The Kessler couple from Icking are bringing internationally renowned string quartets to Bad Tölz again - against all odds.
Icking / Bad Tölz
- Entry and quarantine regulations: These are indeed difficult times for organizers who want to bring international musicians into the country.
But the Kessler couple from Dorfen bei Icking, chairmen of the Klangerlebnis Verein, have been fighting hard for weeks for their chamber music series "Quartettissimo!" In the Tölzer Kurhaus - and have made it despite cancellations, new inquiries and postponements: Three top international ensembles are coming to Bad Tölz.
The 2020/2021 subscription series starts with the renowned "Jerusalem Quartet" from Israel on November 13th in the Kurhaus.
It was preceded by a tremendous game.
Susanne and Christoph Kessler were just on their way back from their motorhome tour through Northern Norway when they heard bad news at a rest stop in Denmark: The planned performance of the "Esmé Quartet" from South Korea had to be due to a quarantine edition of the ensemble, which had previously been on a major tour to be canceled.
While the journey continued, the Kesslers negotiated with agencies by telephone.
A few hundred kilometers later, again at a rest stop, came the redeeming call back: The famous "Jerusalem Quartet" from Israel will take over the performance.
"An absolute stroke of luck for us," says Dr.
Christoph Kessler.
He suspects that the top musicians, who have not performed for nine months, therefore gladly accepted the offer.
The Kesslers are chamber musicians themselves
Three years ago the Kessler couple - both chamber musicians themselves - founded the Klangerlebnis association in order to establish a very special series of concerts in the Tölzer Kurhaus.
"For us, the string quartet is the culmination of music, because four instruments have the greatest balance in sound," she says.
In addition, the Gabriel von Seidl concert hall has excellent acoustics right down to the last rows.
The word got around among the renowned musicians.
The Kesslers have a large network and good contacts to attract such top ensembles from all over the world to the Tölzer Land.
The city of Bad Tölz supports the chamber music cycle from the culture fund.
Also read: Ramadan cancels subscription series
Normally there is room for 500 spectators in the Kurhaus, in Corona times only around 180 are possible.
For the Kesslers a financial feat, because the fees usually stay the same.
Susanne Frey-Allgaier is responsible for the hygiene concept.
"We are doing everything we can to ensure that our events in Bad Tölz can continue," says the city employee.
The “Quartettissimo!” Series has around 140 loyal subscribers.
Around 40 cards are still available in stores.
Despite all adversities, the Kesslers stick to their quartet cycle: "We don't want to unload any ensembles during these times."
The program
Friday, November 13th, 7.30 pm:
The “Jerusalem Quartet” will play Beethoven, Shostakovich and Schubert.
Sunday, January 17th, 7.30 pm:
The “Quartetto di Cremona” from Italy with David Orlowsky on clarinet plays works by Webern, Mozart and Brahms.
Friday, February 26th, 7.30 pm:
The “Quatuor Modigliani” from France brings Mozart, Ravel and Schubert to the hearing, detailed information at www.quartettissimo.de.
Sunday, December 6th, 6pm and 8pm:
Special concerts (for the unusual concert of the “Brentano String Quartet”), the “Armida Quartet” will play.
Pre sales:
On the Internet at www.muenchenticket.de and by phone via München Ticket (089/54 81 81 81) or the Bad Tölz Tourist Info (0 80 41/7 86 70).
There is no box office.
There are also no introductions.
For this, free programs are distributed.