HERE'S TO 2017!

HERE'S TO LIFE, HERE'S TO MUSIC AND TO LISTENING TO THE WORLD WITH AN OPEN MIND!

2016 started with a listening party on the 31st of January (Schubert‘s Birthday) where we thought that our Winter Journey was done. We listened to the whole thing and celebrated, too soon as it turned out. The next day mathias called me because he wanted to talk, we sat down and he told me that in his opinion we weren‘t done with our Winter Journey, more specific, that I wasn‘t done and that some songs where not where they could be. Deep inside I knew there was truth in it but it was hard for me to admit. I felt too weak to face this journey and myself in it again. But I couldn’t give up at this point. I knew before I could start from the beginning once more, I needed to walk away from it all - in order to return. And that is what I did, I walked. I walked for a month about 800 km in February. During my journey my head became more clear and the longer I walked the more I could let go of my fear that was holding me back. And when I returned I knew exactly what I had to do. I knew what parts I had to do over once more and what parts where already finished when I left. Now I know how important it is to give something the time to grow – it requires commitment, patience, endurance and trust. There were many moments where I just wanted to throw it all away, doubting every step of my way. But the only really important thing is to keep on walking regardless of your doubt and fear. „Walk more every day“ a friend of mine used to say and it doesn‘t matter if you manage to take one step a day or 100 steps the next day, the only thing that matters is that you keep on walking.

In summer we had two concerts in a row at the Porgy & Bess and it was in exactly that week that I finished our Winter Journey. I recorded „Wirtshaus“ once more – alone at the grand piano of the Porgy and that was it. During these days we played three different programs, parts of our Winter Journey, parts of my poet‘s love and songs of the VAO. And right around that time Robert Schumann‘s songs became the center of my musical every day life. The premiere date for „The Schumann Songbook“ was set on November 2nd. I love these songs and the way mathias‘ arranged them by showing them a new home. My process with Schumann felt very natural almost as if I had been singing these songs for years. With some of them I knew exactly from the very beginning how I want to sing them, I enjoyed the practicing part very much.

We knew that our Schumann Songbook could eventually provoke stronger opinions or rejection because now parts of the originals appeared in the arrangements as well and for some people we might be going to far this time. We‘ve always been aware of the fact that some people might not be agreeing with our interpretation of the classical “Kunstlied“. Taking something that has a very strong tradition and turning it to something else, will probably always polarize in some way. But when prejudices are hiding as opinions it can be very hard to deal with them and it seems to me that classical music and jazz are often confronted with similar prejudices. The question I have to ask myself is: Is it wrong or right to sing these songs the way I sing them? 

Finally I want to thank each and everyone who has been supporting us throughout the year. This year it‘s finally happening: „A WINTER‘S JOURNEY“, all 24 songs, will be released in March 2017 with soloists such as Klaus Dickbauer, Sabine Hasicka, Roman Janoska,  Mario Rom, Joris Roelofs, Fabian Rucker & Harry Sokal. And of course Hans Strasser, Ingrid Oberkanins and mathias rüegg form the rhythm section that leads us through Schubert‘s songs. And as our journey will finally be out there, it gives us the chance to catch a breath and regain our strength. While you have the chance listen, we have the chance to start something new – a change of pace because new work needs time to unfold…

HAPPY NEW YEAR, 

Yours Lia!

P.S.: My personal highlight of 2016: singing while conducting a Big Band in Bari : )!