still remained seated at her desk, but she decided it was time for her to leave the office. After getting up from her chair she started to pack her bag.

“We could be.” Nick quietly said, stopping Ellie dead in her tracks.

“How?” She asked, her eyebrows quipped upwards.

Nick got off from her desk, meeting her at eye level. His eyes had a little glint in them that she had not seen in the earlier parts of this interaction.

“Let’s go on that retreat.”

“You and me?”

“You and me.” He repeated.

#i hope you guys like this or if you dont tell a girl ahah

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knightsims · 6 years

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Week 14 in Rosedale is finally at an end! Let’s do a recap, shall we?

Births: 10 Deaths: 2

Somerset:

Misha set the kitchen on fire and Ceris walked right past it to go to work! Thankfully Victor managed to put it out on his own. And then he went into aspiration failure.

The very pregnant Misha Somerset stole the newspaper.

Ceris went on a midnight hike and brought back bees!

Ceris went to City Hall! She met a lot of new townies, including new evil high warlock Trey Girdler!

Nicholas turned into a teenager!

Misha was a victim of the death bike! Victor was unable to save his son.

Ceris turned into an elder.

Evans:

Marisha and Cleve turned into elders!

Marisha spent a lot of time gardening and at her grocery store.

Iola turned into an adult!

Ceris and Marisha spent some time catching up.

Iola spent every evening trying to be abducted by aliens, but it was not to be.

Ray:

The ROS roll dictated that Leena was to become a witch, and conveniently rolled a want to do so. Her sister-in-law Ceris Somerset turned her into during the middle of the week.

She also got into fights with both Victor Somerset and townie Gavin Nott.

Sara turned into a teenager! She had her first kiss with the paper-boy, Charlie Butler.

Leena and Sara went to the park for a night out. They had a BBQ and spent the evening skating.

Villiers:

There were cat-chimes! They had two kittens, Socks and Sausage, later in the week.

Joseph and Nicholas Somerset started flirting!

Patrick went to his police station and sold some burglar alarms to townies.

Sara Ray came home from school with Joseph, and they made-out in his bedroom.

Patrick turned into an elder! He then made an enemy of the grand high warlock, Trey Girdler.

Joseph turned into an adult!

Couderc:

Kelly received a genie lamp! She then wished for beauty (because the ROS roll determined that she had to have a baby with the sim she’s most attracted to).

She woohooed with Patrick Curtin, and due to the ROS roll, chimes were heard. She gave birth to a son named Sawyer later in the week.

Grimmy and the Hula Zombies came for Jeremy!

Ceris Somerset came around to visit Christa.

Arbon:

The house was left in a bombsite from the week before, so Carlos spent his morning cleaning before work.

Mae gave birth to a daughter named Vivienne! She turned into a toddler a few days later.

Mae got an electric shock from the computer.

Mae and Carlos had a wedding party in the backyard! All of Mae’s extended family was invited.

Swafford:

The Somerset III household was renamed Swafford.

Ronica and Yanni had a quick marriage in their bedroom before woohooing immediately afterwards.

Everything went down-hill from there when Yanni caught Ronica cheating with Lyndsay Browne, his half-sister’s wife. Yanni then cheated on Ronica with townie Lavender Steevens in revenge.

Yanni wrote a book.

Ronica went into multiple aspiration failures.

Couderc II:

Costel turned into a child!

Nova, pregnant from the week before, gave birth to twin boys, Dominic and Lucas! She then fell pregnant again and gave birth to another son named Nathaniel.

There were multiple instances of sims passing out either on the ground or standing up.

Someone set the kitchen on fire!

Dominic and Lucas turned into toddlers.

Brewster:

Gwyneth and Leland moved into their new lot with basically no money. Most of the week was spent either working, at the restaurant or digging up stuff in the garden to sell.

Gwyneth fell pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl named Kat. Then, due to Leland’s LTW of marrying off 6 children, she fell pregnant again immediately.

Mazza:

Bailey and Daryl moved into the tiniest 8x8 shoe-box home ever.

Bailey got pregnant from risky woohoo and gave birth to a son, Toby.

Local burglar Sabastian Hunicke showed up and then left immediately without taking anything. Probably because they literally have nothing to take.

Browne:

Grace and Lyndsay moved into a two-story 8x8 shoe-box home next door to the Mazza household.

Grace became pregnant almost immediately, and gave birth to daughter Gillian later in the week. Gillian turned into a toddler a few days later.

Lyndsay did witchy things like making herself a throne.

Lauper:

Due to an unfortunate ROS roll, the couple lost all of their money and had to move into a tiny apartment. There was barely enough room for a bathroom, bed and kitchen.

Frankie set the kitchen on fire on monday night! Luckily Valentina was able to put it out.

They met the landlord, Kent Terranova! He and Valentina entered a romantic relationship, and Frankie didn’t even care!

Valentina got an easel and started painting.

Frankie was demoted!

Dirge:

Kit, Absinthe and baby Noah moved into a new home across the street from the Somerset family.

Noah turned into a toddler and then a child later in the week.

Absinthe wished for money from their genie lamp.

She gave birth to a son named Zephyr, who turned into a toddler a few days later.

Absinthe immediately became pregnant again! She gave birth to their third child, a daughter named Bella, later in the week.

And after that, guess what happened? Yet more chimes :)

#sims 2 #ts2 #rosedale bacc #week 14 summary

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the-disreputable-service-dog · 6 years

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can i just fucking tell yall what an experience i had in Virginia WITH TICKS

i learned that these fuckers can JUMP FROM TREES WHAT THE SHIT MAN

BUT THE GRANDEST MOMENT WAS WHEN I WAS HANGING OUT IN THE VAN BC I WAS NOT FEELING GREAT AND WE WERE DOING some EXPOSURE WITH FARM ANIMALS

i felt something crawling on me and i was like eh, no big deal, there was a tiny soft spider on me and I figured it was the same thing

PSYKE BITCH

IT WAS A T I C K

So I immediately message my mentors in all caps, relating the story. Main mentor comes back, we try to find the tick, i’m fucking panicking, im shucking my pants bc this tick came up my pants on to my stomach

my little stumpy ass legs are hiked up on the van seats and im inspecting my thighs cause thats the last place I had a tick was back forever ago

LO AND BEHOLD WE FIND ONE

I’M SCREAMING

MY MENTOR HAS TO PLIGGITY PLUCK THIS TINY BABY TICK OFF MY DELICATE INNER THIGH

then i panicked and was like WHAT IF THEYRE IN MY BUTT HOLE? OR MY YANNI???

oh it gets better

bc then my other mentor and our fucking CLIENT come skeedaddling back

guys i’m vulnerable

legs up on the seat, no pants, ive got socks and underwear on, and i see them on their journey back

so desperately, i try to finger spell to them that my pants are off and to give me a second bc one of them is pseudo-fluent in asl and the other at least can figure out finger spelling but

