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That was when I was in Basel at the beginning of my career
I was in this hall with a friend a his wife who just love Elisabeth (Schwartzkopf)
I was sitting somewhere over there
At the time!
At the end they went to meet with Elisabeth in the dressing and I went with them
They introduced me
"She is a young singer who has just made her debut in the Basel Opera House "
She was very, very nice with me
She was wearing a dress, not a concert dress but a stage dress
Looked like a Greek dressů but very nice anyway
This concert really was fantastic, marvellous and she asked me what I liked about it
I said "Your dress!"
She said and what else what did you like the most?
The Swiss song you sang, I liked it a lot
So she gave me the partition, this one!
This is very precious, signed by her, so I made a copy!
And since, I think for 40 years or something like this
I have been singing this song in concert
Last year in the Vienna Opera House when I wanted to do something for my birthday
I then celebrated then my 75th birthdayů right?
And I sang it at the end of the final act at the time everyone is celebrating
I cannot tell you how happy I feel to always have this piece of music with me
Everywhere and around the world, this little Schatzli
Memories of my childhood and debut in Basel
And how much I owe to Switzerland since I started there
The piece always is my heart and my voice
It is amazing: I have just been celebrating my 30 years of concert in Carnegie Hall, New-York
And at the end all the audience was asking for "Schatzli , "Schatzli "
I will also sing it tonight
I will never sing it like her, nice and beautiful lady
But I will do my best since I am here!
Sorry!