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Faraway travel has not been possible over the last year, but soprano Lieselot De Wilde has been providing musical solace. Intrigued by the thrilling life story of journalist Nellie Bly, who travelled around the world in 72 days in 1888, setting a world record, Lieselot De Wilde conceived the project Around the World in 72 Songs. On her YouTube channel, she has been exploring songs from around the world since May 2020, focusing especially on female musicians. 

Who is the Maria Callas of Cameroon or the Edith Piaf of Romania? She accompanies herself on barrel organ and provides further information on the song in question. In the show Songs of Travel, Lieselot De Wilde performs songs from Around the World in 72 Songs with guitarist-composer Peter Verhelst (with whom she also forms the duo Bel Ayre).

This concert is one of the extra concerts in the ‘Citizens' Garden’ of the European Parliament. They are free to attend, whether you have a ticket for the festival or not.