THE VAN WINDOWS ARE TOO DARK AND TO TELL THEM THAT MY PANTS ARE OFF I WOULD ACTUALLY HAVE TO STAND THERE WITH MY PANTS OFF AND DO THE SIGNS AND SHIT

BUT EVERYTHING IS OKAY IN THE END AND THE CLIENT DID NOT SEE ME PANTSLESS, LEGS HIKED UP ON THE SEAT, SCREAMING ABOUT TICKS

but yeah it was a fun time

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velvetchen · 7 years

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11 Questions Tag

so i was tagged thrice (!!!) by three lovely people, thank you so much!! i couldn’t decide which set of questions to do bc i didn’t want to leave any out so i did all three! thank you again for tagging me!

i’m putting my questions & tags right at the top so y’all don’t have to scroll through my 33 questions of rambling lmao

rules: answer the 11 questions from the person who tagged you and then make 11 more for the people you tag.

edit: i was tagged again, so i decided to come back and add on to this and i noticed tumblr didn’t actually tag anyone so yeah i fixed that now rip

here are my questions!

1. Book/movie/art piece that made you think the most and why? 2. What’s your favorite physical/personality feature of your bias(es)? 3. What colors and smells reminds you of home? 4. If you could only listen to 30 seconds of one song for your entire life, what song & time interval would it be? 5. Languages you'd like to learn? 6. What are three pieces of advice you’d give to 30-year-old you? 7. If you bumped into your bias on the street and you had no idea who they were, what would your first impression be and what would you do next? 8. Ultimate holiday itinerary? 9. You go to your bias group’s concert, and you’re one of the lucky fans invited on stage for a ~special performance~... what do you do? 10. What made you first notice your bias? 11. Do you have any bad habits?

tagging 11 people: @blushtones @sehunsface @whimsical-ness @yeoleow @fuck-me-up-fam @romantichen @xingmithefool @honeyjongdae @ineedyixing @dropsofletters @chanyoel

sorry if you’ve already been tagged / you don’t wanna be tagged!

@dragon-dust !! thank you love

What’s your favourite flower?

hmmm i’ve said this before but i do love pink lilies! i also love hydrangeas and orange blossoms and i think the skeleton flower is cool as heck (it’s a flower that turns crystal-clear when wet)

Sunrise or sunset?

i like sunrises bc it’s colder and there are always a lot of bugs around at sunset...not to mention it gets dark really quickly!

Favourite childhood piece of music?

mmm a lot bc we used to listen to a lot of music!! but anything by michael jackson or lucky ali is v nostalgic to me

Name a character from a book that you can’t forget.

i don’t have one from a books (rip i’ve never properly liked a book character) but the magician from the webtoon annarasumanara kind of stuck with me? i just felt so sad for him & he reminds me of what i don’t want to end up being

Pictures or gifs?

pictures!

Is there any really famous movie that you’ve not ever seen?

ohhhhh boy a lot! i don’t watch movies much and if i do the last thing i’d watch is romance/comedy/etc so i haven’t seen all those ‘classics’ like the notebook and legally blonde and so on... i’ve never seen high school musical either (or any of those disney channel shows)

Clean desk or a messy one?

it starts off clean and then it gets messy lmao

If you could start again and change only one thing, what would that be?

i would love myself more, and i would’ve made an effort to speak all my languages :(

Five things, one desert island for the rest of your life. What do you bring

(assuming i can’t bring exo) uhhh, because i’m practical: a good knife, large sheet of tarp, indefinite number of matches, clean clothes and something to hold water

Favourite way to spend your free time.

wasting it tbh... but i love having long chats w my friends

Would you rather be able to fly or walk through walls?

i’d fly bc walking through walls would be a lot more easier to get caught at... @technicallymilkshakes !! (i love these questions!)

You’ve been friends with your bias for some time now and you’re pretty sure there’s some mutual attraction between the two of you. How does this attraction get resolved? Does someone confess (who)? Is it more physical? Do you agree to remain just friends? Or does it stay unresolved?

okay okay ASSUMING this ever happens ... i’d confess! i don’t like keeping things that could change my life. even if i wasn’t sure they liked me too. i’d go for a half-relationship/half-friend thing?? bc i hate proper relationships

Do you have a recurring daydream you like to revisit? What is it?

yep! plenty hahaha. i have one where Ambiguous Person and i are hiking through the woods, another where we’re trying to ballroom dance and then one where we’re forced to share a bed... you know the one... (SORRY i’m so soft when it comes to romance)

How did your bias become your bias?

ahhh okay at first my bias was jongin?? bc i usually like the dancers? and i was watching a lot of exo-k so i didn’t even know about jd but like... i watched a couple of lives and his voice just got me... and then of course all those ‘try not to fangirl’ challenges that sucked the life out of me

What’s one song from your bias group that can always make you happy?

i love love love replay! especially the live ver. where they all cried... i cry everytime i hear it too?? and the whole lucifer album also (surprise!! my bias group isn’t exo lmao)

Are you right-handed? Left-handed? Ambidextrous?

right-handed! i can write w my left hand but not for long periods of time

You call in to the radio show your bias is a guest on. It gets picked up and now you’re live on the air. What would you say to them?

i’d say (in my crappy korean) that i love them and i’m so happy i got to talk to them! and that i hope they’re happy and taking care of themselves

What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?

i’ve only been to two :( both of them were incredible though! i saw yanni live & a classical concert by zubin mehta + the australian world orchestra and !!!! mesmerizing experiences! now if i could just see tsfh i’d die happy

What’s your favorite film genre and what are some movies you would recommend from it?

like i said i don’t like films much but,,, i do love space movies and historical settings! i can’t recall any besides interstellar which most people have probably watched

What do you think other people’s first impression of you is? What do you want it to be?

they probably think i’m kind of rude? ;;;;;;;; bc i’m super shy so i don’t talk much at all? also they probably think i’m homeless or something bc i’m always barefoot, my hair’s always messy and somehow i end up getting dust all over me RIP

Is there a book that you’ve given up on finishing? If so, why?

i’ve dnf’ed a loooot of books! most recently, a court of thorns and roses (s. j. maas) & caraval (stephanie garber) MAN i really hated those

You went to a fansign and your bias signed your album and drew a special note + a little doodle just for you. What does the note say and what’s the doodle? Do you show it off to everyone when you get home or do you tuck it in a safe spot and take it out once in a blue moon to reminisce alone?

ldkfns i’m imagining this and i’m SUFFERING but uhh i’d ask him to draw a cat lmao and write something that makes him happy! and the second one! i’m not a showy person so i’d definitely keep it somewhere safe and take it out when i want to remember :’)

@jds1andonly !!

