HELMUT LOTTI
My Favorite Classics
HELMUT LOTTI - MY FAVORITE CLASSICS
Press Conference 23rd March 2006
No career without highlights, without moments that will stay in your memory forever. Moments that are an absolute turning point, a step up, the beginning of something really special. One of those unforgettable moments is my performance in Congress Centre “Het Turfschip” in Breda on December 8th 1994. “Helmut Lotti Goes Classic” was born here. I sang “Caruso” for the first time, accompanied by 32 musicians. The public went wild. Until today, I can still feel the rush of adrenaline, caused by the 10-minutes-long-applause.
Nevertheless I was already used to quite a lot. My participation in the tremendously popular “De Soundmixshow”, the Dutch program by Henny Huisman, put me in the spotlights of Flemish show business with one strike. I received three gold and one platinum records in a row. I was awarded my first “Gouden Oog”, the most prestigious television award in Flanders. The future was looking bright.
But my interpretation of “Caruso” in Breda – a concession to my manager, I must admit – turned this future completely. After this concert Piet Roelen spontaneously entrusted our record directorthat the new Lotti-project would be an album full of classical songs. I was afraid of this adventure for a very long time. Six months earlier I was still struggling with the Italian connecting-pieces in “Caruso” and didn’t dare to sing the song at a sold-out concert in Knokke. Now I faced the challenge with pleasure. The public had convinced me. The standing ovation that seemed to last forever gave me the strength to make a dream come true. To turn a fairy tale into reality, something I never thought would be possible.
On September 8th and 9th 1995, the live recordings of the CD and TV Special took place in the Queen Elisabeth Hall in Antwerp. It was an enormous success. 724.000 copies of “Helmut Lotti Goes Classic” went over the counter. It is still the best sold album ever in Belgium.
Since then the applause kept growing as did the fairy tales. Whether I released new interpretations of classic pieces or folk songs from Africa or Latino countries, whether I followed the trail of my great friend Elvis… every time again I saw myself surrounded by thousands, hundreds of thousands of people who appreciated my work. Who, when I announced I would take a sabbatical year, overwhelmed my management with the same returning question: “Helmut, how are we supposed to pass that year? Do we really have to do without any concerts?”
I was very touched by those reactions. They made me realise – even more than before – how important my fans are to me. I enjoyed a wonderful time. I performed in world’s most beautiful, most impressive concert halls. Time after time surrounded by a warm, loving and always enthusiastic audience. That, dear people, is the most precious gift a public can give an artist. I thank you for this from the bottom of my heart.
For this reason – and for this reason only – a year without concerts was a necessity. At the end of September of this year, the moment will be there. Then I can present to you the result of many months of writing. And will even be more than just that, it’ll be a double CD. One with my own work, a second with the most famous crooners that I have given my personal interpretation. And of course the album will be the start of a new series of concerts.
But before this time comes – and to shorten the wait a little – I want to fulfil another, often heard wish. I’ve been asked thousands of times over the last years: “When will there be a CD that collects the best of the three ‘Helmut Lotti goes Classic’ albums?”
Well, it lies before you. Especially for this CD I made a selection of my Classic-hits. And as a bonus I add a taste of “The Crooners”, that will be released in the autumn: the beautiful “Moon River” and one self written title “How Could I ever forget you”. I hope you will appreciate it like you did my previous work and you will enjoy it to the full.
See you soon, at one of the upcoming concerts.
Helmut Lotti