BBC Music Magazine
February 2026
Vocal Choice

Olivia Vermeulen (mezzo-soprano), Jan Philip Schulze (piano/synthesizer)

Bowie: Life on Mars (with NASA Mars-rover recordings)
Schubert: Ganymed, D. 544 & Abendstern, D. 806
Mahler: Um Mitternacht
Grace Slick: White Rabbit
Stockhausen: Tierkreis (Selection)
Schumann: Abendlied, Op. 107 No. 6

Following their award-winning explorations of earthly desires and mortal shadows in Dirty Minds and Hello Darkness, mezzo-soprano Olivia Vermeulen and pianist Jan Philip Schulze complete their trilogy by turning their gaze toward the cosmos. In Heaven is a kaleidoscopic odyssey that dissolves the boundaries between the classical Lied, contemporary soundscapes, and psychedelic pop. From the haunting "plasma waves" of Ganymede to the satirical heights of Monty Python’s "Galaxy Song," the duo crafts a sonic journey that is as intellectually daring as it is breathtakingly virtuosic.

Olivia Vermeulen writes: ‘After exploring the grit and the gloom of our earthly existence, the idea of "upward" felt like the only natural progression. However, we found that the heavens are not just a place of quiet transcendence, but a vast canvas for human fantasy, intoxication, and even absurdity. It has been a thrilling challenge to place the cosmic loneliness of Mahler alongside the hallucinogenic drive of Grace Slick’s "White Rabbit," or to bridge the gap between David Bowie’s Martian visions and the delicate intimacy of Schumann. Interspersing these works with authentic NASA recordings of solar winds and planetary storms reminded us that while we dream of the stars, our feet remain firmly on the ground. For me, this album is a musical mission into the unknown—a reminder that whether through a telescope or a poem, we are all searching for a sense of belonging in the infinite.’

"An extraordinary sonic journey. This duo consistently delivers inventive concepts yet their deeper artistic purpose never eclipses their light touch. Schulze's virtuosic playing matches Vermeulen's versatile expressive range. More, please." - BBC Music Magazine, February 2026