Fatma Said: "Anyone who knows me knows how much I love songs!"
How is stARTacademy artist Fatma Said spending the coming weeks? The soprano sends us greetings from her short summer break and is already revealing which highlight the audience of Bayer Arts & Culture can look forward to next spring.
We had great plans as part of the stARTfestival 2022. Jakub Józef Orliński by your side with the Stabat Mater. Shortly afterwards the duo concert with Tim Allhoff. Then the sad news that you fell ill at short notice. How are you now?
Thanks, I'm much better now. It broke my heart to have to cancel the planned concerts. I had already done the rehearsals with Jakub and Tim and I was very happy. Then my voice suddenly stopped. I had an infection that stayed with me for a little while and I'm still working on being fit again for the upcoming concerts.
"Upcoming concerts" sounds promising! How are you spending your summer?
I'm looking forward to the Copenhagen Opera Festival, where I'll be singing an recital with pianist Malcolm Martineau. I will also sing two concerts at the music festival in Oslo. There I will perform with Fazil Say for the first time and sing Ravel's Shéhérazade. I am particularly pleased to be artist in residence at the Konzerthaus Berlin in the new season. There I will open the season with a concert where I will present my new album "Kaleidoscope". It will be released on September 2, 2022. I am also busy learning the programs for recitals at London's Wigmore Hall, the LIFE Victoria Festival in Barcelona and the Schubertiade in Hohenems.
We are delighted that you are an artist of the stARTacademy since 2022! What does working with Bayer Arts & Culture mean to you?
I really admire your commitment to art and music and the effort to bring music to everyone. Even where access to classical music is not easy. Music belongs to everyone, not just in the big cities and not just to a relevant audience. Bayer Arts & Culture is doing important work to make music more accessible and I'm happy if I can make my small contribution.
What can the Bayer Arts & Culture audience look forward to next spring? Do we get a little preview?
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love songs. That's why I'm already very excited to be singing Mendelssohn Lieder with the Bayer Philharmonic and Bar Avni in spring. It is a very special experience to sing art songs well arranged for orchestra. Mendelssohn is one of the composers whose music I particularly enjoy singing!
What can we do to bridge the time until the stARTfestival 2023 with you?
There's me also online! [laughs] A tip: the first three singles of my new album have already been released, including a tango by Piazzolla, Offenbach's Barcarolle, a beautiful melody that many people know and since last week also "El Choclo" by Villoldo with new Arabic lyrics, which I had specially written for this publication. My music can be found on all major streaming platforms and I'll keep you posted on all the important news on social media until we meet again!
Thank you very much, dear Fatma!
Coypright:
Key Visual mit Fatma Said © James Bort
Fatma Said and the Bayer Philharmonic: April 19th at Erholungshaus.