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Writer's pictureRiccardo Pes

A Gradual Return to Reality: Inverness, Newcastle and London

Returning my car in Inverness marked a turning point—the end of my time in Scotland’s vast, quiet north. Inverness itself, with its quaint charm and bustling energy, was a gentle reintroduction to the world outside the residency. Still, there was a part of me that longed to return to the secluded coast, to the days when I felt I had all the time in the world to let the music unfold naturally.


Video logging my trip from Inverness to London


The journey south—from Inverness to Newcastle and, finally, to London—felt like a slow shift back into the everyday pace of life. Each mile brought with it a reminder that soon, I’d be back in the rhythm of a city that never sleeps. Scotland’s rolling landscapes faded into cityscapes, and the intimate connection I’d felt with nature was replaced by the familiar hum of urban life. It was a comforting return in many ways, yet tinged with the knowledge that I was leaving behind a chapter that had redefined my relationship with music and place.


Leaving the northwest of Scotland wasn’t just the end of a residency; it was the end of a journey into a world that allowed me to see and hear differently. The quietude of Tarbet had shown me the beauty of unhurried time, of letting music take shape as naturally as the tides. It’s not every day you find a place that resonates so deeply with your creativity, that feels like an extension of your work itself.


Now, as I adjust back to life beyond the lochs and mountains, I carry the spirit of that wild, inspiring place within me. Scotland’s northwest gave me more than I expected—it gave me a renewed passion, a wellspring of ideas, and a memory I’ll cherish forever. And while I may be back in the city, I know that a part of me will always be walking along those misty paths, hearing the music of Tarbet echo in the back of my mind.



🙏 This was only made possible thanks to public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England, Agostino Bran, Nicla Bravin, Silvana Vassili, Massimo De Mattia, luigina Perosa, Izabela Puszczykowska, Brenda Neece, CelloMuseum.org

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