A Schlager dream

Heino surprises 103-year-old Styrian woman with flowers

Heino greeted Josefa Binder as the oldest Styrian fan at the concert in Klagenfurt.(Bild: Andreas Reisinger)

Josefa Binder from Semriach received Heino tickets as a pre-Christmas present from her grandson - but the concert was canceled. The 103-year-old probably had no idea that the disappointment would turn into an unforgettable surprise.

Josefa Binder did not have an easy life. She lost her husband in Normandy during the war, and ten years ago her son from that marriage died of cancer. What accompanied the now 103-year-old woman from Semriach through hard and happy times: the songs of German pop singer Heino. While he became famous for "Blau blüht der Enzian" and "Schwarzbraun ist die Haselnuss", Binder's favorite song was always the one entitled "Teure Heimat".

And so her grandson Andreas gave her concert tickets as a pre-Christmas present. The joy was great - but it was soon thwarted by a cancellation for the tour stop in Bruck an der Mur. Binder's daughter, Renate Reisinger, then took the initiative and contacted Helmut Werner, the singer's manager. With success: "He called me and asked if we wanted to come to Klagenfurt," says Reisinger.

An unforgettable evening for the Semriach native.(Bild: Andreas Reisinger)

Four seats were reserved for the family in the front row of Klagenfurt Cathedral, which was already sold out. "My son sent me a photo of the reservation, and at that moment my cell phone rang again. It was Mr. Werner telling me that they had a surprise for my mom." Everything was discussed in detail, but had to remain secret for the time being.

At the beginning of December, the time had come: Binder went to the concert in Klagenfurt, where Heino presented her with a bouquet of flowers and greeted her as the oldest fan from Styria. There were photos backstage to top it all off. "My mom was so happy that she was able to experience something like this as a small, simple person," says Reisinger, "it brought tears to my eyes too." An unforgettable memory with which Josefa Binder starts the new year and, in March, another year of life.