Culture
Gospel and soul music in Zurich: a night to remember
Is the secret of instant happiness, singing and listening to gospel & soul music? It sure felt like it during the Christmas Special of the Zürich Singers Night.
Many people had gathered on Saturday evening in the beautiful Protestant church of Bühl in Wiedikon to listen to the Zurich Soul and Gospel choir. One hundred men and women of all ages and nationalities arrived one by one in the church, all dressed in black.
As soon as they started singing, just in a matter of seconds, smiles and joy could be seen on the singers faces and on the people who had come to watch the concert. Some peace and serenity could be felt all around in the overcrowded church. For two hours, there was so much energy on the podium! Everyone seemed to enjoy it and at the end of the concert everyone was moving, standing up and clapping hands as much as the singers!
When you think of Gospel music many of you probably think of Black Gospel, which has been known to us since the 17th century. The word gospel, to talk about Gospel music, came much later, in 1870. Many famous singers such as Elvis Presley, Patty Labelle, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin sung Gospel music.
Although the soloists on Saturday were not as famous as Elvis Presley, there were nevertheless amazing singers on the church podium. Here are some of those, who performed popular blues, soul and gospel hymns and made these moments very special:
- Ariane Wildberger with “O Holy Night”. She is a Swiss mezzo-soprano, who has worked in musicals, plays and concerts in many places and countries such as the Royal Albert Hall and Trafalgar Square in London. She sung at a Elton John concert.
- Krista Kohli with “Amazing Grace”, a soprano and new to the Zurich Singers Night.
- Tanja Wälchli with “Silent Night” a soprano, who is a vocal coach at the Voice and Music Academy in Zurich.
- Tanja Dankner with “Coming Home” accompanied at the guitar by the executive director and co-founder of the Voice and Music Academy,Thomas Lutz. Tanja Dankner is an amazing blues and soul singer, who founded a group with her brother Phil in 1995, called Soul Affair. She has been working with famous singers such as Céline Dion and was last year at the ice figure skating show “Art on Ice”.
- Olivia Nathan with “People Get Ready”. She is British singer with a beautiful voice.
- Sophia Cron with “Refiner’s Fire” and “All I need for Christmas is You” sung with the Soulitas.
None of this would have been the same without the stunning performance of the director and co-founder of the Voice & Music Academy, Fritz C. Mader.
The Zurich Singers Night Christmas Special was an evening to remember!
If you are interested in singing contact the Voice and Music Academy or call 41 44 240 04 20.