If you could have any exo member as your twin, who would it be?

probably chanyeol bc i need some positivity! and he’d be really fun to talk to and do everything with

Imagine you have one day where you can eat anything you want: what would you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

assuming this also means no gastric troubles... i’d go to the most expensive vegan restaurants in the world and gorge myself (bc i’m still morally obligated)

What is something you want to do by the end of the year?

oh boy considering there’s only a month and a half left... finish my ongoing series, be done with all my school stuff and ready for my exams in january, and organize the trip i want to go on with my friends after graduation!

What is your dream job?

i wanna be a teacher or a professor! maybe go around the world and teach in poorer regions? i actually have this dream to start an organization for volunteer teaching in low-income areas around the world. after i retire, i want to run a cafe/library in a really secluded place.

What is your favorite part from exo’s unfair performances (any one of them)

oh my godddd they’re all so sickeningly sweet but i like the christmas one with the santa suits and jongdae’s part in the second verse where he goes ‘oooooh oooooh’ with the finger heart? it’s so cute i wanna die

What was your favorite TV show as a kid?

spongebob ndsfnsk obviously...

What is the funniest thing you’ve ever heard about your bias?

this one video someone tagged me in of jd wearing those periscope glasses and screaming??

What is your least favorite food and why?

i haaaaaaate curry leaves they make me nauseous :-/

What TV show have you been watching recently?

does masterchef australia count? i watch it obsessively!!

If you had a superpower like the exo members, what would you want yours to be?

hmm. hmmmmm very good question. probably telekinesis bc it’s really cool and i can move stuff from across the room without having to get up

If you could be in any kpop group, which would it be and why?

just for the concepts? id say exo or vixx for the music but i wouldn’t really fit in lmfao so like maybe snsd or EXID

okay this was super long i’m sorry but i had fun!!! thank you guys for tagging me again!!!

#ahhh i love talking about myself so thanks for this opportunity #tagged #mine

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worldhotelvideo · 7 years

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[https://youtu.be/ItWRXxQKONg] Welcome to San Montano Resort & Spa in Ischia, Italy (Europe). The best of San Montano Resort & Spa in Ischia. The common services available will be: wifi available in all areas. fishing, tennis court, canoeing, hiking, beach, diving and snorkelling. In the restaurant section you can enjoy: breakfast in the room, snack bar, wine/champagne, restaurant (à la carte), special diet menus (on request), bar, room service, restaurant and packed lunches. To relax, the accommodation offers fitness centre, outdoor pool, hot spring bath, sauna, pool/beach towels, sun umbrellas, hot tub/jacuzzi, fitness, indoor pool, spa facilities, personal trainer, private beach area, sun loungers or beach chairs, swimming pool, spa lounge/relaxation area, solarium, spa and wellness centre and massage. With regard to transport, we will find shuttle service, airport shuttle (additional charge), car hire, airport shuttle and shuttle service (free). For reception services we can arrange luggage storage, 24-hour front desk, ticket service, newspapers, concierge service and safety deposit box. Within the common spaces we will enjoy terrace, garden and sun terrace. The role of cleaning services will include dry cleaning, laundry and ironing service. If you arrive by business matters in the accommodation you will have fax/photocopying. barber/beauty shop and shops (on site). We can highlight other possibilities as heating, non-smoking rooms, lift, air conditioning and family rooms Book now cheaper in http://ift.tt/2ve6kMN You can find more info in http://ift.tt/2vxilZ6 We hope you have a pleasant stay in San Montano Resort & Spa Other hotels in this channel Deacon House Wuxi https://youtu.be/mjrw7Ojvkxc Hotel Val de Neu G.L. https://youtu.be/9Uvut57IVhE Buyuk Osmaniye Hotel https://youtu.be/qCUiR0LFmMo The Shores Resort & Spa Hainan West https://youtu.be/NbTTSGDK_JE Grand America Hotel https://youtu.be/UK7BzOJ450g Daios Luxury Living https://youtu.be/MuNi-WZfU2Y El Mouradi Hammamet https://youtu.be/Ziz7wyx-Seo Pelopas Resort https://youtu.be/WR30tqmeHB0 Ai Yannis Suites and Apartments Hotel https://youtu.be/K7b_Wp2oiYs Casa Velha do Palheiro https://youtu.be/1ah26DW-_aE Villa Mexicana Creel Mountain Lodge https://youtu.be/0PHF1iGzsMk Carlton Madagascar https://youtu.be/1euGxrNv4Qo Carlton Palace Hotel https://youtu.be/bPxX9hxGRaE Les Suites de la Potinière https://youtu.be/T7kLFjVx2mM Galactic Classy International Hotel https://youtu.be/zYY3wgTbgsY We hope you have a pleasant stay in San Montano Resort & Spa All images used in this video are or have been provided by Booking. If you are the owner and do not want this video to appear, simply contact us. by World Hotel Video

#whv #YouTube

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pgitlin · 7 years

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Cuba March 2017 cont

Friday 10th March continued On returning to the hotel we were relieved to learn that, thanks to Yasmin's persistance, our lost luggage was indeed on the flight from Madrid arriving that evening and would be delivered to the hotel around midnight. In fact the woman working for Iberia airlines lost luggage delivered the luggage herself at the end of her shift around midnight. Saturday did not begin very auspiciously. We were due to be collected by the representative of Variety Cruises at 7:30am for the journey to Cienfuegos, some 250km distance. There we were to explore the city before embarking on the MS Voyager later that afternoon. By 8:00am no one had appeared, and we had not managed to identify any other people joining our cruise. After many unsuccessful attempts to contact the representative using the number we had been given, I called Sid, (Isidoros Karamouzos) the Variety Cruises Reservations Manager in Athens on his mobile phone. He was efficiency and helpfulness itself and within a short time had sorted out the problem, and by 9.00am we were on our way. We were joined by a Belgian couple and a charming young Israeli man who is the assistant cruise director on this voyage. The road to Cienfuegos from Havana passes through flat countryside of sugar cane fields and small holdings, slightly reminiscent of the Natal coastal belt of my early childhood. At intervals all along the route were people hitch-hiking as apparently this is the most common method Cubans use to get around. The person wanting a ride will stand at the side of the road holding a destination sign and some Cuban pesos notes indicating how much they are able to contribute to the cost of the journey. This seems to me to be a very sensible and civilized solution to the lack of infrastructure, and it works very well. I should perhaps add that it works because Cubans are open, honest and collaborative, used to having to improvise. Theft and violent crime is almost unknown and we have felt safe and unthreatened everywhere. One does not see many beggars, drunks or homeless people, and children play happily and safely in the streets wherever we have been. We arrived at the outskirts of Cienfuegos, a city on the sea, and were surprised to see several well restored 1920's mansions, one housing the Cienfuegos Club which would not have looked out of place in the Florida. Lunch was a barbecue under the trees at a local paladar and included cassava (manioc in my childhood) and maize porridge, and a very refreshing local low alcohol beer. The short journey from the paladar to the port was by local taxi. Brian was delighted when one turned out to be a 1952 De Soto and he made sure he got to ride in that. Yasmin and I were assigned to a rather worn out and rusting vehicle the make of which escapes me, but was probably Japanese. When I saw the the driver, who spoke not a word of English, had to keep his elbow out of his window in order to hold his door closed, and that his seat belt was tied on with wire, I dissolved in such fits of laughter that I couldn't explain to Yasmin what was so funny. We arrived at the port where it was a delight to embark on the Variety Voyager again, a real home-coming to find, George the First Officer, Yannis the Hotel Manager, Mike the Restaurant Manager and Milos the Pianist and IT guru waiting to welcome us as old friends. The rest of the passengers (16 Americans on a special US tour) had been delayed leaving Miami and were not due to arrive until the late afternoon which meant the ship,would not leave port until later in the evening. Yasmin and I took the opportunity to walk the 3 blocks into the historic part of Cienfuegos, a lovely little city founded by the French in 1819. It has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, and is well preserved with a central square bordered by colonnaded buildings, and a pedestrian boulevard. The lively craft market along one of the streets was a pleasure to stroll through. The young Cuban merchants were not only charming and engaging, but remarkably good looking. We also saw a beautiful well kept Dalmatian dog with his tall and very handsome young male owner who wouldn't have looked out of place walking down Avenue Princesse Grace in Monte Carlo! The goods on sale were certainly not massed produced in China, but were wooden toys, items made out of recycled soda and beer cans, hand embroidered children's dresses, crochet work and little galleries selling paintings of classic American cars and street scenes, all at very very low prices. There were a few old women who asked for soap, or skin cream, and Yasmin and I were very sorry that we had forgotten to bring those items with us from the ship. It was a reminder always to carry those with us in the future, such an easy gesture to make by those of us lucky enough to take soap, shampoo and skin cream for granted. After the welcome cocktail party and dinner we sat on the upper deck and watched as the Voyager left port for the overnight sail to Trinidad.

