PRESENTING THE AUSTRIAN CULTURAL FORA: BERLIN

June 15, 2016 / news

In 2001, the Austrian Cultural Institutes were rebranded as Austrian Cultural Fora. The current 29 Austrian Cultural Fora (ACF) are the main instruments for the implementation of the International Cultural Policy of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Europe, Integration, and Foreign Affairs. In line with the policy priorities and objectives, they implement and support cultural and scientific projects from Austria, and help young artists from Austria in their international endeavours. We have taken the 15th anniversary of the Austrian Cultural Fora as an opportunity to portray this network, their directors, and staff members.

AUSTRIAN CULTURAL FORUM BERLIN

Number of artists who were supported in 2015 by the Austrian Cultural Forum in Berlin: 72 artists and ensembles (total: more than 100 musicians from Austria)
Average number of queries (for project proposals, of travel expenses, etc.) per year: 1,000

Name: Georg Locher
Email: georg.locher(at)bmeia.gv.at
Position: Head of the Austrian Cultural Forum Berlin

I am particularly proud of this project: The recital “Divan of Song-Persian Journeys”, inspired by the poem cycle “The Diwan” by the Persian poet Hafez, which had been translated by the orientalist Joseph von Hammer-Purgstall into German. Goethe wrote his West–Eastern Diwan in 1814. This inspired many wellknown composers to set individual poems to song. In their recital the pianist Burkhard Kehring and Austrian tenor Daniel Johannsen presented works from, among others; Louis Spohr, Ernst Krenek and Johanna Doderer, with text and music relating to Hafez, Goethe and the topos of hiking. Burkhard Kehring and Daniel Johannsen also traveled to the Austrian Culture Forum Teheran with this program.

Also with an opera workshop organized in cooperation with the State Theatre Saarbrücken prior to the German premiere of a newly composed version of the opera “Bluthaus” by Georg Friedrich Haas. The composer, librettist Klaus Händl, the director Peter Mussbach and contributors to the production piqued the audience’s curiousity about this extraordinary piece of musical theater.

Most successful NASOM Act: trio akk:zent (2015)

Cultural work means to me…: to be a strong advocate for the interests of Austrian artists in Germany and to promote the discourse between the German public and the representatives of cultural life in Austria and Germany.

MUSIC FROM AUSTRIA

Personal KF concert highlight: I must mention a few: a composer portrait of Hans Gál together with the Konzerthaus and moderated by the composer’s daughter, Eva Fox-Gál, the concert “The Vienna Chamber Diaries” directed by and starring John Berauer, a presentation of the Federal Award winners of the “prima la musica” competition and last but not least the portrait concert “Clemens Gadenstätter” with the Ensemble Nikel …

The song I would have liked to have written / the song I would have liked to compose: Mon coeur à ta voix s’ouvre …

MUSIC FROM GERMANY

My Top 5 Acts / musicians from Germany: Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Anja Harteros, Evelyn Herlitzius, Daniela Sindram, Donals Runnicles

The 3 best concert venues in Berlin: Konzerthaus Berlin, Philharmonie Berlin, German Opera Berlin

Rising (or hype) Act in 2015 in Germany: Elsa Dreisig, winner of the contest “New Voices” and a member of the Opera Studio of the Staatsoper Berlin

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Name: Alexander von Nell
Email: alexander.von-nell@bmeia.gv.at
Function: Cultural Officer of the Austrian Cultural Forum in Berlin

I am particularly proud of this project: New Music from Austria, a series initiated by the Cultural Forum Berlin, a very successful cooperation with the Konzerthaus Berlin. And there are still so many unrealized ideas in my head.

Most successful NASOM Act: trio akk:zent (2015)

Cultural work means to me…: “With policy you can not make culture, but you might be able to make politics with culture”: this motto of Cultural Diplomacy from Theodor Heuss motivates me to work towards an open, tolerant and curious society through cultural work.

MUSIC FROM AUSTRIA

Personal KF concert highlight: Impossible to name just one; David Helbock Trio, Cellobox by and starring Catherine Gross, the Ensemble Nikel with a portrait concert of Clemens Gadenstätter…

Best Music Video: Chili and the Whale Killers – “Industry” (Director: Ruppert Höller)

The song I would have liked to have written/the song I would have liked to compose: Robert Stolz – “Two Hearts in Three-quarter time”

MUSIC FROM GERMANY

My Top 5 Acts / musicians from Germany: The Bayreuth “Ring” under Kiril Petrenko, Tobias Berndt/Alexander Fleischer with the CD “Goethe Lieder”, Nils Mönkemeyer, Berlin Radio Choir… and David Bowie, who was heavily influenced by his stay in Berlin.

The 3 best concert-places in Berlin: Philharmonie, Radialsystem, Stattbad Wedding (representative of all alternative venues of the city) – and sometimes the U-Bahnhof Friedrichstrasse with terrific buskers

Rising (or hype) Act in 2015 in Germany: Kazim Akboga “Is mir egal”

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Link:Austrian Cultural Forum Berlin