Bettina Bettenhausen

If you want to enjoy a documentary on the life of Beethoven I warmly recommend The Genius of Beethoven, a TV-series made by classical British music conductor Charles Hazlewood. It’s a British mini-series in three episodes produced by the BBC. I enjoyed watching this. This is storytelling of the finest. It is trying genuinely to… Continue reading A Loving Look Into the Life of Beethoven

I love Christmas. I love the shine. The sparkle. The magic. The fairytale feel of it all. I’m spending the afternoon in my kitchen, baking Swedish Christmas Saffron Buns (lussekatter) while listening to old time Christmas songs. Right now I have the delightful sound of Freddy Quinn’s Weihnachten auf Hoher See filling the room. Freddy… Continue reading The Magic of Christmas Time

What are your plans for the Summer? Depending if you like me live in the Northern Hemisphere where we have Summer coming up. I have no particular plans. A fun idea would be to explore Denmark by car. As a foreign correspondent I often travel to faraway places. Now I feel tempted to explore that… Continue reading Koldskål – Danish Vanilla and Lemon Summertime Treat

I am preparing for a piano concert. I will be playing Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky. It’s a beautiful piece to play. There is a story unfolding within. Different sections played in different ways. I’m especially in awe of the the theme song. To me the Song of the Swans is one of the most beautiful… Continue reading Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky and My World of Ballet

When traveling I truly enjoy the part of preparing. The getting ready part. I’m going to Stockholm the day after tomorrow. To work. I leave Monday at lunchtime and stay until Thursday afternoon. This morning I brought out my suitcase. Indulged in a delightful time collecting favorite items to bring along. My favorite lipstick. The… Continue reading Travels and Hotel Stays – the Joy of Getting Ready

Drummer John Steel of The Animals Walks Down Memory Lane of British Music History I recently talked to John Steel, drummer of legendary British rock band The Animals. We met up in Hotel Kullaberg in Swedish seaside resort Mölle where the Animals performed. Here’s a look into our conversation. Thank you John for sharing your… Continue reading John Steel tells about the History of Rock Band The Animals

I enjoy architecture. I love to explore buildings. Whenever I travel I love looking into local architecture. I love generous architecture. Architecture that salutes beauty. That salutes comfort and pleasure. That is generous and inviting. Large windows. High ceilings. I talk about it here. Some days ago I went on a trip exploring historic beachfront… Continue reading Historic Seaside Resort Hotels – Exploring Grand Getaways From The Past

I went to the opera some days ago. Mozart’s opera Don Giovanni was being performed at Malmö Opera. I have looked forward to this. To me, Mozart feels like a dear old friend. Whenever I connect with him, whenever I tap into his energy, I feel pure hearted joy. My heart fills with the most… Continue reading Stepping Into Mozart’s World – A Visit to the Opera