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gramilano · 6 years

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Jakub Józef Orliński is the new countertenor name to add to an ever-growing roster of artists who are selling discs and selling out concert halls in this once rarefied area of the vocal arts.

Polish singer Orliński is 27 and Anima Sacra, his debut album, will be released by Erato on 26 October 2018. It contains eleven Neapolitan arias of which eight are world premiere recordings of works by Nicola Fago, Francesco Durante, Francesco Feo, Domenico Sarro and Domingo Terradellas.

A debut recording artist having such a free rein in choosing unfamiliar material is unusual.

Eight world premieres to record out of 11 pieces. That is a lot. I am grateful that Warner Classics & Erato trusted me on this project and let me record so many unknown pieces of music.

My friend Yannis Francois, over course of a year and few months, had found all of those pieces and edited them to our modern notation. He actually found more than 40 new pieces but from that we chose our favourites which would fit to the theme of Anima Sacra, so we ended up using eight world premiere pieces on that album.

It is all sacred music, but written already in a very operatic, virtuosic style. I have to say that there is nothing comparable to a feeling when you bring to life a piece of music with a full orchestra which was not performed for hundreds of years. It is absolutely incredible. I am glad that I had a chance to do that at such an early stage of my career.

Il Pomo d’Oro Orchestra play on the album, conducted by Maxim Emelyanychev.

I felt so honoured when Il Pomo d’Oro agreed to record with me. It was more than a dream to work with those people. I was so happy that I got a chance to make music with such a great ensemble and to work with Maxim.

They have also played on discs by other well-known countertenors.

Not only they played with most known countertenors but also other extraordinarily talented and accomplished singers. We had a lot of fun recording that album and during the concerts that we already have performed together in Europe. We get along very well and I think you can hear that during our performances. They are truly giving me such comfort with their brilliant playing that I really can do my best performing.

Do you listen to other countertenors?

I really like to listen to my colleagues because I am still fascinated by the development of my own countertenor voice and technique. Nowadays there are more and more of us but still almost everyone is so different and has something unique.

Baroque music video clips don’t go viral. Cecilia Bartoli has several YouTube videos with over two million views, but they are clips uploaded several years ago. France Musique’s video of Orliński performing Vedro con mio diletto from Vivaldi’s opera Giustino notched up more than two million views in just a few months. He was at the Festival d’Aix in July 2017 to sing in Cavalli’s Erismena, and the recording was made during the day in an open-air courtyard. Orliński in shorts and trainers, looks as though he’s off on a hike, and his pianist, wearing flip-flops, looks ready for the beach.

The video in Aix-en-Provence was introduced to me as a radio programme, so when I asked about the dress code they told me that it’s radio, so nobody will see me. That is why with my pianist we look very summery. I think, because of that it also brought a lot of attention. It was a very warm summer day, we were performing that Vivaldi piece of music with passion and tried to perform our best, but we looked casual as was the surrounding, so I think it worked perfectly for that situation.

I would not dress like that for a Wigmore Hall recital! Although I am already thinking of some ideas about how to break down some of the dress codes a little bit. I just think that if we want to bring some more interest into classical music it will be good to try to do it in many different ways, for example with more casual concerts or short videos like the one from Aix, or bringing some colour, fashion to recitals, concerts. It might bring a new public which I think we need.

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Orliński came into contact with Early music at an early age, joining a choir called Gregorianum soon after starting elementary school.

Music was a big part of my life since childhood. My parents loved listening to different types of music at home and also while we were traveling. I think I got my love for music from that at first place.

I sang with the Gregorianum choir for over 11 years. We mainly sang renaissance pieces. I started as a boy alto but later on, after my voice changed, I had a short period of singing as a bass-baritone.

As we formed a new Men Vocal Ensemble Gregorianum I again started singing as an alto, back then I didn’t even know that you can call that voice a countertenor. My passion for music and especially Early music was born because of that choir, all of the travels we did together and all the repertoire I have explored with them. I am sure that it had a great impact on me as a young boy but also has huge impact on my career.

But choosing to sing as a countertenor is a curious decision for a young singer.

I didn’t have to be a countertenor. I had a choice, but I realised that with a countertenor voice I can really express what I want to say through music, that I can really communicate my feelings to other people with that part of my voice.

Singing as a countertenor was much more satisfying and I just really liked exploring more and more about the techniques of singing in that style. During my high school years I was learning how to draw and how to paint, but I was so terrible at it that I decided that I was just going to study by myself and then go to study music at university to be better in my vocal ensemble, and then maybe one day become one of The King’s Singers — back then that was my absolutely favourite ensemble.

I got into the university and I fell in love with Baroque music and singing solo, so my plans got changed from that moment on.

Orliński studied at the Fryderyk Chopin Music University for five years completing Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. His vocal teacher was Polish mezzo-soprano Anna Radziejewska.

