Nora Fischer, Ragazze Quartet & Remco Menting - The Secret Diary of Nora Plain

The Secret Diary of Nora Plain
Intimate song cycle by lyricist Lucky Fonz III and composer Morris Kliphuis, performed by singer Nora Fischer, percussionist Remco Menting and the Ragazze Quartet will be released on November 11 via Excelsior Recordings.

The Secret Diary of Nora Plain tells in twelve songs the intimate story of Nora Plain who tries to lead her own life in a world that increasingly wants to invade – even into her deepest thoughts and feelings.
Who is watching her anyway? The government, her family, herself? Does she have something to hide? And if she has nothing to hide, is she safe? What does the invisible observer want from her?
The album is partly based on the experiences of the makers and performers, all of the same generation, who grew up in a world of the internet, social media, smartphones and constant accessibility.


This song cycle, surrounded by the sultry sounds of a string quartet and the unpredictable rhythms of a jazz drummer, is performed by adventurous singer Nora Fischer, the Ragazze Quartet and Remco Menting. The lyrics are by Dutch singer-songwriter Lucky Fonz III and Morris Kliphuis wrote the music. The ensemble is inspired by both the song cycles of Schubert and The Juliet Letters by Elvis Costello & The Brodsky Quartet and breathes new life into this form in a groundbreaking project with lyrics and music from today.

The Secret Diary of Nora Plain will tour Dutch theaters starting this fall. The premiere is Saturday, November 11 at November Music in Den Bosch.

The makers and interpreters
- The Dutch and English lyrics of singer/songwriter Lucky Fonz III are catchy in their simplicity, honest, current and often express very personal stories.
- Morris Kliphuis (Kapok, The Kyteman Orchestra) is a horn player and composer. His music is characterized by clear melodies and strong rhythm. Kliphuis is a member of the Berlin collective stargaze and has worked with Nils Frahm, Villagers, Terry Riley, Rufus Wainwright and Bill Frisell, among others.
- Soprano Nora Fischer has developed an adventurous way of performing with her special interest in creative interpretations of classical compositions and an innovative approach to live performances.
- Remco Menting, trained as a jazz drummer, developed into a versatile and creative percussionist with a great love for improvised music. In his unusual setups he plays together with Morris Kliphuis in jazz trio Kapok.
- The Ragazze Quartet plays classical and modern string quartets, passionately and at the highest level. With sensational programs, the quartet has developed into one of the freshest and most leading voices in classical music.

Playlist 2017 / 2018
Sat Nov 11, 2pm (premiere) and Sun Nov 12: November Music, Den Bosch
Sat Nov 18, 8pm: Grote Kerk, Muiden
Thu Nov 23, 8.15pm: De Veste, Delft
Sat Nov 25, 8.15pm: Cultura, Ede
Fri 1 Dec, 8.30 pm: Kunstmin, Dordrecht
Sat 2 Dec, 20:15: Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, Amsterdam
Fri 8 Dec, 20:30: Gouda Theatre, Gouda
Thu 14 Dec, 20.15: De Doelen, Rotterdam
Fri 15 Dec, 20.15: Flint, Amersfoort
Sun Apr 29, 4pm: National Sawdust, New York
Fri 18 May, 20:15: De Vereeniging, Nijmegen
Tue May 22, Opera Days, Rotterdam