“Heaven Can Wait Choir”: Over-70s group celebrates premiere at St. Pauli Theater

Wolfgang Merkens walks through the velvet-red rows of chairs at the St. Pauli Theater in Hamburg. The magnificent auditorium is still quiet. On stage, however, there's already a lot of activity. Technicians are milling around, laying cables, getting the microphones ready. The band is tuning their instruments for the sound check. However, there's still no sign of the evening's main acts.

Wolfgang Merkens never imagined he'd one day be on this stage himself. "I'm usually sitting here in the audience, and today I'm just standing up there," he says. And he even performs a solo part. In less than two hours, Merkens will be "up there" with his choir, the "Heaven Can Wait Chor" from Hamburg. For the premiere of their new show: "Jetzt erst recht" (Now more than ever).

Merkens has been a member of the choir since November of last year. He barely made it through the entrance exam. Not because of his talent, but because of his age. You have to be at least 70 years old to become a member of this choir: "Grandpa, you just turned 70, go for it," his grandchildren encouraged him. Now he is the youngest member of the Heaven Can Wait Choir.

Choir director Jan-Christoph Scheibe gives the cue for the bass. He never imagined the choir would become so successful.

Source: Sebastian May

The choir has around 45 members aged between 70 and 93. Thirteen years ago, choirmaster Jan-Christof Scheibe launched the project. He himself is a multi-talented performer: musician, comedian, entertainer. And now, against all odds, a choirmaster. Together with the then director of the St. Pauli Theater, he came up with the idea of ​​bringing older singers on stage – with songs that audiences might not expect. 120 people responded to the newspaper ad at the time, and Scheibe selected 35 for the project.

Initially, nothing big was planned—a few shows at the St. Pauli Theater. Scheibe hadn't thought beyond that at the time. "But by the second night, it became clear to us that we'd struck a nerve." The shows were sold out, and the audience was thrilled. The journey that the choir and Scheibe would embark on was unforeseeable at the time. How could it have been?

Today, the choir can already look back on a small success story. This is the fourth show that Scheibe has put on with the over-70 singers, and they're touring throughout Germany.

Neither classical nor Schlager music is sung: rap, pop, and rock hits are on the program. From "Shake it off" by Taylor Swift to "Emanuela" by Fettes Brot to "Chöre" by Mark Forster – a colorful mix of songs that the choir members' grandchildren are more likely to listen to than the choir members themselves. Not every member is enthusiastic about the songs right from the start; they react rather reservedly when Scheibe plays them. Often, they neither know the songs nor listen to this type of music in their private lives. The decision as to which songs are sung lies solely with Scheibe. Perhaps also to encourage the members to tackle some of the songs.

Choosing the right songs isn't always easy, explains the choirmaster. "They have to be songs that suit the older singers and that, when sung by them, take on new meaning," says Scheibe. "The songs should convey aspects that the audience hasn't noticed before." For example, if a 90-year-old sings "Viva la Vida" and begins with "I used to rule the world," the songs aren't just sung; they also tell a story.

For the first time, they've also included their own songs in their program. Pop songs, of course. But with slightly different lyrics. They want to tell stories about topics that concern them as people over 70. The songs revolve around the question of happiness, death—or even a warm blanket. That's what Wolfgang Merkens' new solo song is about.

When Merkens saw the choir live for the first time, he didn't really have great expectations. At the Pinneberg Jazz Festival, he stumbled upon the Heaven Can Wait Choir's performance quite by chance. But he definitely didn't expect what he saw on stage. "It was a real blast," says Merkens. Although they sang songs he didn't know, he was immediately captivated. "The incredible energy that came from the stage totally fascinated me." The enthusiasm was so great that Merkens simply had to try and become a part of it himself.

At 70 years old, Wolfgang Merkens is the youngest member of the choir.

Source: Sebastian May

He signed up for the audition and had to learn to memorize lyrics again. A full-time job for him as a retiree. The learning curve was enormous, he says. "But now it's working out pretty well again." And the effort paid off: Today, he's on stage with the choir.

"We're definitely not over-rehearsed," says choir director Scheibe with a grin as he stands in front of the choir one last time before things get serious. There wasn't much time for rehearsals this time. The new lyrics, including the choreography, aren't quite as perfect as they should have been. The tour of their last show, which ended just a few days ago, was too captivating.

