Farewell to Belgium

To all my gorgeous colleagues at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, thank you for the past seven years. You have made every day so joyful. I used to look forward to going to work so that I could see your smiling faces. There is such a special culture at this company- like no where else in the world.
To the OBV chorus, I love you all. I have treasured sharing the stage with you all. I miss you all already. My favourite musical moments are too many to write now. But I fondly remember standing at the edge of the stage in a long line shoulder to shoulder and singing “Brahma divine Brahma” in Pêcheurs de Perles. And I will never forget our real life on stage proposal from Pim and Wineke as they were dressed in their old age wigs and makeup.
Thank you all so much for my wonderful and thoughtful gifts. The gift of your continued friendship is all that I really want, so please do stay in touch.
We have toured together over the years to Luxembourg, Lille and Montpellier. And I never gave up hope that the tour to Athens might one day happen (but never did). But mostly we have traveled by train and by bus between Antwerp and Gent more times than I care to remember. Every journey an adventure. Always chatting away, always cheerful.
Anyway, today I took a little souvenir from Grieg’s Peer Gynt in Ghent Bijloke Podium. Amidst all the wonderful orchestral music (Hall of the Mountain King, Morning Theme, Anitra’s dance etc) comes an A Capella hymn in Norwegian. I think we sound GLORIOUS together (secretly recorded on my iPhone). I am proud to have made such beautiful music with you all. I will listen to this recording and think of you often.
This is not goodbye. I will be back again to visit with my beautiful daughter. My life is moving on to pastures new now. But I will carry this Belgian part of my story around in my heart forever. Have a cup of tea for me whenever you miss me, and I will have a Belgian chocolate for you too. Tot straks allemaal! Xx