Ed Månad I Malmö (A Month In Malmö): Tisdag: The day that wasn't (and the trip that was!) ; Onsdag: What the Helsingør!? (The trip that was, the concert that wasn't)

Hej! A shorter update than most in terms of stories, but lots of photos at least, and the promise of am excellent adventure coming up soon!

6/12:
It is an undeniable fact that Tuesday happened. I think there are enough witnesses to make Tuesday's existence incontrovertible. For me, however, Tuesday was a day in which very little happened, and the significant things that did occurred while I was sitting down at my computer (subsequently, there are no pictures from Tuesday).
No lesson, so I didn't have anywhere in particular to go. I also didn't really feel like composing. I'm nearing the two-week mark of my trip abroad, which has been fun, but a lot of different things to deal with constant stress, alongside constant stimulation in a country where I don't speak the language (not to mention spotty access to a piano - this should, in theory, not be an issue) do not present the most ideal circumstances for composing. Instead, alongside more partmakimg for Michael Rose, I did some important logistical planning for a trip I would be taking for a lesson I was not sure I would receive.
I'm being obtuse. When I went to London this Spring, not only did I meet the Swedish composers, resulting in this whole Malmö adventure and blog, I also met Michael Finnissy, a British composer with whom Peter Sheppard Skaerved (a master violinist and our fearless London leader) has collaborated on multiple occasions. His music interested me and he was kind enough to mail me letter (snail-mail!)
as well as some CDs of his music once I had returned to the states. To make a long story short (too late), I asked him for a lesson since I was in Europe and he graciously agreed. The date we set was June 15th. That was all before I left for Malmö. Checking to confirm my lesson, I didn't hear anything from him. This was slightly vexing. It is true, he has been very busy, and he is doing me a great favor by meeting with me, but I had already bought my ticket to the UK and wanted to make sure the trip wouldn't be in vain. Now, let me clarify, no trip to London is a trip in vain, but London US expensive and I couldn't have justified going on my budget if not for 'professional purposes.' Thankfully, Michael did get back to me and confirmed our lesson. I leave for London on the 14th and return to Malmö on the 18th. Also on Tuesday I found a place to stay, as well as a solo piano concert of music by Maurice Ravel (my favorite composer) that I will be attending. And speaking of attending concerts...

6/13:
As attentive readers will remember from my last post, I met a soprano, Hanna, on the train back from Copenhagen on Sunday. She told me about a concert series she performed in every Wednesday in June in Helsingør, Denmark. As I had nothing else to do this evening, I decided to go. However, I would find out the hard way the continually disorienting discrepancy between American and European systems of telling time.
Hanna wrote down for me the place and would be performing, as well as the time. 16.00. Or, if you prefer (today I certainly would have preferred it) 4 PM. I misinterpreted it (totally my fault, just a cerebral stumble) as 6 PM. So, I set out for, and arrived at, Helsingør too late. The journey was hardly a waste, though. The performances take place in the chapel of the castle (the Danish word is Slot, like the German word Schloss, the castle chapel is the Slotskirke) in Helsingør: Kronoborg. At least now I will know exactly where I'm going next Wednesday (as much to salvage my pride as out of interest, you bet your bottom Kronor I'm going back!). But my timetable mistake was redeemed by the sheer beauty of Helsingør's grounds and architecture. Not much more to say in this post, just pictures, I hope you enjoy!