On their new album "Closer to Paradise" Spark, the Classical Band, form a unique partnership with the internationally acclaimed countertenor Valer Sabadus to produce, in musical form, a feeling of longing, that wonderful, painful yet bitter-sweet emotional state 'twixt melancholy and happiness. The spectrum of works ranges from the classical masters such as Antonio Vivaldi, Robert Schumann, Gabriel Fauré, Erik Satie and Kurt Weill through to French chansonnier Leo Ferré, Italian cantautore Lucio Dalla, American singer-songwriter Barry Manilow, British synth-rock-group Depeche Mode and the German cult band Rammstein. Rounded off with some compositions by the Spark musicians themselves, the pieces blend into an aural study of emotions, the fruit of an exciting musical collaboration and a consistently thrilling recording project. The archetype of happiness, a sanctuary of peace and harmony, the focus of our longings: the innovative chamber-music formation Spark quickly recognized Paradise as the central topic at the heart of this album. The works, specially arranged, re-worked, completely re-orientated, or even totally new, all underscore aspects of longing and rapture - thereby creating a link to a star singer with a vocal register that will take your breath away. Countertenor Valer Sabadus, a frequent performer on all the great stages around the world, turns premonition of out to be the perfect companion for Spark's journey closer to paradise, whether when languishing in Vivaldi's intoxicating aria Vedrò con mio diletto, sensing the powerful yet fragile death in Rammstein's Seemann or yielding to the French insouciance of Youkali: Sabadus and Spark are a match made in heaven.