Tim does a magnificent job attempting to describe the indescribable experience of Roche Continents. A task I failed at on my return twelve months ago. My own week in Salzburg broke me; melted me; cast me in a new mould, and sent me out afresh. It changed me more anything ever before. Such passion, energy and intensity! These are days we will long to experience again and again, and stories we will tell our grandchildren. These are people and memories that will be in your life forever. You will love them, grow with them. Cherish them.

(Can you tell that I miss it/them yet?)

(Source: timomorris)

  12:43 am  |   August 14 2011   |  3 notes  

timomorris:

Salzburg. No words can do this past week justice.

My colleague Tim is just back from Roche Continents an amazing programme bringing together the arts and sciences at the Salzburg Festival. I was honoured to be able to take part last year, and understand exactly how he feels. Twelve months down the line, the call to live broadly and passionately still rings strong.

(Source: timomorris)

  4:04 pm  |   August 11 2011   |  5 notes  

“It was also a wake up call for me, living in cultures that endorse “instant” information and entertainment, where meanings are spoon-fed and generic… where you try to be what the society wants you to, where you are as good as how much your job pays you. this experience changes my whole view or arts and science and shows me a higher intensity of professionalism. And then there’s Wolfgang Rihm.”

—

Lana was just one of the amazing people I met at Roche Continents. Here she recognises a great point: The course as a call for a passionate, engaged life. We all can be so much better.

I really must get around to writing my own thoughts on the whole surreal experience, before the memories start to fade.

  10:45 pm  |   August 8 2010   |  7 notes  

Munich was a revelation. Following the sleeper train from Paris, Christian and I arrived in the city very early, before the morning quiet was spoilt by the din of commuters from the suburbs or tourists roused from their egyptian cotton hotel linen. We hopped from church to church, pausing in the peaceful splendour of each; browsed the Viktualienmarkt, admiring the fishmongers; Sipped coffee in the shade of the Hofgarten, resting our legs.

Once the city began to get busy we met Emily, fresh off the plane, and Matthias, who took us to a lovely Italian restaurent just around the corner from his lab. Tucked in the leafy courtyard we ate simple fish and discussed the wonders that lay ahead of us in Salzburg.

It’s clear why Monocle Magazine recently named Munich the most liveable city in the world. It’s clean, charming, efficient, and with a lovely village-city feel. I look forward to visiting again soon.

  5:51 pm  |   August 6 2010   |  2 notes  

Paris was wonderful. A day and a half spent café hopping around the my favorite bits, especially the 7me and Île Saint-Louis. Only one gallery trip: a very humid afternoon in the Musée Rodin, mainly spent dozing in the beautiful garden. I return for a second take in September.

  12:40 am  |   August 5 2010  

On Monday I had the pleasure of hearing Wolgang Rihm’s epic cantata for choir and orchestra Quid Est Deus (What is God?) performed in Salzburg’s beautiful Kollegienkirche.

It consists of twenty four answers to the question What is God?, taken from a Latin text from the Apocrypha, ascribed to the mythical Hermes Trismegistus. The programme to the Kontinent Rihm concert series, of which this was a part, provided the original Latin alongside a modern German translation.

Following the concert I, along with several other Roche Continents participents, discussed that, rather than plucking a translation straight from the internet, it might be nice to have a stab at remembering some of our schoolboy Latin and have a go at translating from scratch. Please do contribute and help reveal the answers to this most enigmatic of all questions.

  6:30 pm  |   August 4 2010   |  1 note  

Roche Continents at the Salzburg Festival was the most surreal event of my life. I’m simply lost for any sort of words to describe it. Amazing people; incredible creativity; beautiful, inspiring and shocking music; Ridiculous generosity.

To maintain the suspense for future participants, I’ll avoid discussing the magical programme of events, but hopefully I’ll post something on the music and people shortly.

In short it was life-changing. A real privilege. This truly marks the start of a new chapter.

  8:13 pm  |   August 3 2010  

Today I’m departing sunny England to head, via Paris and Munich, to Salzburg. I’m attending Roche Continents, a week-long programme at the Salzburg Festival exploring the common ground of creativity and innovation in the Arts and Science, along with 100 students of science, music and fine arts from all over Europe.

I really feel that this will be valuable time to disconnect from the present and reengage with reality. Honestly I can’t wait. For some months now I’ve drifted, half awake, through life. This is my morning coffee. I’m hoping to come back on 4 August renewed, invigorated, balanced, and with a new passion.

See you on the other side…

  11:38 pm  |   July 25 2010  

Due to a series of unfortunate events, I now find myself in Paris and free to my own devices for a day and a half on Monday & Tuesday next week. I haven’t been to the La Ville-Lumière for years and, as a somewhat rusty solo-traveler, am feeling somewhat lost. I’d appreciate mining your collective wisdom for your tips, secrets, and recommendations to make Paris alone magical. What should I know?

  8:56 pm  |   July 21 2010   |  3 notes