BR hardly shows any video streams from its flagship orchestra: How a broadcaster saves itself from being sidelined.
The ensemble was recently shown on the Internet again, for exactly one minute and 32 seconds.
Not with Mozart or Beethoven, but with “For he's a jolly good fellow”.
The mini-video was intended as a serenade for the 66th birthday of Sir Simon Rattle, the future chief conductor.
Otherwise, the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra has just disappeared into oblivion in a strange way when it comes to video streams.
And that, although you have world stars under contract these weeks.
Others like the Bavarian State Opera or the Munich Philharmonic do it all the time in Corona times, but the BR banishes celebrities like Zubin Mehta on January 28, or this week pianist Daniil Trifonov with conductor Gustavo Gimeno or recently the conductor François-Xavier Roth from the radio program.
A broadcaster, of all things, falls far behind the competition.
“We do what we can,” says Oswald Beaujean, head of the BR-Klassik program area.
Outwardly, this may seem “a little strange”.
But even for a broadcaster like BR, video streams are not easy to implement.
It also depends, for example, on whether a transmission via video and audio can also be carried out by the station's own staff or whether the BR has to use external teams.
According to Beaujean, there are “not inconsiderable sums” involved, and this is not in line with the existing budget.
"Therefore, the possibilities to increase the number of these streams at will if no audience is allowed on site at concerts are unfortunately very limited."
More and more important posts are being deleted
Beaujean does not want to give exact sums.
As can be heard, a video stream that is produced by an external company will cost a good 30,000 euros.
The BR is therefore in a dilemma that is also its own fault.
An absurd situation has arisen, not only in Munich, but also at other broadcasters.
More and more posts were cut due to the intensifying debate on savings.
This affects, among other things, the camera and sound technology sectors, i.e. those sectors that are part of the broadcasters' core business.
This has been going on for years.
The public hardly or only indirectly notices anything.
This becomes noticeable in times of crisis like now, when the BR could play its trump cards or would have to think about its broadcasting contract.
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Simon Rattle rehearsing a video stream last summer.
In March he will return to his future orchestra.
© Astrid Ackermann
The Munich Philharmonic, which shows their programs on video stream almost every week, are in a slightly better situation.
You can use your productions because you sell them to commercial classic portals such as medici.tv.
Part of the cost is therefore refinanced.
"Costs are seldom fully covered, sometimes well, sometimes less well," said press spokesman Christian Beuke.
“All in all, it remains an investment in your own marketing.
In times when contact with the audience is completely cut off and it is almost the only kind of musical connection, it is worth the investment for us. "
Improvement is in sight for March
With the BR, there is also the fact that all three orchestras have to be taken into account for streams, i.e. the symphony orchestra, the Munich radio orchestra and the choir.
But there is currently nothing to see here either: The program with Mozart arias that the radio orchestra has come up with will only be broadcast on the radio next Sunday.
At least there is improvement in sight for the BR Symphony Orchestra.
Some video streams have been announced for the next few weeks.
On February 5th, for example, an evening with baritone Christian Gerhaher and conductor Robin Ticciati, on March 6th two programs with Simon Rattle and on March 26th one with the conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla.
This is possible, among other things, because in-house camera and sound teams are available for this and no external forces have to be bought in.
And if you want to see superstar Zubin Mehta, you just have to stick to the Bavarian State Opera and the Munich Philharmonic.
On January 25th he will conduct in the National Theater, on January 30th in Gasteig.