A rare and precious cultural project entitled “Moments of Desire | Nostalgia” was implemented on the Greek island of Patmos this summer from August 3rd-6th despite the numerous obstacles imposed by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The project was supported by the non-profit Austrian Cultural Association WortundSpiele in cooperation with the Cultural Center Patmion of the Municipality of Patmos, the Austrian Honorary Consulate for the Dodecanese, and Patmos Radio 91 and was organized by acclaimed Austrian journalist and longtime Patmos supporter Dr. Sibylle Fritsch.
The events of the project featured an art exhibition focused on the theme of Nostalgia as well as the performance of famous Greek songs, special Austrian melodies, and an international repertoire of impromptu popular chansons and poems by an international cast comprised of actress and singer Gabriele Schuchter, tenor Luca Lombardo and mezzo-soprano Yulia Savrasova.
The moderator and musical director of the events was Greek pianist Vassilis Konstantinou who is currently pursuing a highly successful career in the music scene of Vienna.
As the organizers of the project noted: “An island is always a place of longing. Ships arrive, leave the harbor, dance on the horizon: white shadows in the blue expanse of the sea. Islands, harbors, ships, the sky, and the sea are images of longing – for home, for distance, for love, for something that may not even exist. What is more suitable than the little paradise of Patmos – especially in these difficult times – for a trip to the hotel called “Longing“?”
The events were attended by numerous local islanders and tourists of various nationalities who described them as a significant and inspiring initiative that acted as an antidote to the pandemic’s depression and acquainted them better with the unique splendor of Austrian music and culture.
