Vocalist Irina Sârbu is the guestof the Big Band Radioin the concert that will take place on Thursday, November 14th, at 19:00, pe on the Radio Hall stages. On this occasion we will hear the premiere of the songs from Irina Sârbu's album At the End of July, with orchestral arrangements by German musician Tobias Hoffmann. We find out how Irina Sârbu prepared for this event in the interview with the soloist conducted by our colleague Viorel Grecu.

"At the End of July" in big band formula. How did this collaboration with German musician Tobias Hoffmann come up?

I thought that after having released the album in combo form, I would like to be able to play it at the Radio Hall, with the Big Band Radio, and so I got in touch with Tobias Hoffmann, who was very open and willing and we got along very well on all the arrangements. It turned out great! We're really rehearsing for the concert on Thursday.

Did you know Tobias beforehand? I know he worked with the Big Band Radio. Did you discover him that way or did you know him before?

I knew him through his collaboration with the Big Band Radio, but I never met him personally; I only admired him from the audience, being part of all the projects with the Big BandRadio. And I listened to his music, I know his works, I admire him, I appreciate him, and he seemed to me a very suitable person to help me express in the way I want to express my musical feelings in these arrangements for big band.

Did you ever imagine, before "At the End of July", that you would play your compositions with the big band? I know it's your first songwriting album. Did you ever have such a vision, before you had this album, that you would someday be and play your own songs on the Radio Hall stage with the full orchestra?

I never imagined that, but I've wanted to compose for a long time, I wanted to come up with something original, I wanted to have the courage to express myself the way I feel, the way I believe, the way I am. And, slowly, slowly, life brings you to a point where it's time to cross some boundaries. Until then nothing happens, but there comes a point where it's time to cross your limit and I was lucky to have met people who helped me in that sense. First of all, Sorin Zlat, who made the arrangements for the album. And now, there's Tobias Hoffmann, for the Radio Hall.

Now, at the rehearsal, I guess it was the first time you actually heard what your music sounded like with the big band, beyond the score. What new impressions do you come away with now?

I'm extremely happy and excited and... full. Being a much broader sound than just a few accompanying instruments, big band gives you, like that, a floating up to the clouds. It gives a lot of full and diversified sonority, it gives a much broader color palette to this project and that's what I really like. I never imagined it could sound so good!