Singer Edyta Geppert talks to Janusz Żwan.

On your website www.egeppert.com I found information that will electrify your fans. Your new album, Edyta Geppert & Kroke-¦piewam życie, makes its debut Sept. 29. What musical material will we hear on this long-awaited album?
It will be so-called ethnic music-Balkan and Roma melodies, and music rooted in Jewish culture. There will also be compositions by the oldest living klezmer musician in Poland, Leopold Kozłowski. All this will be spiced up a little with jazz.

Why did you choose such a repertoire? It's slightly surprising.
When you listen to the album, everything will be clear. It is the fruit of my meeting with the Cracow-based Kroke group who play such music on the highest, international level. I've been interested in such music for a long time, and Kroke helped me to carry out something I had been thinking about for a long time.

Can this album be considered part of the genre of sung poetry that's so popular in Poland?
I think that it's so rich in musical terms that it defies stereotypical classification. I'd say it's a combination of literary songs, pop, jazz and klezmer music; of tradition and modernity, lyricism and drama, humor and seriousness. It's difficult for me to find anything equivalent to it on the Polish music market.

That might be hard for some critics in the showbusiness field to accept.
Indeed, particularly for those who have categorized me a long time go. They may have a bit of a problem now.

How did you start cooperation with the Kroke group, which is renowned in Poland for their album recorded with Nigel Kennedy?
I'd like to add that they have also worked with Peter Gabriel. It's a paradox, but Kroke are still better known in Western Europe than in Poland. A few years ago a friend of mine from Cracow drew my attention to them. I was overwhelmed, I fell in love [with their music] from the first time I heard them. I would travel hundreds of kilometers to enjoy hearing them live. They have given me great experiences. Three years ago we started talking about possible collaboration and a repertoire, and we eventually became friends. It turned out that they are also great people. But only this year did we find time to get into the studio together.

Are you satisfied with the result?
For the first time, I can say yes with a clear conscience. We worked in an extraordinary atmosphere. Without the haste I was accustomed to in the studio at a time that I was connected with big labels.

Do you release your albums yourself now?
You could say so, since this is handled by what I call my personal staff-Piotr Loretz and his Agencja Artystyczna Edyta agency.

Is Piotr your husband?
Since we've been talking about my professional work, and not private life, I'll just say he is my manager, writer and director of all artistic projects, and recently also producer of my records.

Why don't you want to talk about your private life?
I'd like it to stay my private life, and only mine. I've always thought that and I'm not alone. Recently, in Bob Dylan's diary I read that privacy can be sold, but you cannot buy it back later on.

So let us get back to professional matters. For years you have cooperated with outstanding jazz pianist Krzysztof Herdzin. But you're not a jazz vocalist, are you?
No, fortunately I'm not. I'm too humble when faced with this genre and I try to live according to the motto that advises you to keep your appetite in check so that it's not bigger than what your body can digest. I'm very happy that such an outstanding artist agreed to work with me. The results can be found on the Moje królestwo album, which is a recording of last year's concert at the ŁódĽ Philharmonic. Herdzin's musical invention has greatly enriched my repertoire. His status is proven by the fact that he arranged the music by Jan A.P. Kaczmarek that was recently awarded an Academy Award.

Your career is not a typical one. You became a star overnight, but today the media do not mention you too often.
Well, I'm not interested in showbusiness, and so showbusiness is not interested in me. But the audiences never fail me. I've managed to carve out an independent position.

You are part of the musical elite in Poland: today, there are only a handful of artists whose artistic life is based on their concert performances. How did that happen?
This has been my goal from the beginning. After all, a concert is the only form of work in my profession that gives you true independence-primarily in artistic terms, but also independence from many non-artistic conditions.

For the first time I faced the audience on my own in March 1985. Since then, I've sung over 1,500 concerts. I consider it great luck and my great success that I have my own recognizable repertoire and a faithful audience.

You debuted before 1989, in completely different political and economic conditions. When was it easier-then or now, in the new conditions?
It's difficult to answer this. Maybe at that time people were more eager to hear wise lyrics and valuable songs. But certainly it was a more difficult time for me to live. I didn't have a passport at home, I didn't even have a telephone. I had no freedom of action. Today, on the other hand, I hear sometimes that my songs are not suited for frequent radio play, because they require attention and supposedly people have no time for that today. It's a paradox that different conditions produce similar results. People who are not meek, who have clear-cut opinions and are faithful to their beliefs, don't have an easy life in any conditions. This is the price you always have to pay for self-reliance and independence.

When will it be possible to hear you in Warsaw?
I'd like to invite you to the beautiful Roma Theater Oct. 3 for the show promoting the ¦piewam życie album, featuring Kroke and Krzysztof Herdzin. The concert will have virtual stage design by Bartek Kulas, a young winner of numerous Polish and foreign awards in film animation. The show was written and will be directed, as always, by Piotr Loretz.

Edyta Geppert & Kroke, Warsaw, Roma Theater, Oct. 3, 7 p.m.; to reserve tickets, call (+48-22) 628-89-98, 628-89-85, 628-03-60.