Dressed in orange, yellow, red, and pink, the singers are carefully lined up on stage for the final run-through and voting. "When is the cue?" "Where should the hand be raised?" "Which note was that again?" Things still aren't going quite smoothly. But that's secondary to Scheibe. Expression is what counts. Storytelling. And the fun of singing. "You'll make mistakes anyway, but at least you'll have a smile on your face," he encourages them once again, trying to ease the growing nervousness. Then the stars of the evening go backstage.

The solos will also be reviewed at the last rehearsal before the premiere.

Source: Sebastian May

Wearing a red checked jacket with pink trousers and a pink shirt, Wolfgang Merkens stands backstage with the others, crowded into the small lounge. Some are getting a last-minute snack from the buffet they brought with them. Others are eagerly looking at the new photos for the tour starting today. A welcome distraction.

Merkens is satisfied with the final rehearsal of his solo. He's more concerned about other parts of the program. The members agree that they don't want to offer the audience anything half-baked. "We always say among ourselves, we have to deliver, we really have to bring our best to the stage," says Merkens. They also have a responsibility to the audience. And a message they want to convey.

"I find it incredible that we have the opportunity to convey age in a completely different way," explains Merkens. He also feels it's important to convey something through his performance: "Stop making this age distinction, that the old are like this and the young are like that." Everyone is good at something different, no matter their age, and that's important to acknowledge.

Choir director Scheibe also hopes the choir will inspire dialogue. "With the songs, the older members are now taking the lead, so to speak, as a first step toward reaching out to one another." The humor and self-irony displayed by the choir members never cease to impress him. "The qualities and skills these people possess aren't being properly utilized," says Scheibe. "But there's still so much they can and want to do." A mission that the choir, and Scheibe himself, bring to life on stage.

For many, the choir also offers an opportunity to reinvent themselves in old age and, in particular, to find a new purpose, not just in singing. "I don't see anyone who doesn't thrive here," says Scheibe. "Either because they have someone to talk to or because they can help someone." Those singers who are still able to walk take things off other people's hands, for example. Everyone helps each other here. Friendships develop.

Even though not everyone here is always on good terms, as one member reports—that's just how it is in life, after all—it's still a special community. "I was truly amazed at the warmth with which I was welcomed," says Wolfgang Merkens. He never thought he'd find such a community again in his old age.

The community and this feeling of being needed also boost one's self-esteem. "After the first or second rehearsal, a former member once came up to me and said, 'I think this is the first morning I haven't asked myself why I'm getting up,'" Scheibe says. It gets under your skin.

The choir also keeps him quite busy. Rehearsals, performances, learning lyrics: Wolfgang Merkens originally imagined his retirement differently. "My wife and I finally wanted to travel whenever and wherever we wanted," says the 70-year-old. Now the choir takes up a lot of time in his life, but he doesn't regret his decision. Quite the opposite: "It's a privilege for me that we can perform like this here. And also all the aspects we get to learn."

Not least about themselves. Because some of them have to find the courage to tackle the modern songs and implement the instructions of choirmaster Scheibe. Merkens had similar thoughts: "As an old grandpa, I don't have to think about how I express things anymore. But it's incredibly fun to reinvent myself and get to know myself." Merkens will see whether the audience likes it on stage.

The hall is sold out. From the first song, the crowd is engaged, standing up, dancing, clapping. There are standing ovations midway through the program. Choirmaster Scheibe is in his element, encouraging, directing, correcting. Whether it's Scheibe's effort, the adrenaline, or pure concentration: mistakes are rare. Merken's solo also runs smoothly. He moves confidently and joyfully around the stage. The audience laughs and applauds.

Lyrics, sounds, choreography: Choir director Scheibe demands a lot from the choir members. Everything for a good show.

Source: Sebastian May

After several encores and bows, the curtain falls. "That was fantastic," says Wolfgang Merkens euphorically. "The tension was high, but we made far fewer mistakes than we thought." Joy and exhaustion are evident on everyone's faces.

So, it's time to raise a glass. Champagne glasses are brought onto the stage. The evening probably won't last too long. Because the next day, things continue: the tour kicks off for the over-70 stars. Now more than ever.