The audience enjoyed a highly entertaining “short getaway” in the fully packed theater hall of the New CAPITOL with the Trio Parasol. With their program “Sunglasses,” multi-instrumentalist Ulrich van der Schoor on the keyboard of wanderlust, Philharmonic musician Attila Benkö on the safari tuba, and the powerful singing performer Doris Friedmann on the accordion of good vibes transported the audience to popular holiday destinations. A fine combination of music and comedy, presented by the cultural association of Bad Berleburg.
The opening was delightfully offbeat: while Doris Friedmann waits on stage with sunglasses and handbag for her fellow performers, they enter from the other side of the hall – clumsy and disoriented, like German tourists abroad, helplessly searching for their way, carrying a suitcase, guitar, and even two baguettes in a backpack. “Hello Doris, finally we found you.”
The first stop is the French Riviera, accompanied by the classic “Voyage, Voyage,” evoking a sense of wanderlust – if not for an annoying crackling sound from the speakers while Doris Friedmann sings and plays the accordion. No problem: she handles the technical glitch with such humor and confidence that it almost feels like part of the show.
The musical journey continues through the fascinating Swiss mountains, where a reclusive farmer meets an extroverted tourist, then on to Budapest with a simmering goulash pot, and finally to America with a quirky parody of the rock classic “The House of the Rising Sun.”
The Bad Berleburg audience already knew that tuba player Attila Benkö is not only an outstanding musician but also an excellent entertainer. His legendary walk through the audience rows, slowly grooving with his tuba, once again thrilled the crowd. Doris Friedmann lived up to her reputation as a powerhouse on stage – expressive, loud, hilarious, eccentric, and full of subtle humor. Ulrich van der Schoor, by contrast, provided a calm and steady presence, showcasing remarkable musical versatility on guitar, electric piano, and recorder.
In the end, not only the stage but the entire hall was shaking as the audience joined in a lively Tarantella dance.