She was not only a great teacher but also an incredibly good and supportive human being. Starting as a countertenor is not an easy thing to listen to. I was, as we say, ‘from the street’ and I didn’t have any musical training before university. I was just singing in an amateur choir. I had no idea about hundreds of techniques and musical aspects of singing that my friends had already known about for years, so I was starting from a very low point. Anna Radziejewska gave me support and the belief that I could everything if I just worked hard enough.

While finishing his degree he took part in the young artist program at the Opera Academy in Teatr Wielki-Opera Narodowa where he studied with Eytan Pessen who sent him to Philadelphia to audition for the Curtis Institute of Music.

I got to the final round but unfortunately, I didn’t get in. Then he suggested Juilliard, so I went there.

Orliński first met Canadian soprano Edith Wiens in Germany at her young artists program, International Maistersinger Akademi, and she is a professor of voice at the Juilliard School.

At IMA I worked a little bit with Edith and right away there was a very good connection between us and I knew that it will be a great idea to study with her. Fortunately, she agreed to teach me and we had lovely two years in Juilliard.

As Anna Radziejewska, Edith Wiens is not only a great teacher but she really cares for her students, she really wants the best for you, and will help you to achieve your goals. Edith gave me so much support during those difficult two years in USA, and I am so grateful for her involvement in my development.

Difficult? Orliński was born in Warsaw, Poland’s capital and its largest city, but nothing prepared him for New York.

Yes, I have to say that I had extremely difficult time in New York when I was studying there. At first, I was extremely excited about everything but also incredibly scared. It is not just a different country, but a different continent. New York is so big, the buildings so high and people are running all the time from place to place. It was quite a shock at first.

Also, the language, I could communicate quite well when I arrived but I couldn’t understand everything perfectly, so my brain was almost every day really tired and it took me a long time to get used to functioning in English 24/7.

The last part was just work. I knew why and what for I came to The Juilliard School for, so I wanted to get all the things out of it I could — all the knowledge and skills I could possibly get in those two years. So I was sitting in school almost every day from 8am till midnight. It was difficult, but I liked it, and I am really happy that it was like that, and that it wasn’t easy. That’s why I feel like I really worked for what is happening right now with my career.

What countertenors can achieve technically today is far beyond the capabilities of previous generations.

The countertenor technique, awareness of how that voice works is much more widespread. There are more and more teachers who know how to cope with a voice like that even in an early stage of education. That is a game changer. It is not anymore about exploring and trying to work things out in some sort of way. People know how they should teach countertenors, so the process is much better.

Having said that I think the whole countertenor field is stepping to a next level. We have much bigger range of different types of countertenors.

Why do you think it is that countertenors are increasingly popular? Is it about the sound? The repertoire?

There is something about that voice type which is really intriguing, mysterious and beautiful. I think almost all countertenors sound different, have something else to show, and as early music is getting more and more attention, people just want to listen to countertenors.

There is also a lot of new music being written for that type of voice because of its possibilities. Countertenors can sing high but also if needed they can use their natural register, so they can use tenor, baritone or even bass notes, which is something that contemporary composers like a lot.

While at Juilliard, Orliński took part in Jonathan Dove’s opera Flight, a work originally commissioned by Glyndebourne.

I loved working on Flight. It was my first full contemporary opera and I truly loved the fact that we could talk with the composer. It is an incredible feeling to talk with a living composer. I cannot do that singing Handel or Bach. That is why I would love to sing some more contemporary music.

You have to be really careful with this kind of music because sometimes it is really not written in a vocal way and you can easily get in trouble if you use your voice in a wrong way. I perform some contemporary songs, but I haven’t yet performed another full opera like Flight. I hope I will have a chance to work on something modern in the near future.

Now you’re living life on the road, constantly travelling, and the tour connected with Anima Sacra will take you and Il Pomo d’Oro around France, Belgium, and the United States. You’ve already sung at Carnegie Hall but will make your recital concert debut there in January 2019.

I love it. This is basically why I became a singer. I absolutely love to travel, meet new people, new places, cultures, languages and food. It’s all so exciting! I started traveling as a breakdancer doing some competitions here and there, mostly in Europe, but it gave me the taste which I loved.

I would love to speak more languages because there is nothing more satisfying than talking with people in their own language.

And of course, food. I love food. People think that I don’t really eat much, but I eat a lot. As they say – food is always good.

I like to walk around in those places where I perform. I truly love that about traveling so much. You have friends almost everywhere, so you can meet up with them and enjoy all those places in a little bit less touristy way.

Lots of new friends then, but your family, your home?

I try to visit my family as often as possible! It is incredibly important to me to see them. It keeps me grounded and healthy.

Apart from the concert platform, Orliński has many opera commitments, dominated by Handel, including a Rinaldo at Glyndebourne next summer where he will again be working alongside Anima Sacra conductor, Maxim Emelyanychev.

That’s true, I sing a lot of Handel. Mostly because those roles just really fit my voice. I did so many Handel arias, operas that I feel like I start to really understand his style, what makes me feel very comfortable in his compositions. I truly adore performing Handel, but I also really like performing pieces by other early music composers like Pergolesi, Hasse, Zelenka, Fago and Vivaldi. There is so much music and so many compositions that I would love to sing. I hope I will have time to sing as many of them as possible.

At this point in your career you have moved rapidly from being a student to seeing your first album launched by one of the world’s most prestigious record labels. There are those two million YouTube views, contracts with the greatest opera houses and concert halls. You can’t have imagined this just a couple of years ago.

So many great things are happening, and I’m just along for the ride. I am very open minded, and I take things as they come. I had never even thought of singing in, for example, Carnegie Hall and now at this point I’ve sung there already three times. It is absolutely crazy! There are so many exciting things if it comes to places and people with whom I am working, and I have never thought I would be even close to them. I am constantly blown away with all of those things. Maybe that is why I am so happy all the time!

Dreams?

If it comes to dreams, there are quite a few things which might come true someday, but for now a realistic dream which I am looking forward to is recording an album with my friend’s early music ensemble and to put on that album English baroque music which will have a little twist. I cannot say anything more, because I am still working on the whole project and it might still take two or three years till it actually happens.

Certainly Alfred Deller — the English countertenor central to the renaissance of early music in the mid-twentieth century — would not have had the following phrase in his biography:

Orliński is also a virtuoso in breakdancing, having earned fourth place at the Red Bull BC One Poland Cypher competition, second place on the Stylish Strike – Top Rock Contest and second place at The Style Control competition, among others.

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A post shared by Jakub Józef Orliński (@jakub.jozef.orlinski) on Aug 21, 2018 at 6:30am PDT

Deller wouldn’t have even understood the paragraph — Red Bull? Breakdancing? Orliński is a man of his time, but also a man of curiosity with respect for the past. He’s eager to communicate his passion for his centuries-old repertoire with his own generation as well as the ever-growing band of early music enthusiasts.

I mostly enjoy when I get to people, when I make them feel something or think about something else, if I am able to take them to some other place. It does not necessarily have to be my world but if I can take them somewhere else with my interpretations, then I am extremely happy and satisfied.

