Muri (CH) - Kloster Muri 'A Winter's Journey'

In fall, I received a call from Switzerland about a Winterreise Festival that Pascal Hüppi had organized at Kloster Muri. I was beyond excited to be part of it! Where do I even begin?

After the concert in Affoltern—a town just 25 minutes away from Muri by bus—I had time for breakfast and a short nap before heading to rehearsal at the monastery. What an incredible place it is, steeped in history that feels alive in its walls – quite literally actually as I was about to find out (keep reading).

In 2027, it will celebrate its 1,000th anniversary—it may be the oldest monastery in Switzerland, with deep connections to the early Habsburgs. I found out that the hearts of Austria’s last empress, Zita, and emperor, Carl, are buried there, in a small chapel at the heart of the monastery called the Loreto Chapel. Yes—just their hearts. I was told that their bodies are buried in Vienna. Can you imagine?

The festival itself was an exploration of Schubert and Müller’s Winterreise through so many lenses. there was a classical Liederabend with soprano Juliane Banse and pianist Daniel Heide, a staged version by Sonolog that integrated the written word by author Maren Kames, the Zender version, and then our own version during Saturday morning's matinee. It had been a while since we last performed Winterreise, so we started rehearsing in Vienna before arriving in Muri. On Friday afternoon, we had time to rehearse and meet Nolan Quinn, who played trumpet for this performance. It was such a pleasure to play with Nolan—his thoughtful, beautiful sound made it feel like he had already been a part of this project.

Thank you, Nolan, for your energy and those great solos! Playing with you, especially during Im Dorfe, was amazing!

Whenever someone asks me how I came to this repertoire or what it means to me, my answer is always the same: it has profoundly shaped me as a musician and as a person. It has left an indelible mark on my voice and my soul. I carry it in my heart and feel it in my body. Each time I return to it, it leaves new traces and creates new waves within me. I am deeply grateful for how this process has grown with me over the years.

Also for us as a band Winterreise has truly shaped us, blended us together, and playing it in Muri felt especially meaningful. As a band, we had reached new depths and a new level of connection that we hadn't experienced before. Even though I forgot some of the words in the final song, Leiermann—the only one I sing in German!—ahhhh…but it didn’t matter, we were all pulling together, being on this journey together.

Thank you, Pascal, for inviting us and for letting us be part of this uinque festival. I also want to thank Hans, Ingrid, and mathias for traveling together and sharing your incredible musicianship. After the concert, we had the chance to meet and talk with so many of you who came out in the morning to experience our re-imagined version of Winterreise!

Here’s something amazing: a collector and fan traveled all the way from Freiburg with his wife, bringing along every Vienna Art Orchestra vinyl and CD he could find. And yes, the same went for Lia Pale albums too! mathias signed around 55 LPs for them, I signed all 6 or 7, I’m not sure. The collection was truly remarkable, and it was such a pleasure to meet you both! I hope we’ll see you again next time!

I’ve also realized that I may be built for matinees—seriously, they’re great! Waking up, focusing solely on the music, with a fresh mind and energy, a quick soundcheck, and then the performance—everything feels so clear and energizing. And when it's over, the whole day is ahead of you! No waiting around nervously—which is such a relief for me!

After the concert, we had a lovely lunch at Hotel Caspar, a beautiful hotel we all loved. Then, I had an inspiring discussion with Pascal Hüppi, the festival’s artistic director and baritone; soprano Juliane Banse; and author Maren Kames.

We shared our journeys with Winterreise, reflecting on how this piece of art can be such an integral part of someone’s life, experienced in so many different ways, while also connecting us all through it.

I was especially moved by what some of the audience members shared—thoughts about home, about taking risks and embarking on journeys, and the instinctive desire to land safely... Winterreise… I believe it’s a piece of art that has some sort of musical alchemy to it. No matter who it touches, it initiates a process and leaves its mark in some way.

Here’s something wild: sometimes full circles appear in the most unexpected ways. When mathias was in primary school, his class went on an excursion to visit the last empress Zita, who lived in Zizers, close to Schiers, where mathias is from. He actually met her and shook her hand as a young boy, remembering her as a woman who was busy working in the garden. And now, years later, he was performing at the very place where her heart rests. It’s truly incredible.

After the conversation, I got lucky and was given a private tour of the monastery by someone who knows it inside and out. They showed me hidden corners and the stunning paintings of Caspar Wolf.

Then it was time to head back. I grabbed a quick coffee at the hotel, caught the next train to Zürich, and spent one last evening there. I had dinner with a close friend—pizza served with scissors, of all things!—and fell asleep soon after.

And just like that, this Winterreise came to an end.

And so, my love, “Good Night.”

Yours, Lia

Rehearsal at Singisen Saal

inside Muri

Ingridiii

backstage morning selfie

another

one more

winterreisen

a true collector and mathias

the collection

hangin' out

beautiful hall inside the Kloster

Let's talk

the space

Caspar Wolf

look at the tiny figures

treasure

the church

the incredible organ

the many hearts of Muri

Loreto Chapel

so much to discover

back in Zurich cutting pizza