An Evening Full of Longing: Valer Sabadus Enthralls Hildesheim

On May 13, 2025, countertenor Valer Sabadus performed together with Spark – the classical band at the Theater für Niedersachsen in Hildesheim. As part of the Kulturring concert series, they presented the program “Closer to Paradise” – a musical journey through four centuries.

Based on their album of the same name, Sabadus and Spark dedicated the evening to paradise as a projection surface for human desires and emotions: from gentle longing to existential foreboding. Baroque arias by Vivaldi and Händel, impressionistic soundscapes by Satie and Fauré, romantic songs by Schumann, contemporary works by Lev Zhurbin, and surprising arrangements of Depeche Mode and Rammstein were interwoven into an expressive emotional landscape. Original compositions by the members of Spark rounded out the program.

The depth of the audience's emotional response was poignantly captured in a review:

“Countertenor Sabadus tells a story of farewell and heartbreak with his crystal-clear voice. His sparkling coloraturas sound light, while his expression is at once powerful and dramatic.
…
During Satie’s piece ‘Les anges’, in which the singer is accompanied only by pianist Christian Fritz, a tear rolls down the cheek of one listener – Sabadus’ sincere tone envelops the audience like a warm blanket.”

May 15, 2025, HAZ, Dana Dietrich