20 years of debate about the Munich concert hall: shooting star of the south
Created: 2022-12-29Updated: 2022-12-29, 2:58 p.m
By: Markus Thiel
A project is coming to an end?
When and if the concert hall will be built in the Werksviertel remains open.
© Cukrowicz/Nachbaur
You can't really celebrate this birthday.
A new concert hall has been discussed in Bavaria for 20 years.
A chronology of opportunities, intrigues and bad planning.
It's an anniversary, but one of the unfortunate kind. Exactly 20 years ago, the debate about the new Munich concert hall began.
And it's still not clear, even though tens of millions have flowed into the planning, when or if it will open.
According to cost estimates of 300 million over 580 million, Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) is now talking about one billion euros - although this has not yet been backed up with facts.
Should the concert hall be realized in the Werksviertel, another ten years could pass in Bavaria.
For comparison: The scandal-ridden Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, including planning, was built between 2001 and 2017. After all, the Free State is beaten by Berlin Airport, which opened in 2020 - initial considerations for this were made shortly after reunification.
Here is the chronology of the Munich Hall project.
The hall's greatest advocate was Mariss Jansons.
(1943-2019).
© Herbert Pfarrhofer
Autumn 2002 to early 2003:
For some time now, the BR Symphony Orchestra has been discussing whether to advocate for its own concert hall.
In the Herkulessaal you have the right to first occupancy, but it is too small – and not only for symphonic heavyweights.
In the Philharmonie you are only a guest and have to bow to the plans of the Munich Philharmonic.
In addition, they are the only 1a ensemble in the world that has no home.
After Mariss Jansons signed his contract as the future Chief Conductor of the BR Symphony Orchestra, the topic was launched more and more.
The first location suggested was the stables behind the residence - this was prevented by an intrigue.
© Thomas Dashuber
June 2003:
At a press conference at which Jansons presented his first Munich concert season, he confirmed the plans: "The situation is completely unacceptable.
I can't believe there is no money in Munich.
It's all a matter of priority.” A heated debate ensues.
Many, especially in music circles, welcome the plan, while others see the plan as presumptuous on the part of a newcomer in difficult financial times.
When Jansons spoke to the Prime Minister at the time, Edmund Stoiber, he signaled approval without being specific.
The responsible art minister Thomas Goppel (CSU) rejects the project.
The strongest support comes from Finance Minister Kurt Faltlhauser (CSU).
A possible place for the hall is quickly found: the royal stables behind the residence.
The plans only gradually intensify,
September 2007:
The ideas competition for the “Marstall cultural project” has been decided.
There are two variants: "Multifunctional event hall", which is being moved away, and "Concert hall".
Axel Schultes and Charlotte Frank from Berlin won the competition for the latter.
January 2009:
Prime Minister Horst Seehofer makes it clear after a meal with the Jansons: "I want this project." The Japanese star acoustician Yasuhisa Toyota is commissioned with an expert opinion.
This should clarify whether the Marstall is suitable.
May 2010:
Minister of Art Wolfgang Heubisch (FDP) announces that a hall in or at the Marstall cannot be realized.
He relies on the Toyota report.
February 2011:
A working group, convened by Heubisch, is formed.
You should check new locations.
The following alternatives are mentioned: the financial garden at Odeonsplatz, a parking area at Circus Krone, the TU grounds at the Pinakotheken and the Apothekenhof of the Residenz.
The converted congress hall of the Deutsches Museum would also have been an alternative.
© HPP Architects
November 2011:
The working group presents two alternatives - the location at Circus Krone and a new proposal favored by Heubisch - the congress hall of the Deutsches Museum.
According to the argument, this would have to be renovated and converted anyway, and a new hall could easily be planned here.
The museum officials are outraged.
They have their own plans for the congress hall, but cannot specify what they should look like.
April 2014:
Jansons refuses to link his contract extension with BR to the project.
And yet he says: “If the hall is not built, I have lost.
And what do you do when you lose?
The South Korean Prime Minister also resigned because a ferry capsized there.”
January 2015:
Prime Minister Horst Seehofer and Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD) agree on a "twin solution".
After a comprehensive renovation of the Gasteig, the Munich Philharmonic and the BR Symphony Orchestra should be able to use the Philharmonie on an equal footing.
At the same time, both ensembles are to move to the Herkulessaal for smaller concerts.
The orchestras point out that this is not feasible, if only because of the difficult rehearsal plans and subscription structures.
Jansons addressed the Philharmoniker openly for the first time: "I would have expected my colleagues to say: It's all embarrassing."
May 2015:
The twin solution is buried.
The discussion about the concert hall is now concentrated on two locations - on the parcel post hall in Laim and on a site in the Werksviertel at the Ostbahnhof.
December 2015:
After studies, expert opinions, negotiations and political decisions, it is clear that the home for the BR symphony orchestra is to be built in the Werksviertel.
The Marstall report was deliberately misinterpreted
January 2016:
The "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" reveals that Toyota's Marstall report was deliberately misinterpreted.
The Ministry of Art has deceived the public about the true content: A Marstall hall is possible.
Toyota proposed a new building on free state land next to the stables.
The culprit is said to have been the then undersecretary Toni Schmid, who thwarted the project from the start.
Jansons accuses the Free State of “lying” and sums it up: “This intrigue has ruined almost everything.
I believed in the good and was completely blind because of it.” Insiders are now aware: If it hadn't been for this blockade, which was hardly covered technically, the game could have been played in the Marstall Hall today.
November 2016:
The Free State concludes a contract with Werner Eckart, owner of the property in the Werksviertel.
An unlimited heritable building right is agreed; the contract can be terminated every 44 years.
October 2017:
The architectural competition for the hall in the Werksviertel has been decided.
The Cukrowicz/Nachbaur office from Bregenz was awarded the contract.
In the opinion of all those involved, one does not want a spectacular building like the Elbphilharmonie.
The planning envisages a hall with 1800 seats, a smaller one for up to 600, rehearsal and administration rooms, gastronomy and rooms for the Munich Music Academy.
At the same time, thanks to the digital equipment and the transmission possibilities, the hall should become a project for the 21st century.
After various debates, the start of construction is postponed to 2021.
April 2018:
A decade and a half after the debate began, Jansons summarized his frustration as follows: "I have great respect for Germany and its incredible cultural tradition.
Against this background, I couldn't believe the problems the hall was causing in Bavaria of all places.
It was one of the biggest surprises of my life.”
July 2018:
At an internal event in the Prinz-Carl-Palais, Prime Minister Markus Söder describes the hall in the Werksviertel as the “Star of the South”.
April 2019:
Contrary to all predictions, Toyota is defeated in the acoustics competition.
His competitor Tateo Nakajima was awarded the contract.
December 2019:
Mariss Jansons dies.
July 2021:
The budget committee of the state parliament approves the preliminary plans.
According to Art Minister Bernd Sibler (CSU), this has a signal effect on the international cultural scene.
"The pandemic in particular has shown how much we need art and what we lack when it falls silent."
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Markus Söder's "pause for thought" is still going on
March 2022:
Art Minister Markus Blume (CSU) announces in our newspaper that the state government will rearrange the priorities for its billions in expenditure.
This is justified with the uncertain budget situation in times of Corona and war.
According to Blume, the planning for the hall is continuing, but not everything can be done at once.
You also have to talk “about timelines”.
Prime Minister Markus Söder then speaks of an undefined "pause for thought" for the project.
October 2022:
In response to a request from the Greens, the state government announced that the planning was ongoing.
A decision will be “responsibly prepared”.