His finest effort

2022-09-28T10:05:53.196Z

His finest effort Created: 09/28/2022, 11:54 am By: Stefanie Thyssen Unusual role: Dietmar Bär reads texts by Rainer Maria Rilke. © Adam Berry / Deutsches Theater As Cologne's "Tatort" commissioner, he has been a stunner in the truest sense of the word, for 25 years. The fact that Dietmar Bär can do much more than crime fiction can be experienced this Friday by the people of Munich. The 61-yea

His finest effort

Created: 09/28/2022, 11:54 am

By: Stefanie Thyssen

Unusual role: Dietmar Bär reads texts by Rainer Maria Rilke.

As Cologne's "Tatort" commissioner, he has been a stunner in the truest sense of the word, for 25 years.

The fact that Dietmar Bär can do much more than crime fiction can be experienced this Friday by the people of Munich.

The 61-year-old interprets Rilke texts in the Deutsches Theater.

And that's wonderful.

BY STEFANIE THYSSEN

Dietmar Bär could only smile wearily at that.

In 2018, the Munich Film Festival had the drama "For my daughter" in its program, in which Bär, very convincingly, plays a pharmacist whose life has gone completely out of control.

Reason for the invitation to the festival back then: You want to remind the viewers that the "Tatort" star from Cologne can do more than crime.

Oh well, one thought, and Dietmar Bär also commented dryly: "I'm an actor by profession and not a detective." Nevertheless, he showed understanding that people see him first as Freddy Schenk, who he has been playing for 25 years – and thus delighted millions.

Now Bär can be seen in a role that may actually come as a surprise.

The 61-year-old is part of the "Rilke Project" by Schönherz & Fleer, a composer duo

which brings the texts of the poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) to the stage with musical accompaniment, which are then recited there by Nina Hoger, Ralf Bauer and Bär.

“That is the longing” celebrated its premiere in Stuttgart last week.

Our newspaper was there and experienced a magical evening.

On Friday the team will stop at the Deutsches Theater in Munich.

After the premiere in Stuttgart, culture editor Stefanie Thyssen (2nd from right) met the actors Dietmar Bär (left) and Ralf Bauer (right) as well as the initiators of the project, Richard Schönherz and Angelica Fleer.

"I feel very honored to be able to take part in this project," says Dietmar Bär the morning after the Stuttgart performance.

"I join a group of great colleagues." In fact, the "Rilke Project" was born 20 years ago.

Richard Schönherz and Angelica Fleer developed the concept of "accompanying these beautiful texts with music".

And off we went.

With passion, commitment and perseverance that paid off: your original idea is now the most successful German-language poetry project.

Over the years, the two composers, who are also married and have a son, have been able to enlist the help of theater, film and music greats such as Mario Adorf, Peter Simonischek, Katja Riemann, Peter Maffay, Wolfgang Niedecken and many more for the interpretation of Rilke's texts to win.

Six studio albums have been released

countless concert evenings have inspired the audience, touched them, made them think - and made them laugh.

Because Rilke, in addition to his very poetic streak, also had a penchant for good wit and irony.

He really enjoyed the evening of the premiere, says Bär.

“That's where I come from: theatre.

Live.” On the other hand, the project is also a new construction site for him.

"Rilke with music and with colleagues on stage - that's something completely different than just a reading." It was a lot of fun.

“And at the end, happy people stand up and clap for us.

Those are the moments that we stage actors live from.” Colleague Ralf Bauer agrees.

The 56-year-old is an “old Rilke project hand” and has often toured with Schönherz & Fleer.

"I've always been fascinated by the lyrics and it's amazing how Angelica and Richard keep making new things out of them," he says.

“When the music is good like this, it goes straight to the heart.

Words still have to go through the brain.”

Speaking of words.

Anyone who sees and hears the program may sometimes think: What – is that Rilke?

"Could also be Grönemeyer," laughs Dietmar Bär, who felt the same way.

"But no, he must have read Rilke too." Means: Although 100 years old, Rilke texts are extremely modern.

"We've noticed through our social media channels that the younger generation can also get involved," says Fleer.

"Of course it's an incredible joy for us." And is there a poem that should never be missing from the program?

The "Satisfaction" of the Rolling Stones, so to speak?

"'The Panther', of course," says Fleer.

“And 'Autumn Day'.” Bär was able to recite these classics off the cuff even before he got involved in the project.

"These are the hard drives from drama school," he says with a smile.

His "Satisfaction" is Rilke's "Love Song".

"That picks me up musically." You can feel this passion as a spectator and marvel at how much tenderness can come from this massive body.

The "Tatort" Freddy is forgotten after ten seconds.

Ralf Bauer has been part of the "Rilke Project" for many years and has toured several times.

At home in Frankfurt am Main, Fleer and Schönherz have a long wall of books with Rilke works in their living room.

“We always find something new,” says Schönherz.

Poetry is almost inexhaustible.

Fleer: "In our fast-moving, superficial today, in which we are constantly being overwhelmed with information, it's nice when you get to the essence.

To what it's really about.” And if it's then packed in such beautiful words as Rilke's, it touches people.

"Then a door opens that may have been locked."

After working on the Rilke project, Bär immediately bought a book of poetry and the Rilke novel "The Notes of Malte Laurids Brigge".

It is quite possible that the people who let themselves be enchanted by text, music and those who combine both in a wonderful way in Munich will do the same.

Worth it.