«Pop music for people who are being bored by pop music» is the motto of the specialist ensemble Birds of Vienna, the instrumental trio around accordionist and pianist Heidelinde Gratzl, with Melissa Coleman, violoncello and Helmut Jasbar, guitar. Birds of Vienna call their music «Acoustic Chamber Pop», deriving their unique style from different musical genres whilst upholding a close connection to their musical Viennese roots. The current release features the musical genius of Franz Schubert. Besides adaptations of Ländler and dances, the ensemble also appears as composers of works titled Death and the Maiden - Six New Variations, «Schubert hört sich ein Lied an» (Schubert is listening to a song), Schubert's Belongings or Schubert ok. These compositions testify a profound commitment to the «Schubertian» essence of these character piece-like miniatures.
Birds of Vienna
Helmut Jasbar - guitars, dulcimer, E-bow Heidelinde Gratzl - accordion, piano Melissa Coleman - cello
The ensemble was founded in 1997 as a loose formation for miscellaneous chamber music projects and since 2012 performs in its current cast. Performances: Porgy&Bess, Carinthian Summer, Konzerthaus Vienna/Mozartsaal, Ö1 Radiokulturhaus, Wiener Stadtsaal («Song Recital at the end of the world» with singers Katharina Straßer and Cornelius Obonya), the Brucknerhaus Linz (with Julia Stemberger, narrator), Musikverein Vienna with live broadcast on Radio Austria 1.