I have done more interviews than I can remember over my 28 years as a journalist, but few have been as personally memorable as my first interview with Helmut at the Schleyerhalle in Stuttgart.

I had been a fan of Helmut’s since my old friends from Germany, Uschi, Anni and Renate, gave me the CD ‘Helmut Lotti goes Classic’ as a gift in 1997.

We visit each other regularly between Germany and South Aftica and in December 2003, I was going on holiday to my children in the English countryside, when I decided I would fly to Stuttgart for a week to visit them.

I had heard that Helmut would be at the Schleyerhalle and asked my friends if we could go to the concert. Then the idea came to me that I could perhaps interview with Helmut.

I contacted Hélène Joly who was very kind and helpful in getting the interview set up for me. I was to meet with Helmut in his dressing room at 5.30pm.

I had asked Anni to be my photographer as, when doing a radio interview, I cannot take my own photos. Of course she was thrilled as she was a big fan.

Now I must tell you that all did not go smoothly!

Anni was late in arriving and it was already dark when we left Aichtal for Stuttgart and the traffic was hectic. We arrived at the Schleyerhalle and even though it was more than two hours before the show, we could not find parking. We eventually had to park very far from the Schleyerhalle.

I have never been late for an interview and told Anni that we have to run as fast as we can to get there on time. We got to the hall, but could find no entrance and so I phoned Omer on his mobile for directions. It was an enormous building and it took us about 15 minutes to get around to the back where he was waiting for us.

Omer took us to Helmut’s dressing room to set up the equipment so that we would not waste his time, then went to call Helmut who was warming up on stage.

Helmut walked in with a very friendly smile - but then disaster struck! In our panic not to be late, we had left the DAT system in the car. Anni thought I had it and I thought she had it.

Can you imagine my embarrassment when I had to tell Helmut? Omer and Anni rushed off to get the DAT and Helmut asked if I minded if he signed some CDs while we waited. I am always calm in an interview situation but I was not now - how unprofessional Helmut must think I am!

We started the interview and I told Helmut what I knew about him, to make sure my information was 100% correct, and said I would not be asking him these questions as they had been written about many times already. I had different questions to pose.  My heart sank when Helmut looked at me, slightly annoyed, and said: “But you have said everything already; what do you want me to say?”

I started the interview and of course within a few minutes, Helmut relaxed and was his usual self again. He laughed and joked and was only serious when we talked of the floods in Mozambique and the plight of the children.

We had a brilliant interview and when we were finished and I said goodbye, he planted the three Belgian kisses on my cheek. But, as I turned to leave, he said: “Wait, I told you I am learning to play the guitar and now I would like to play for you!” He sat down, strummed away and began to sing. What a wonderful gift he has been given; his voice was beautiful, almost angelic. Very different without the microphone

It was a special moment.

Omer came in and said André Walschaerts was waiting for me and he asked if I would also like to interview Freddy Birset, but that he knew I had not prepared for it. I said it did not matter as I had read up on Freddy before the concert.

Anni and I ran to our seats, just minutes before the concert started. I had spent 2 hours with Helmut, André and Freddy - what a night!

Cathy Retief - South Africa