"Klosterjäger" in Rottach-Egern: New music finally sees the light of day 

Created: 2022-02-07 11:01 am

By: Katrin Hager

"It was incredibly attractive": Composer Thomas Rebensburg has set the silent film "Der Klosterjäger" to new music.

The premiere should finally take place.

© Urs Golling

The Ludwig Ganghofer year 2020 has passed.

But the highlight that was postponed because of Corona should finally come on stage: the world premiere of the music specially composed by Thomas Rebensburg for the silent film "Der Klosterjäger".

Rottach-Egern –

2020 should actually be the anniversary year for Ludwig Ganghofer at Tegernsee. In that year the popular writer, who last lived in Tegernsee and found his last resting place in Egern, would have been born 165 years ago and died 100 years ago. By the 1960s alone, his works had an almost unbelievable total circulation of around 35 million copies. The film industry used his works for a total of 50 film adaptations - the first in the early 1920s made a significant contribution to the Munich Lichtspielkunst AG founded by the Ostermayr brothers, which later became Bavaria Film GmbH, and the film industry in Munich Gained a foothold, reports the Rottach Art and Culture Association. One of these first film adaptations is “Der Klosterjäger”, which premiered in the year Ganghofer died.On the occasion of this double 100th anniversary in 2020, Thomas Rebensburg (63) wrote new film music for 13 instrumental soloists.

For a year and a half now, the Tegernsee composer has been waiting for his baby to finally see the light of day.

Rebensburg, who will also conduct himself, and the Rottach art and culture association around Barbara Winkler and Georg Höß planned the premiere for November 2020. But Corona stepped in between.

After two more unsuccessful attempts, "Der Klosterjäger" is now being staged in a restored version and with Rebensburg's music: three performances are scheduled for March 11th and 12th.

Music tailored to the scenes

"The decisive factor was the regulation of the state government to allow 50 instead of just 25 percent room occupancy," explains Rebensburg. Already in 2020, due to the minimum distance of 1.50 meters, only a third of the actual room capacity in the Seeforum went on sale and was sold out. "It would not have been possible to reduce the seating again to a quarter, especially since we also have an orchestra with 15 people." So that the thing still pays off and more visitors can experience the "Klosterjäger", a third performance was held on Scheduled Saturday afternoon.

Corona Rebensburg initially even played into his hands during the composition.

He wrote part of his work in lockdown.

"It was quite convenient for me that other commitments didn't stand in my way," says the composer.

“It was a whole new experience for me to score a silent film.

It was unbelievably appealing.” While the music in many silent films draws a wide arc, Rebensburg approached his composition differently: tailored to the scene.

"It's an enormous effort and takes a lot of time," explains the composer, "but it pays off."

Instrumentalists play live to the film

Rebensburg himself is very satisfied with his work, even if he leaves it up to the public to judge.

In any case, while he is currently studying the score again, he hasn't changed anything.

Rehearsals with the orchestra are scheduled for the week before the performances.

Three positions had to be filled because the original musicians had to pass due to scheduling reasons.

Three rehearsals plus a dress rehearsal are on the program – then it's finally time for the audience.

A moment that Rebensburg is looking forward to: "You also want to present your baby."

Tickets for the performances on Friday, March 11, 2022, at 7.30 p.m. and on Saturday, March 12, 2022, at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. are available for 22, 28 and 36 euros plus fees in advance at the tourist information offices on Lake Tegernsee and via Munich Ticket.

According to the current rules, 2G plus and FFP2 masks are also mandatory at the seat.

The hygiene concept also provides for permanently assigned seats - individually or in pairs for people from one household - which is already taken into account when buying tickets, the art and culture association announced.