What do you feel when you are singing?

I enjoy that rare sensation of total freedom. The voice is such a difficult instrument that almost every day it feels different. But there are times when you feel absolute freedom and you feel like you can do with your voice whatever you want, and it costs nothing. Those are very nice moments in a singer’s life.

So being in front of an audience is liberating?

I think I enjoy the most that feeling of connection with your fellow musicians and the public. It is incredible when you truly feel like everyone listens and waits for every single note, every single word to come out.

And then after the piece there is so much tension. Everyone is so in the moment and the atmosphere of the piece you have just sung that there is that dead silence… silence… For me, it is the most powerful and rewarding thing ever.

Jakub Józef Orliński’s debut album Anima Sacra is released by Erato on 26 October 2018

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Track List

1. Nicola Fago: Alla gente a Dio diletta – from Il Faraone sommerso (world premiere recording)

2-8. Nicola Fago: Confitebor tibi Domine (world premiere recording) 2. Confitebor tibi Domine 3. Memoriam fecit mirabilium suorum 4. Fidelia omnia mandata ejus 5. Sanctus et terribile 6. Initium sapentiae timor Domini 7. Intellectus bonus omnibus – Gloria 8. Sicut erat in principio – Amen

9-11. Johann David Heinichen: Alma Redemptoris Mater 9. Aria: Alma Redemptoris Mater 10. Accompagnato: Tu quae genuisti 11. Aria: Gabrielis ab ore

12. Domènec Terradellas: Donec ponam – Aria for contralto from Dixit Dominus (world premiere recording)

13-16. Nicola Fago: Tam non splendet sol creatus (world premiere recording) 13. Aria: Tam non splendet sol creatus 14. Recitativo: O nox clara? 15. Aria: Dum infans iam dormit 16. Alleluia

17. Domenico Sarro: Laudamus te – Aria for contralto from Messa a 5 voci in Fa maggiore (world premiere recording)

18. Francesco Feo: Juste Judex ultionis – from Dies Irae in G (world premiere recording)

19-20. Jan Dismas Zelenka: Smanie di dolci affetti…S’una sol lagrima from Gesù al Calvario – ZWV 62 19. Accompagnato: Smanie di dolci affetti… 20. Aria: S’una sol lagrima

21. Johann Adolf Hasse: Mea tormenta, properate! – from Sanctus Petrus et Sancta Maria Magdalena

22. Gaetano Maria Schiassi: L’agnelletta timidetta – from Maria vergine al Calvario (world premiere recording)

23. Francesco Durante: Domine Fili Unigenite – Aria for contralto from Messa a 5 voci (world premiere recording)

Jakub Józef Orliński, countertenor il pomo d’oro Maxim Emelyanychev, conductor

In conversation with Jakub Józef Orliński – the new countertenor on the block Jakub Józef Orliński is the new countertenor name to add to an ever-growing roster of artists who are selling discs and selling out concert halls in this once rarefied area of the vocal arts.

#Carnegie Hall #Cecilia Bartoli #Wigmore Hall

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fadingfartconnoisseur · 7 years

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Visiting Lesvos, Greece: Our 5 Day Travel Guide

Adventure-lovers, history buffs and nature-seekers rejoice! The third largest island in Greece will delight you with its endless activities, ancient sites and stunning coastline.

From the mountainous pottery-filled village of Agiasos in the south and the ancient towns of Petra and Mithymna in the north, to the Petrified Forest in the west and the neoclassical architecture of Mytilene in the east. Lesvos truly has something for every style of traveller.

…and that’s without mentioning the food, ouzo, beaches, adventure and wildlife!

Colourful plates in the town of Agiasos

As with its neighbour, Chios Island to the south, tourism in Lesvos was hit hard due to the recent refugee crisis. Because of the island’s proximity with Turkey, this was one of the first stops refugees made when fleeing their war-torn homes in search of a better future in Europe for themselves, and their families.

Foreigners flooded the shores, with the people of Lesvos helping out in every way they could – providing blankets, shelter and food, plus assistance with registering these people at the administration centers. In return for their kindness, the generous residents of Lesvos have suffered economic hardship with many international airlines, tours and cruise ships stopping service to this beautiful island.

A sunken refugee ship

Thankfully, things have turned around this year, and more flights are returning to the island of Lesvos! During our stay, which was in the shoulder-season of June, we saw lots of happy tourists exploring the villages, and dining on freshly caught seafood at little tavernas.

If you’re planning a trip to Greece, consider the islands in the Aegean. Not only are they unique and absolutely stunning, but the wonderful people who live here are more than deserving of your tourism dollars.

Lesvos was the last stop on our month-long trip through Greece, and although we were excited to explore the island for 6 nights, it was bittersweet as we knew our journey through this diverse country was coming to an end.

We arrived in the colourful capital city of Mytilene after an easy ferry-boat journey from Chios. Numerous cafes, shops and restaurants spilled out onto the cobbled side streets, while surrounding the harbour were beautiful mansions, churches, museums and more, all in the lovely neoclassical style.

Towering above the city was the Castle of Mytilene, which covers 60 acres and is one of the largest in all of the Mediterranean! We had just stepped foot on Lesvos Island and were already in awe of the architecture.

As with all of the islands we’ve visited in Greece, we had a rental car to explore Lesvos. An hour’s drive from the port brought us to the top of a hill with expansive views over the village of Petra, the islands offshore and further out to the Aegean Sea. We also spotted a strange rocky mound jutting out of the ground in the middle of the village.

After a windy, hairpin turn descent, we reached Petra and soon realized that atop that odd rock sat the church of Glykfylousa Panagia, from 1747. We were absolutely blown away by this scenic monument!

Hiking up to the Glykfylousa Panagia Church

We drove down small alleyways before arriving at our boutique hotel, Archontiko Petras 1821. As the name suggests, this beautiful hotel was built in 1821. We’ve always loved boutique hotels because of their quaint feel and interesting furniture, and this one was no exception.

The dining room area of the beautiful Archontiko 1821 Hotel

The two-level hotel offered two common areas and a community kitchen for guests’ use, which was very well-stocked. To the back of the hotel was a balcony with a hanging chair and beautiful garden. The interior was tastefully decorated, while our room itself was exquisite. The ceilings were at least 15 feet high, the king-sized bed was incredibly comfortable and the antique dresser and chairs were a nice touch.

Our room at Archontiko 1821 Hotel

This would be our home for the next five nights, and it was perfect for us.

The village of Petra is built up around the sandy bay. Along the shoreline you’ll find numerous cafes, bars, hotels and tavernas, all with free sun beds for customer’s use. This is where you’ll see most tourists, but if you take a few steps back from the main bay, and venture off into the quiet back streets, you’ll be one of the only foreign faces! People seem to congregate around the sea, leaving the pretty little lanes void of tourists.

