Moving Shanghai

In the last week of May I had a fantastic week in Shanghai. I was there to perform at the Dutch Culture Center at the World Expo. I used the weeks preceeding the performance to bring together my experiences of ‘Stage 1′ into a theatrical report of my journey. This new show evolves around the universal themes of the Caravan Hitchhiking Project experience. Through these themes my encounters along my journey are transformed into stories, images and music.

On the evening of my arrival in Shanghai I was a guest at the first Utrecht-Night at the Dutch Culture Center. Utrecht-based poet Ruben van Gogh, C-Mon & Kypski and The Holland Baroque Society combined their talents in a single show. Their acts were also connected by animated images by the Utrecht Art College. A very moment was when a Chinese artist accompanied C-Mon & Kypski on a traditional Chinese string instrument, combining classical, modern and traditional music.

The first two days of my visit to Shanghai were completely dedicated to light, sound and image rehearsals. It was very exciting to work in four different languages. Stories in English, songs in Dutch, with English and Chinese translations, and the presentation of my latest song in German ‘Unterwegs’.

The second cultural Utrecht-evening was opened by piano player Rian de Waal, who combined a speech and a concert. He took the audience back to the 19th century. To the time where the world was introduced to the opera. The time of Verdi, Bellini and Rossini. Rian de Waal also brought a few special guests. Singer Marion van de Akker sang a few arias and Rian himself played a 6-hand piece together with Chinese piano players Wen Shi and Yingdi Sun.

After the break it was my turn! Exciting to perform in front of a part Dutch, part Chinese audience. It was very special to be able to tell the story of my journey all the way on the other side of world. Again, thank you to all the people that I met during my adventure through Europe. You helped me make this possible! Moving Shanghai!

The day after the show I visited the World Expo grounds. The Dutch pavillion, called ‘Happy Street’, is a fantastic and adventurous design by Dutch artist John Körmeling. It is a street that swirls upwards, through a variety of well and not so well known typical Dutch houses. Inside these houses visitors are treated to Dutch heritage: waterworks, Miffy, architecture, Armin van Buuren, Dutch delicatessen, design, Rietveld and even a traditional music organ. The colorful and fair-like atmosphere triggered me to a spontaneous acoustic performance. Moving Shanghai!

An exciting Asian capital! Shanghai has over 20 million inhabitnats, more than the entire country of the Netherlands! The motto of the World Expo 2010 is ‘A better life, a better city’.

Being back again in Holland again, we will shortly depart for stage II of The Caravan Hithhiking Project. Moving Europe!