The promise: The birth of Sinfoglesia

During a life-threatening illness eight years ago, the Cologne composer and producer Christoph Siemons finds hope, strength and new courage to face life in his faith and makes a very special promise to God. This is how Sinfoglesia was born - an ensemble of more than 100 musicians. The album "Das Versprechen" will be released on 4 December 2020.  

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"I have actually always had nothing but luck in my life. As a musician I have the most beautiful profession in the world. Unfortunately, eight years ago I had the bad luck to get bacteria into my bloodstream during a normal dental cleaning, which destroyed one of my heart valves and caused an aneurysm in the abdominal artery," Christoph Siemons describes the most formative phase of his life. Diagnosis of endocarditis. When even the doctors prepare him for the fact that he might not leave the hospital alive, the composer, who comes from a Catholic family, makes a deal with God: "If I survive, I will write you a mass. 
Within four days, the musician undergoes two emergency operations to remove the aneurysm and replace the heart valve. During the recovery phase, the Cologne-born musician feels so exhausted that he finally confesses to his wife: "If it's over now, that's fine with me." But an experience in the intensive care unit gives him new courage to face life. When an elderly lady wakes up from her coma after weeks and recovers, Siemons is sure: "I can do that too. He manages it - and works for years on his heart project, the Mass for God. With over 100 musicians he plays and sings fragments of the work, which are finally put together to 13 pop-classical songs.  
But how do you hand over a mass to God? In 2022 the 700th anniversary of the consecration of Cologne Cathedral will take place. To mark the occasion, Sinfoglesia will give an open-air concert with orchestra and choir. For Christoph Siemons the symbolic fulfilment of his promise. 

Just in time for Christmas 2020 Siemons will present the album to the public for the first time together with BurdaForward. The 13 Sinfoglesia pieces will be available from 4 December. The monumental album and its genesis can be explored in more detail in the following dates: 

• 4th of December: Album presentation and raffle at Antenne Thüringen
• 7th of December: Christoph Siemons on breakfast television on Sat.1
• 20th of December: Joint Christmas singing at the FOCUS Online Home Sunday

Sara Kiesler

BurdaForward Communications

I like to tell stories. For example, about the work environment at BurdaForward - because I take care of internal communications and our events. I spend my free time with my dog, or depending on the season, also on the SUP or skiing. Basically, I like to be in nature! Preferably in the beautiful Bavarian Alps and my much-loved home, the Black Forest.