Exploring the back lanes in Petra, one of our favourite towns in Greece

Petra proved to be the perfect base for exploring the island of Lesvos and after getting a feel for the town itself, it was time to head a little further north to neighbouring Molyvos (Mithymna) and the hot springs of Eftalou.

After driving for just 5 minutes, we could see the town of Molyvos, and its castle on a hill. Another 5 minutes and we arrived in the town. Although we could spot the castle, but weren’t entirely sure how to climb up to it. So, we just started walking uphill through little back lanes. Apart from a few local people who were going about their day-to-day lives, there was no one else around. One woman showed us a plum tree and suggested we pick some fruit, another women surrounded by about 6 cats waved and smiled, while a man said hello while pruning his trees.

There were no tourists here and we enjoyed our slow saunter through the lanes to the castle.

Quiet lanes lead us to the Molyvos Castle

Reaching the Byzantine Castle, we were in awe of the structure and the expansive views of the sea and the town of Molyvos. This ancient castle is one of the most impressive in all of Greece, and although it was built by the Byzantines, apparently there are stones here from a previous castle during the Trojan War.

From the Venetians, to the Catalans, to the Genovese and the Ottoman Turks, this castle has seen it all and there is an incredible amount of history here. However, we were disappointed to find that we had missed the opening hours by just 30 minutes. We peered through the gates, but unfortunately the only views we would get were from the outside.

The Molyvos Castle, a must-see in Lesvos

After hiking up to see the castle and wandering around the beautiful seaside town, we were ready to soothe our muscles.

There are numerous hot springs on the island, but we opted for the healing properties of the most radioactive springs in Lesvos, Eftalou. At the beginning of the path leading to the white domed bath house, there was a sign that said the water temperature of the hot spring is around 46°C!

These would be the hottest hot springs we had ever been in.

Outside of the Eftalou Hot Springs

With our bathing suits on, we opted for the communal bath in the older house, as opposed to the newly renovated private ones. Steam was rising off of the clear water and the entire room was misty. Two men were submerged up to their necks, so we figured it couldn’t be all that hot. We were wrong.

It took what seemed like an eternity to just get our feet in the water, let alone our whole bodies!

After watching us struggle with getting in the bath, the two men said that we should go out to the cool sea, or to the cold shower first, and sit in the water for 3 minutes. Apparently, when your body is cold, this water doesn’t seem all that hot. We were skeptical, but gave it a try and after having my breath taken away by the chilly sea water during a cold day, it was time to give the bath another go.

This time we were able to get our entire bodies in the water, and it felt great.

Inch by inch, we finally made it in the hot springs

We relaxed in the piping hot bath for the maximum allowed time of 4 minutes, before heading to the cold sea again. This routine was completed three times and is said to cure ailments such as rheumatism, arthritis, sciatica, neuralgia, skin diseases, kidney and gall gravel and gynecological issues.

Whether or not it cured anything I’m not sure, but it was an experience we won’t forget.

From historical sites and natural wonders to pretty villages and lovely beaches, we had really been enjoying our stay on Lesvos Island. Rather than continue our enjoyment from land, we decided it was time to explore the royal blue sea – both on, and under.

View of Petra and the sea from the Glykfylousa Panagia Church

Lesvos is a volcanic island, and earthquakes and volcanic activity have shaped the land. From the strange rocky mound that sits the Glykfylousa Panagia church in Petra, to the forest which was covered in lava 20 million years ago, resulting in petrified trees today.

Not only was the topography above water filled with rocky mountains and unique volcanic formations, but the same went for below the water’s surface.

Nick’s been a scuba diver since 2008 when he got his PADI certification on Koh Tao, Thailand and has dove all around the world. But even though we’d been to Greece in the past, he hadn’t been diving in this country yet! Excited to spend a day at sea, we met up with George from Lesvos Scuba Diving Center, and George from Alternative Sailing – “Diving George and Sailing George” as we began to call them.

Picking out scuba gear!

There’s a really cool arrangement on the island of Lesvos between these two companies. You can combine sailing with many other adventures, such as hiking, biking, or scuba diving.

We first met up with Diving George at the dive shop where we had a chat about life, the island and diving. Nick picked out his scuba gear and George loaded it into the back of his truck. He drove us to the port where we met up with Sailing George from Alternative Sailing. We were dropped off and hopped aboard the beautiful Salona 42′ boat.

The sky was blue, the wind was fair and the sea was the perfect condition for sailing. We’ve sailed aboard the Savvy and the Timshell in Grenada, a boat with no name in Mozambique, and the Yannis in SVG (plus numerous random fishing boats). But this was the first time I would experience sailing at the speed we did this day aboard the Selana.

The perfect day for sailing in Lesvos

George was an expert and was extremely passionate about sailing. We caught so much wind in our sails that the boat was heeling (tilting) completely on its side! Sensing that I was a bit nervous about this (meanwhile, no one else was), George assured me that sail boats cannot tip over, and after gliding across the water for a few minutes on the speedy boat, I relaxed and was able to fully enjoy the experience, which included stunning views of the Villages of Molyvos and Petra.

George giving Nick a sailing lesson on a tilted boat – we loved it!

We zipped around the coastline, while Nick was given a bit of a sailing lesson from George. The trip was wonderful and we loved learning about the sea, the boat and the island from captain George and his wife Mirella. Eventually, we pulled up behind one of the rocky offshore islands, where the sea was glass calm. We moored up and a few moments later, dive instructor George arrived in a zodiac and tied his boat to ours.

After a briefing about the dive site, Nick put on his gear, hopped in the zodiac, and just like that, it was time to dive!

The zodiac tied up to the sail boat and after the dive briefing, they were off!

I stuck back on the sailboat with everyone else, and helped prepare lunch. There’s a full kitchen on board where Mirella was creating a wonderful meal of fresh octopus, salads and pasta. Meanwhile, George jumped in sea and swam towards the rocks, returning with freshly caught sea urchins!

It felt like we were living on the boat, rather than just on a tour. Nick was diving for the day, I was swimming and tanning, Mirella was cooking, George was out collecting appetizers and others were just relaxing.

Beautifully clear water for swimming off of the boat

An hour or so later, Nick returned from his dive. Although there wasn’t a whole lot of sea life, he did spot an octopus, a lobster and some fish. But the highlight was swimming through, and around, the ancient rock formations, which were created by volcanic activity over 10 million years ago.

Zipping off in the zodiac for a dive, what a great afternoon!

Together with our friends from Alternative Sailing and Lesvos Dive Center, we sat around the table on the sailboat and enjoyed the homemade meal and great conversation. It was a wonderful day at sea and as we sailed back in the late afternoon sun, we reflected on our trip to the lesser-known island of Lesvos and all of the beautiful people we met there.

Enjoying a fantastic homemade meal from Mirella with our new friends from Lesvos

With full hearts and stomachs we headed back to our hotel and prepared ourselves for departure the next day. Lesvos Island was a great place to finish up our journey in Greece. We’ll never forget the ancient villages, the fantastic cuisine and of course, our new friends.

