Audi 2012 Annual Report Download - page 123

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It’s just 15 minutes before she
goes on stage, but Viktoria
Tolstoy doesn’t look nervous at
all. On the contrary. The singer
is sitting nonchalantly on the couch in
her dressing room, laughing at a story
her pianist is telling while typing a
text message on her phone. Then she
quickly touches up her lipstick – and
it’s time to go on stage. In the exclu-
sive atmosphere of the Audi Forum
Neckarsulm, some 300 guests are
waiting in the beautifully illuminated
ellipse for the Swede to enter. This
summer evening, Viktoria Tolstoy
is presenting her album “Letters to
Herbie,” a very personal interpret a -
tion of songs by one of her main role
models – jazz legend Herbie Hancock.
“Welcome to the Audi Forum,” says
the blond singer in the polka dot dress
as she greets her audience. Her charm
and easy-going manner immediately
captivate the audience. She kicks o
the evening with the ballad “Trust
Me.” Tolstoy’s voice is velvety soft, yet
powerful – crystal clear, yet intense.
She is in perfect harmony with the
repertoire of Hancock cover songs and
her own – such as the tribute “Letters
to Herbie,” which she sings with the
same ease and finesse as she does
Hancock’s funky classic, “I Thought It
Was You.” Though the band uses
style elements taken from rock, folk
and classic, they always remain true to
the central theme – jazz. “Jazz is my
foundation. It’s what I base my music
on,” is how Viktoria Tolstoy described
her credo that afternoon sometime
between the sound check and perform-
ance. “Jazz, to me, means freedom –
especially the freedom to improvise.
That’s what makes every concert an
adventure for me.”
The love of experimentation and
sheer joy of music tonight is not
limited to the woman at the microphone.
Viktoria Tolstoy always gives her
quartet room to improvise – whether
it’s the virtuostic piano playing of
Jacob Karlzon, rock ris of guitarist
Krister Jonsson and bass player
Mattias Svensson or an elaborate solo
by drummer Rasmus Kihlberg, who
is married to Tolstoy. “No two perform-
ances are ever alike – that’s also the
reason why I sing. Plus, being in front
of an audience is pure bliss,” as Tolstoy
describes her love for the stage.
Viktoria Tolstoy’s longing for artistic
expression began in the cradle. But
more than that, it’s a family tradition.
A singer’s work
day: Viktoria
Tolstoy arriving in
Neckarsulm and
during the sound
check (top), with
her band before
the concert and on
stage in the evening
(bottom).
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