Carla's Digital Playground (Vicky Leandros

Vicky Leandros - Gut Basthorst 2010

Live in Concert at Gut Basthorst 30 May, 2010

Last Sunday, May 30th 2010 Vicky Leandros gave a spectacular concert on her former estate "Gut Basthorst”, just outside Hamburg in the village Basthorst. About 20 years she lived here with Enno, Freiherr von Ruffin. After the couple separated in 2006, Vicky went to Berlin, but she regularly visits Basthorst. This is partly because Enno and they are still good friends.

Enno also approved to be an excellent host last Sunday. Everything was okay; from wine, catering, until the whole atmosphere. In itself not surprising because many fans also miss him as Vicky's manager…

A Fan meeting, earlier in the afternoon, preceded the concert. For our friends John and Linda, Carla and I a good reason to spend the weekend in Basthorst. Our friends also had the opportunity to spend the night on the estate. We had to stay in 'Die Pirchmühle', a nice hotel in Hamfelde.

In the past year, by circumstances Vicky had to shift her planned tour a few times, until next March 2011, when her 35-year anniversary tour is planned. This concert and fan meeting compensated the postponed tour.

Vicky Leandros - Gut Basthorst 2010

Together with about 75 fans, we visited the fan meeting in the afternoon. Vicky spook to everyone, and also to us. Tastefully dressed in jeans, suede jacket, boots and a Chanel-hand back she entered the room with enthusiastic fans and German media. The German broadcaster ZDF recorded for the program "Leute Heute". The ARD recorded for a portrait, called ‘Hochstpersönlich', that will be broadcasted in October 2010. Radio Bremen also made radio recordings.

Vicky Leandros - Gut Basthorst 2010

The fan club leaders Paul Aijtink (Official homepage Vicky Leandros, International homepage, the Netherlands), Christian Müller (Vicky Leandros, Die Offizielle Website, Fan Club & Official homepage, Germany) were also there. For many years they faithful supply the fans a lot of information. We also met Rita Schneider of the Offizieller Vicky Leandros Fan club Mönchengladbach.

Vicky Leandros - Gut Basthorst 2010

After we Vicky gave two delicious bottles of Chablis and Sancerre, we had the great pleasure that she joined our table during the entire fan meeting. This allowed us to enjoy her many fascinating stories.

Vicky told about her new CD, which will be released this autumn. This CD contains German translations of famous French chansons. She selected herself songs of Edith Piaf, Francoise Hardy, Gilbert Bécaud and Dalida. She didn’t reveal the tittles, but she indicated that the song ‘Paroles, paroles’ from Dalida and Alain Delon will be included. Her version is done together with a well-known German actor. Together with a colleague she did all the translations. Vicky told us this is a very comprehensive work.
Besides the selection of French songs, the CD also contains four new songs, written by Mathias Grosch. Together with Xavier Naidoo, he also produced her latest CD ‘Möge der Himmel ', which appeared in 2009. To promote the new CD she will appear a lot on the German TV. For the new CD she also has to select the title. Life is the overall theme.

Vicky Leandros - Gut Basthorst 2010

In her entire career Vicky sung many different genres, such as ballads, soul, folklore, popsongs and schlager. This has always been her course and she is proud of everything she has made.

Lately however, she sings more R & B and soul. "Free Again", "The Letter" ("A hat mir geschrieben") and "Fire and Rain" are her favourite songs. She considers her in 1975 by Brad Shapiro produced album "Across the Water" as one of her best albums ever. She also appreciated her cooperation with Xavier Naidoo for ‘Möge der Himmel (2009) and she doesn’t exclude a new cooperation in the future, because they understood each other very well in a artistic sense. Vicky's appreciation for Naidoo is great.

For her new tour, she’ll make a selection from new and old songs (including the upcoming CD). She also asked suggestions from the fans, who occasionally came with titles she didn’t remember even more, such as ‘City Man 'of her American album" Vicky Leandros" (1978), a song that many fans would like to hear again. She was also surprised about compilation CDs from Korea and Japan, which she didn’t know they existed.

The fans asked her about the releases of the Greek and French versions of 'Möge der Himmel', which Vicky couldn’t guarantee that they will be released at a short term. The translations and recording require a lot of work. She hasn’t control over the decisions that record companies make about her CD-releases. That’s also the fact about the content of the many compilation CD’s, that are still regularity released on the market. The companies are also free to determine content. Vicky would like to have more variation. It surprised her that other successes, like "Lago Maggiore" often aren’t included.

Vicky Leandros - Gut Basthorst 2010

During the meeting Vicky spent a lot of time with giving many signatures on CD covers, maps and photos. She also examined Carla’s knitted scarf. Knitting is Carla's passion, but Vicky did not share this passion. She doesn’t knit, but she agreed to be photographed with it. Carla adored it.

Vicky Leandros - Gut Basthorst 2010

The day before, Germany won the Eurovision Song Contest. So this theme was also discussed. Vicky watched the contest on a big screen with her family, fans and guests. She never intends to take part anymore, but she was pleased with the German winner, Lena Meyer-Landrut. She praised her authenticity and she predicted a great career for Lena. Vicky thinks that a good performer must be able to convey genuine emotion. This is a foundation for lasting success, something that she also always has pursued.

For those who like to see more of Vicky this year, they have to visit the Christmas markets in Cologne and Birmingham in December, where she will sing some carols. Others have to wait for the anniversary tour in the spring of 2011.

The photo's on this page are copyrighted!The copyright of these pictures is owned by Carla Meijsen, the high resolution versions of the photo's are in my possession. It is forbidden to use these photo's without the written consent of Carla Meijsen.
Copyright, Carla Meijsen, 2010