On September 12, Stefanie Heinzmann performed live with the “Takesover! Ensemble” at SRF 3. The interplay of pop and classical music was a fascinating listening experience and a perfect introduction to the Swiss Music Day. There were also surprises of all kinds.
From the first note, goosebumps surged through the crowd like a tidal wave. That evening, Stefanie Heinzmann, accompanied by the chamber music ensemble “Mikis Takeover!”, gave an exclusive concert on the Live Stage of Radio SRF 3. Where usually keyboards and guitars deliver the familiar Heinzmann sound, the ensemble transformed her well-known hits into classical masterpieces.
Cling Film for a “Fresh” Look
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Spontaneity is her thing: Stefanie Heinzmann bleached her hair just before her performance.
Noëlle Guidon
Just before the performance, Stefanie brought smiles. Keeping it casual, she walked into the SRF 3 studio an hour before the show with cling film on her head because her bleach needed to set. She authentically shared this moment with the audience right at the start of the show. But it wasn’t just her hair that had a “fresh” makeover; her music did too.
Stefanie Came with a Full Surprise Bag
It all began with Tchaikovsky’s fifth symphony. As the audience slowly adjusted to the unusual mix of classical and pop, the first surprise came quickly. Familiar companions of Stefanie also provided special moments of surprise, such as dulcimer artist Ephraim Salzmann and rapper Stress.
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Two big music stars, an even bigger friendship: Stefanie Heinzmann and Stress perform a song together on stage.
Noëlle Guidon
Ephraim Salzmann and Stefanie Heinzmann have been collaborating for 20 years. For Heinzmann, he embodies home; she describes him as “her sparkle on stage and in her life.” Stress, known to be close friends with Stefanie for years, also made sure to be part of such an occasion. They performed the song “In The End” together, causing hearts in the hall to flutter. A premiere.
An Evening Full of Goosebumps and Tears of Joy
The intimate atmosphere of the evening was enriched by conversations with Miki Kekenj, the founder and arranger of the “Mikis Takeover!” ensemble. Rigid classical music is not found in this ensemble. Even Heinzmann emphasized how surprised she was by the casualness. The classical music made her more agile, on one hand due to the constant bowing, but on the other hand through new insights into this world of classical music. The audience also had to remain emotionally agile – between deep emotion, goosebumps, and relaxed jokes.
Heinzmann Is Now into Kitsch
From “emo girl” to kitsch lover: the relaxed vibe that Heinzmann and Kekenj brought to the stage was a refreshing change from the “kitsch” songs that they create on stage, as Heinzmann described. However, she fully embraces it now, and the audience was visibly moved, which ultimately resulted in a standing ovation.
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Stefanie Heinzmann and the “Takesover! Ensemble” made the audience’s hearts beat faster on Thursday evening – quite literally.
Noëlle Guidon
With this special concert evening, Stefanie Heinzmann, together with the masterful ensemble, once again proved how diverse and touching her music is. This special concert has been performed only a few times before and is a live experience that must be witnessed. Since August 31, Heinzmann has been touring with “Mikis Takeover!” through Switzerland and Germany. A fascinating listening experience and a perfect precursor to the Swiss Music Day.
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Stefanie Heinzmann embarks on a new musical experiment, touring with a chamber music ensemble through Switzerland and Germany.
Noëlle Guidon