Flowers on the Doorstep
A deeply personal love song to London, performed in this beautiful concert arrangement featuring the acclaimed soprano Joanna Forest and Olga Thomas on piano. Released on 16 October 2020, Flowers on the Doorstep became Olga and Joanna’s third consecutive number one hit in the iTunes Classical charts—an extraordinary achievement for these independent artists releasing on Olga’s own label, Arcava Music. The single zoomed ahead of international stars including Celine Dion, Andrea Bocelli and Ed Sheeran, cementing this duo’s remarkable chart dominance. The song holds profound personal significance for Olga. Written as both a love song and homage to London, her home for three decades, the piece reflects her journey as a young woman travelling from Russia to London some 30 years earlier. She found in London a place where she finally felt she belonged, where she could be her true self—a city that embraced and welcomed her, helping her develop her creativity and grow wings. Olga explains the title’s meaning: “Flowers are a feeling of being welcomed home, they are a symbol for every occasion in life—celebrations, birthdays, memories, anniversaries, success… and flowers are part of nature, they are all round you, but when they are waiting on your doorstep it’s a feeling of being wanted and accepted. That is a very special feeling.” Recorded at The Old Hit Factory just as London’s lockdown began to lift, the piece radiates positivity and hope. With lyrics by Adrian Warwick (who previously co-wrote the duo’s number one hit By My Side) and production by classical star Fabio D’Andrea, the song evokes a bygone Hollywood film era—conjuring memories and feelings of blissful, calm and happy moments. During the challenging climate of 2020, it offered both a celebration of belonging and an escapism from current world troubles. In this December 2020 concert performance, Joanna’s endearing and pure voice interprets Olga’s deeply personal composition, bringing to life a tribute to the city that became home and the universal feeling of being welcomed, wanted and accepted.
