Reactions to the possible end for the Munich concert hall: "It's a disaster"

Created: 03/25/2022Updated: 03/25/2022, 16:25

By: Markus Thiel

"The star of the south", as Prime Minister Markus Söder called the concert hall in the Werksviertel, is about to sink.

It is quite possible that this planning by the Cukrowicz/Nachbaur office will never be realised.

© Cukrowicz/Nachbaur

The fact that the Free State of Bavaria is putting off its planned concert hall or perhaps tipping it over has met with criticism in the cultural scene.

In the meantime, the city of Munich has offered to work together: at some point they will have two halls, the Isarphilharmonie and the renovated Gasteig.

Three are too many for musical life.

"I hope that I can also do the opening in the ten-year term I have chosen myself." This is what Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) said in an internal speech in the Prince Carl Palais.

A participant wrote this down in the summer of 2018.

He was "very, very happy" about the "star of the south", as Söder called the planned concert hall in the Werksviertel.

How times change.

It has been clear for a long time that Söder should only follow the opening as a normal citizen due to the delay.

If anything: the star of the concert hall has been sinking since Thursday.

Or even just before the implosion, before it was even allowed to shine properly.

As reported, the new Minister of Art Markus Blume (CSU) not only questioned the schedule with the start of construction in 2025, but the entire project in conversation with our newspaper.

The Bavarian Radio, whose symphony orchestra is to be the main user of the concert hall, was apparently coldly surprised.

Only on Friday afternoon, many hours after the news broke, did the broadcaster send an astonishingly short, six-line message from director Katja Wildermuth.

Bayerischer Rundfunk hopes to continue planning

"There is still an urgent need for a dedicated venue for the BR Symphony Orchestra," she writes.

"We therefore hope that Munich will get a top building for this top ensemble with top conductor Sir Simon Rattle and that the planning for the Werksviertel location will continue unabated, as Minister Blume also confirmed in an interview."

Wildermuth emphasizes that the BR Symphony Orchestra does not have a fixed venue and - whether in the Gasteig, in the Herkulessaal or in the Isarphilharmonie - is only a guest.

"Other top international orchestras all have their own hall." The concert hall is also set to become the first digital concert hall of the 21st century.

This with the latest technology to transmit music all over the world.

"And there will be a large education area, a place for courses and interactive music education for different age groups."

The current development is a shock for the BR because Rattle has been hired as chief conductor from autumn 2023, primarily to advance the concert hall.

The bad punch line for him: He is also leaving the London Symphony Orchestra because he was refused a promised concert hall there.

The city of Munich is already talking to the Free State about concert halls

The city of Munich has meanwhile offered cooperation to the Free State.

"The concert hall in the Werksviertel is threatened with dying in installments with a finale, probably after the state elections in autumn 2023," said the second mayor, Katrin habenschaden.

She is also chairwoman of the board of directors of the Gasteig.

Haben Schaden leads the "renovation and upgrading of Europe's largest cultural center" in the field.

With the renovated Philharmonie and the new Isar Philharmonic, Munich has "two concert halls of the highest quality".

The mayor points out that Gasteig and the planned concert hall are "walking distance" and that the latter will cost "up to a billion euros".

The cost-benefit ratio of a third concert hall is "highly questionable".

Challenges such as climate protection, mobility or affordable housing, on the other hand, are more urgent than ever.

"It is therefore necessary to pool resources and work more closely together." This is also why, according to Haben Schaden, he contacted Minister of Art Blume "to explore the possibility of cooperation with the Gasteig".

Cooperation between the Free State and the city is not a new idea.

At the time of Prime Minister Horst Seehofer (CSU), there was a proposal for a "twin solution", a joint, precisely coordinated use of Gasteig and Herkulessaal.

This failed at the time because the wishes of the Munich Philharmonic and the BR Symphony Orchestra were not compatible.

With the Isarphilharmonie, however, a new situation has now arisen.

The interim building would have to be significantly upgraded for a permanent solution, especially in the area behind the stage.

But no one believes that the popular hall will be demolished again after the renovated Gasteig reopens.

Organizer Schessl sees “a bad signal”

One person who would also be affected by a concert hall closure is Andreas Schessl, managing director of the organizer MünchenMusik.

"This is simply a disaster for the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and a bad signal for Munich as a city of culture," he said when asked.

Many would think that the interim building of the Isarphilharmonie could replace a concert hall with several halls, an education program and a base for the music college.

"That is by no means the case." He was "somewhat shocked that after the mistreatment of culture by the Corona policy, contrary to all scientific knowledge, another severe setback follows".

One cannot justify all cuts in culture with Corona.

"She's suffered enough.

Blume's concert hall initiative is also surprising because positions have only just been created in his art ministry to push the project forward.

The planning is now going into great detail, this applies to the room plan, but also to the acoustics: Tateo Nakajima has just modified his sound concept for the large hall again.

As can be heard, preparations are being made for a crucial state parliament session in the coming year.

In this, the ministry actually wanted to get the final place for the concert hall.