Bavaria: Simon Rattle on the "lack of knowledge" in Munich

The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra enjoys an excellent reputation all over the world.

Bavaria: Simon Rattle on the "lack of knowledge" in Munich

The Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra enjoys an excellent reputation all over the world. But a separate venue in the home of Munich only exists on paper so far. A situation that worries future chief conductor Sir Simon Rattle.

Munich (dpa / lby) - Munich as a music city with famous orchestras - under these auspices, Sir Simon Rattle was recruited as chief conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra (BRSO). But the situation in the concert halls in the state capital worries him, as an interview with Munich's "Abendzeitung" makes clear. The start of construction of the new concert hall is just as unclear as the start of the renovation of the Gasteig including the Philharmonie, for which no investor was found. "The only thing that really surprises me in Munich is the extraordinary lack of knowledge to come to real solutions. That really leaves me speechless," Rattle told the newspaper on Tuesday.

The star musician thinks a solution is necessary. "The lack of urgency is absolutely worrying," he said. The Philharmoniker currently have their home in the alternative venue Isarphilharmonie before returning to the Philharmonie after the renovation of the Gasteig. And the BRSO should eventually be at home in the planned new concert hall. But Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) had given the prestige project a pause in view of the enormously increased costs, and some are even calling for the project to be stopped.

Until the time has finally come, the renowned ensemble uses changing venues, the Herkulessaal, the Isarphilharmonie, formerly the Philharmonie. "This orchestra is actually always on tour, also in Munich, because it doesn't have its own location," explained the musician. "No other top-class orchestra in the world has such problems."

The designated BRSO chief conductor would love to talk to Söder about the concert hall, also because he sees a huge need for action in Munich and Bavaria. "I would be really happy about a direct encounter," Rattle told the "Abendzeitung". "But I am aware that state elections are coming up in Bavaria. This is not a good time."