By Heidi Trautmann

It was a beautiful late spring evening with a fabulous sunset when we drove over to Karaman, walking part of the way because cars were already parking in all niches along the road up to the village. We were on our way to a concert with Demetra George, the beloved and celebrated soprano who together with Rauf Kasimov was to give a concert in aid of the church that is one of the best preserved orthodox churches in the northern part of the island. It is the Church Committee that looks after it and the repairs that have to be done regularly and it was to this end that the musicians were willing to create this lovely concert.

The saints on the icons were graciously inclining their head with a slight smile in the corner of their tight lips when they saw the church room fill with so many people and unfortunately some music lovers had to be left standing, others left because no more chairs could be added.

We all know Demetra George from the concerts during the last two years, I have been guest to all her events and you may read about it on my website, also the great event for Halloween when she – again together with Rauf Kasimov – enchanted us with her musical melodies. And she did it again in Karaman, throwing her magic net over the audience with her voice and presence.

Fikri Toros, chairman of the Kyrenia Choir, pianist and organising many musical events, opened the evening with warm welcoming words. The programme included best known songs for example from West Side Story, Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, Cats, and Sound of Music and many more. Knowing Demetra, or as she is often called,  Debbie, the country girl, we should have known that she had something up her beautiful sleeves: She invited some musical talents from the audience who were guests at the show. And Rauf should have known as well,  she made him sweat with her surprises,  and him and my favourite young friend and pianist Erol Emminoğlu who was assisting Rauf, the teacher of master students, were having slight difficulties with her extravagances which delighted the audience so much. The overlong note sheets were blowing in the wind of temperament the American soprano girl from Oklahoma was whirling up.  So she sang some duets from the Phantom of the Opera with the Polish tenor Slawomir Kwiatowski, who made a great phantom in the black coat and the silver mask; and she called to the stage Alina Matvevva, a Russian singer,  and biggest surprise, the talented little girl Ella, about ten years old I guess, daughter of Claudia Veysel, whom we know from KADS and radio speaker at FOG TV and Radio.

Debbie, you are a great entertainer drawing your audience onto the scene, literally speaking,  and making them participate by inviting them to sing along at the end with the song ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ and they all did with all their heart and again the icon saints were nodding their heads and I thought I saw them laughing and singing with us when I threw a glance up the shining iconostasis.