Traveller Tips:

We found Petra a great place to base ourselves during our stay. There are loads of restaurants, bars, cafes and a nice beach. Plus, the beautiful church on the rocky mound is here and we loved the quiet little back streets. Another great option would be Mithymna, with its gorgeous castle, beaches and restaurants.

Archontiko 1821 was an amazing hotel and the breakfast spread was huge. We recommend this place based on the quality of the rooms, the beautiful setting and the perfect location. Click here to see the latest prices on Booking.com.

A few of our favourite restaurants and bars in Petra are Sunset of Petra (€12 huge mixed grill, €5 appetizers), Thalassa / The Sea Restaurant (€9.50 shrimp meal, €8 meatballs and rice), Reef (€15 Prosecco, with free snack), Dak Cafe (€1.50 freddo coffee) and Kalderimi Restaurant and Grill House (€2.40 gyros takeaway).

For rental cars on the island, check out Expedia.com. Book as far in advance as you can for the best deals. We paid €25 / day, and booked just a couple of days in advance.

Entrance to the Eftalou Thermal Bath was €4 / person.

For scuba diving on Lesvos Island, check out the guys at Lesvos Scuba Center in Petra. The equipment and service were excellent. Phone: (+30) 6945998764, (+30) 6981026085 or email: [email protected], [email protected].

For an exciting day of sailing (whether combined with another activity, or not) make sure to contact George at Alternative Sailing in Petra. Phone: +30 697 889 3703, +30 697 479 2050 or email: [email protected].

For flights to and from Lesvos, check out the latest deals on Aegean Airlines here.

To take a ferry boat from a neighbouring island, or to make the longer journey to Athens, click here to see ferry routes. We spent around €21 each to take the 2.5 hour ferry ride from Chios. To search for boats, check out websites like Direct Ferries and Hellenic Seaways.

For more useful information about Greece, check out the wonderful travel portal, Discover Greece.

A huge thank-you to Discover Greece for assisting with our flight back to Athens, two nights accommodation and tours during our trip to Lesvos Island! The rest of Lesvos we planned, booked and paid for ourselves, including 3 more nights at Archontiko Hotel, even though we were offered 3 nights complimentary somewhere else. All opinions and thoughts remain our own, despite any complimentary services received.

After deciding that we wanted to travel to Greece for a month, we reached out to Discover Greece, who became our amazing partners for this trip! The reason we’re able to partner up with wonderful companies like this is because of our travel blog, and loyal followers (you!). If you’re interested in starting a blog and eventually working with tourism boards, tour companies and airlines all over the world, click here to get started. If you start a blog using the link in the article, we’ll send you our pro blogging eBook, for free!

The post Visiting Lesvos, Greece: Our 5 Day Travel Guide appeared first on Goats On The Road.

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cryptokingrobiul · 7 years

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Forex Market News and Analysis Update

New Post has been published on http://www.top20broker.com/vip/greeks-shoulder-new-tax-burden-market-professionals-warn-backlas/

As Greeks shoulder new tax burden, market professionals warn of backlas

A barrage of new direct and indirect taxes on basic products and services went into effect on Jan. 1 in Greece, adding a further burden to debt-ridden households and enterprises.

As the Greek government heralds the exit from the eight-year recession in 2017, urging patience for the last sacrifices, market professionals warn of a backlash.

Among the long list of fresh tax hikes which kicked in at the beginning of the new year are higher value-added taxes and higher duties on tobacco products and electronic cigarettes (by 20 percent), coffee, fuels (by four to 10 cents per liter), telephone services and cable television (by five percent).

“2017 is the year of bailout reviews and taxes. We face a record of taxes, as the goal is to add 2.5 billion euros (2.65 billion U.S. dollars) in revenues to the existing tax burden,” president of the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) Vassilis Korkidis told Xinhua, presenting the numbers of the latest wave of tax increases.

Korkidis reminded that in the past seven years Greeks were burdened with an extra 37 billion euros in taxes.

Some 440 million euros concern fuels, 162 million euros tobacco products and 65 million euros coffee products.

“Greeks face tangible tax hikes in their everyday life,” he explained, warning that over taxation may eventually reduce revenues for state coffers.

Yorgos Kavathas, head of the Hellenic Confederation of Professionals, Craftsmen & Merchants (GSEVEE), shared Korkidis’s view, pointing to the example of tax increases on fuels.

“The tax hike on fuels will increase the cost of transports. Sooner or later we will see it rolling on the prices of products. It is simple maths.

“Businesses have exceeded their ability to pay taxes and this will affect consumption. As a result, we will witness increases on prices of products and services and, in parallel, lower turnover,” Kavathas said.

Market professionals warn they can no longer absorb tax increases and that finance ministry officials should expect a fresh slump in fuel consumption, and less tax revenues.

Yorgos Asmatoglou, president of the Panhellenic Federation of Fuel Station Owners, is already facing frustrated clients who are paying almost two euros per liter of unleaded gas.

“We see fuels increasing so much that the average Greek consumer… has reached a point when it is very difficult to fill up his car, and even harder to buy heating fuel to warm his home,” Asmatoglou said.

Taxi driver Yannis T. has no choice but to bear the extra cost of five euros per day to fill his car.

“Business is down and fuels have increased so much, we suffer many losses. People are no longer using taxis. You can imagine how much of a burden the extra 5 euros per day is for us,” he said.

Many have turned to car pooling, riding a bicycle, or walking home so as to reduce the transport costs.

Despite the harsh winter conditions this year, the average household purchased only 300 liters of heating oil, down from the 1,000 liters in the pre-crisis years, according to Asmatoglou.

The result of prolonged belt-tightening is businesses closing, more jobless, and fewer revenues for the state, he warned.

In 2008, there were 7,900 gas stations across Greece, while today 5,500 remain, according to Asmatoglou.

Grigoris Armenakos, a second-generation coffee roaster in Athens, fears a drop in sales even for Greeks’ favorite drink, due to the excise tax on imported and domestically-produced coffee, pushing up the price per kilo by two to four euros for roasted coffee beans on average.

“In 2015, coffee cost nine euros per kilo. With the VAT rate increase from 13 to 24 percent last year and now, due to the new special consumption tax, the price has reached 14 euros per kilo,” Armenakos explained.

“I do not believe Greeks will stop drinking coffee, but I am certain consumption will decline,” he said.

For struggling Greeks, drinking coffee with friends is one of the last “luxuries” they have allowed themselves.

Glykeria Partsalis, 86, still chats with her neighbors over a cup of hot coffee. However, she is one of the 1.2 million retirees receiving less than 665 euros per month, which, according to the Hellenic Statistical Authority, means she is living at the poverty line.

She has cut back on spending on heating and at the supermarket and grows vegetables in her garden. Source

#economic #economic news

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