Eric Papilaya: “No concert in the world was anywhere near as beautiful as the birth of my son”

“Doing good can never be a burden or a hardship, but always a beautiful task, money or not”says Eric Papilaya. That’s how it is for the singer from Laakirchen “simply an honor”to put his skills into the service of good for the OÖNachrichten Christmas Gala on December 14th. The 45-year-old is a singing presenter – this year he opens the dance in Linz with the classic “Feliz navidad” – you basically bought a season ticket for this.

Anyone who knows Papilaya won’t be surprised. He’s not the type of guy who would say find someone else. In reality, the musician would have “Unfortunately, we will be able to play three concerts on December 14th this year. Even though there isn’t a lot going on in my area during Advent, I canceled them all so I could be at the gala.”

Where does this loyalty come from? “The story is very simple: the gala is always incredibly beautiful.” The team in front of and behind the scenes, the talented artists combine respect and warmth every year.

New things of great importance at Papilaya are also beginning in private this year: This Christmas will be his first as a father, and “it feels great”. Almost six months ago, he and his wife Melanie Binder (including manager of her twin sister Mirjam Weichselbraun) became parents to little Lio. “As an artist in particular, I have experienced many special moments for which I can be absolutely grateful. But no concert in the world was anywhere near as beautiful as the birth of my son. Of course I was there – like I was on drugs for happiness, and still am to this day.”

For him, the holidays are now marked by many first times with children, but also by a family tradition: He wants to give a party not only to Lio, but to all the little ones in the (extended) family circle, “just like my people always gave me – a carefree, happy, beautiful one”. All his life, Papilaya spent Christmas in the basement with his grandparents Norbert and Dorli in Laakirchen. This year it can no longer be like that for the first time, which is a big change.

Shouldn’t the wars in the world, especially before Christmas, change and increase our gratitude? Papilaya thinks for a long time. “I rarely comment on such tough issues of global importance. I’m just completely helpless in the face of them, which is frustrating. And I only ask myself one thing from a distant, Austrian perspective: Why? What do you think the point of slaughtering children is? Do you think such a point of view can be made clear?” None of it is good, nobody wins.

“But there are still problems where it is possible to help directly without being helpless in the face of everything. And here I come back to the Christkindl Gala.” You can use them to get started, including for people who come to us from crisis regions, to remember that “that we are doing damn well and nothing is being taken away from us”. There is no need to be afraid of cultures and people that are still foreign to us, nor particularly of being left out. “You should be grateful all year round anyway.”

• All information
  It will rise again on December 14th (7:30 p.m.): the gala in aid of the OÖN “Christkindl” campaign. The theater of the Linz State Theater offers a diverse range of culture – thanks to committed artists from Upper Austria:
  Eric Papilaya sings and moderates, Chris Pichler reads, that Dance ensemble of the State Theater shows an excerpt from “Romeo and Juliet”. Musical Academy Puchenau brings “Santa Desperately Looking” and continues singing Chanda Rule (Gospel), the Hard Choir Next Generation, Bede with palm treethey are making music Goaßlschnalzer Munderfing.
  Tickets at: tickets.landestheater-linz.at, Tel.: 0732/7611-400

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