There are two different daily routines in my life: teaching at the university and preparing for my next project at the National Opera – my “creative house” for the past five years. I’ll try to fit them both into this timeline as parallel cinematic frames viewed simultaneously on a canvas with a dividing line in the middle.

Routine A: Two sips of coffee and with a three-day “duration” of the suitcase, I go to the airport. Morning flight to Corfu and then by taxi or, weather permitting, on foot to the Faculty of Musical Studies of the Ionian University, where I start classes around 11.00. Every time I come to the Old Fort of the island, where our department is located, I think that there is no more beautiful location of the university department in the world, literally on the seashore, in a beautiful Venetian building.

Schedule B: BBC Radio 3 on speakers when I wake up, a shower to wake up my body and soul, strong coffee in a mug, a few phone or video calls with good friends who are also early risers, and around 09.00 I am sitting in front of the computer, to start writing, or go to a four-hour rehearsal at Lyrica.

Routine A: Lessons one after the other or meetings in the office with students on issues that concern them. After all, the status of a teacher means the absolute availability of time and thoughts for students. Especially the last few years, which are very difficult for young children as they boldly try to build their future and themselves in such dark and ominous conditions around the world.

Rutina B: This time I am intensively working on the premiere of my work “Andrey. Requiem in eight scenes. It is dedicated to the great film director Andrei Tarkovsky. Therefore, I make parts for musicians and at the same time I do musical rehearsals of the play with wonderful performers of the show.

Daily routine A: Enforced break at noon for meals, usually in the company of a few colleagues or friends from the island. In addition to the necessary break, we find the opportunity to talk a couple of times at a “human” speed, going against the intense rhythms of our daily lives.

Routine B: Eating after rehearsal with partner friends. We take a break from the boredom of the rehearsal process and exchange useful thoughts and ideas about the project, but most importantly, we laugh a lot at the various rehearsal antics.

“Working on a beautiful island allows you to have the illusion of traveling for a vacation at the end of the day.”

Daily Routine A: A bit of office work—email, class prep, maybe a little letter for “Andrey”—and continue with class until nine. In Corfu, daytime activities are always accompanied by the colors of the landscape, which change as the sun sinks into the sea. It is enough to look out the window for two or three moments.

Schedule B: Return home and continue working on the project. Conversations with Pantelis Boukalas about the text and Ermira Goros about the choreography, corrections to the score, notes, notes, notes…

Routine A: The end of class brings sweet fatigue. Working on a beautiful island allows you to create the illusion of relaxation at the end of the day, as you can eat and drink by the water or in a beautiful open Venetian square.

Routine B: Usually around nine in the evening we talk with the family – my mother, brothers and sisters, nieces. We’ve all been away lately, so “God bless whoever invented video calls,” my mom says. Then, usually, a good movie keeps me company until I fall asleep. Less often, some friends manage to “invite” me to a glass of wine or to a performance.

The day is closing – of course, the eyes are closed with difficulty, because the mind carries and processes all the dense information of the day and plans for the next day.

• Dimitra Tripani is a Composer and Associate Professor of Theory and Composition with Interdisciplinary Practices at the Faculty of Music Studies, Ionian University. He is currently preparing a sound performance “Andrey”, which will be presented at the National Opera on September 25, 27, 28.