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Tölzer Stadtkapelle: Instead of 40 this year only 9 concerts

2020-11-18T22:04:40.716Z


In the series “How are you ...?” We ask people from the district how they experience the unusual Corona times. Today: Josef Kronwitter, conductor of the Tölzer Stadtkapelle.


In the series “How are you ...?” We ask people from the district how they experience the unusual Corona times.

Today: Josef Kronwitter, conductor of the Tölzer Stadtkapelle.

Bad Tölz

- Making music and performing together: This is one of the many areas of life that the Corona crisis has brought to a standstill.

The otherwise busy schedule of the Tölzer Stadtkapelle shrank to a minimum - to the chagrin of the loyal audience, but also of the musicians, for whom an important part of their creative and social life was lost.

Conductor Josef Kronwitter (56) believes that it will be a long time before there is a cultural scene like before Corona.

Mr Kronwitter, how many of the performances planned for 2020 were able to take place?

Unfortunately, out of around 40 scheduled appointments, only nine have taken place so far.

Our motto concerts in the Kurhaus such as the Bavarian-Bohemian program on Easter Monday, especially our popular Mother's Day concert, fell victim to the pandemic.

In mid-August we were invited by the Russian city of Yekaterinburg on the border between Europe and Asia to help shape the city's birthday, which is celebrated there every year, as a European guest orchestra.

That would have been one of the most outstanding performances for the Tölzer Stadtkapelle!

The planned 25th anniversary of our youth band has also been canceled.

How many people are currently active in the chapel and youth band?

65 musicians play in the town band and 40 musicians in the youth band.

How do you manage to keep everyone engaged if there are neither regular rehearsals nor concerts?

I think I managed that quite well, even though it's a very difficult situation for an orchestra our size.

Because everyone has to practice on their instrument in order to stay fit and thus maintain the high level of the orchestra.

At least since Pentecost we were allowed to rehearse again, but it wasn't clear at the time when we would be able to perform again.

I had drawn up a concept with all the hygiene requirements so that several rehearsals took place every week, but only with 14 musicians because our rehearsal room is unfortunately far too small.

The musicians changed every hour so that as many as possible had the opportunity to participate.

Many people were already very tired of making music.

So we were able to work out a concert in the Kurhaus for August, September and October.

How did you experience these concerts?

The concerts took place under difficult conditions, with musicians on and in front of the stage who had to play at very large intervals.

Everyone enjoyed making music again for our audience, but also for us.

For November I had planned an ensemble concert made up of various small ensembles from the orchestra so that as many as possible who could not play at the previous concerts can perform again.

Unfortunately, this has now fallen victim to the second lockdown.

Do you suspect that the level achieved through long, continuous development work will be permanently impaired by the restrictions of the Corona crisis?

I do not think so.

I was amazed at how well the first rehearsals and the first concert worked after the long break.

I am very confident that if we can rehearse and perform together regularly and above all, we will reach the level of the last few years.

How do you assess the state aid for amateur musicians in the Corona crisis?

The government support of 1000 euros for music clubs sounds good.

I just hope that the aid will be better received than the corona aid for artists and cultural workers.

What are your current plans for the coming year?

The scheduling for 2021 is in full swing, even if you don't know when the pandemic will be under control and the concerts and cultural events can take place again under normal circumstances.

In your opinion, will cultural life recover in such a way that the level before the pandemic is reached again?

It will certainly take a long time until the culture is back to the way it used to be.

Unfortunately, the very first thing to do is to save on culture - and if it continues like this, save too much.

In good times, politics praised Bavaria as a cultural state, and now culture is suddenly no longer important.

Your personal answer to the initial question: How are you doing right now?

Currently good, but the uncertain prospects cloud the view of the future a little.

There is only one thing left: think positively!

Interview: Sabine Näher

In the “How are you?” Series

, we ask people from the district how they experience the unusual Corona times.

You can also read about the situation in the Tölzer Marionette Theater and the creative culture protest by artist Andrea Fessmann.

The Tölzer Boys Choir fears for its existence.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2020-11-18

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