The RBB Kultur controversy: From niche magazine to Feuilleton – Media – Society

Yes I was angry. Really angry even when RBB Kultur’s music program was radically overhauled a year ago. Thousands of radio listeners in Berlin and Brandenburg felt the same way as I did. A storm of indignation erupted, and even months later, in a panel discussion involving the equally outraged State Music Council, wave leader Verena Keysers faced major opposition.

What happened? RBB Kultur, the successor to SFB 3, is no longer allowed to be a purely classic radio. At their best broadcast times in the morning and afternoon, Bach, Beethoven, Brahms & Co are just one “musical color” among others. The bandwidth ranges from jazz to movie music and various genres of hybrid music to pop. This infuriated the region’s classical music lovers, who take pride in living in one of the world’s most important orchestral and musical theater cities. And who wants to see it reflected on an urban radio station.

We don’t claim RBB Klassik, Wave Director confirms

The fact that I, too, angrily pressed my hand to my ear, initially prevented me from understanding the other party’s arguments. Her station, as Verena Keysers never tire of stressing, is called not RBB Klassik, but RBB Kultur. That is why I am also responsible for theater and literature, museums, cinema, and nightclubs, as well as for so-called folk music. The full diversity of the city should be reflected in the reports, in the area of ​​u200bu200bthe words and – at least a few hours a day – also in the choice of music.
Ultimately, of course, it’s the ratings pressure behind it: Every director at the broadcasting company wants to unlock new target groups. In order to increase reach and thus appear well with contributors. This can usually flatten the program. Conversely, it pissed off all those who love it pure, who want to hear classic tunes whenever they tune into the RBB Kultur.

Then it became clear to me

An important colleague who was a regular guest at RBB Kultur to talk about new non-fiction books gave me my own enlightenment moment in directional conflict. Musically he is open minded except for classical music. When my colleague, beaming with glee, reported to me that he had felt much better in his performance since pieces were played before and after his review which he also liked aesthetically, my penny dropped.

Of course, RBB Kultur is no longer a niche magazine, it has become a magazine! Just like the culture department at Tagesspiegel. The most brutal combination is in demand – and it has such a perfect effect that lovers of a certain genre also begin to pay attention to what lies to the right and left of the straight path.

If RBB Kultur breaks new ground – hardcore classical music listeners will find there are also interesting translators in other styles, while people who are not familiar with classical music tune in because they are interested in verbal contributions and realize that no one needs to be an expert To hear being able to enjoy a Scarlatti sonata or a symphonic movement by Haydn – if the station becomes a gathering place for all those interested in culture in Berlin, more is gained than lost.
Even in Berlin, fans of classical music form only a small circle, and even with fans of other art forms, the small group remains manageable – compared to the mass of those who prefer blockbuster and pop stations. Understanding RBB Kultur as the collective home of these marginal groups means setting aside the pain of losing the pure classic wave in favor of the principle of solidarity: “Five are invited, ten have come, pour water on soup, and all are welcome!”

Purists will be happy in the media library

And the expansion of business selection only affects prime time, times between 6am and 10am and between 4pm and 7pm. Outside of the two channels where radio is mainly listened to for live FM because it plays in the kitchen at breakfast, on the car radio, or during the lounging phase after work, there is still plenty of true classical music to hear – and such are some cutting edge shows. which can also be called up in the media center at any time.
In the past, the contribution would have disappeared once it was aired, but now the transit medium has found a foothold, namely on the Internet. Using the RBB Kultur website is a little complicated, but since I found out what’s hidden in the place, I’ve been able to listen to my favorite shows just the way I love it.

The solo show “Meine Musik” with Kai Luehrs-Kaiser, for example, “The pointy tongue of the Berlin Opera scene”, as his colleague called him recently. Or the Sunday series on the history of music, in which Peter Owling took a closer look at the life and work of George Friedrich Handel. Or all the current reviews of premiere theatre, concerts, and CDs sprinkled into the program every day.

This is how pieces were created where jazzy harmonies and rhythms feel comfortable in traditional forms such as portraits or introductions. Frank Dupree, who also has classical training, believes that Kapustin’s solo pieces actually require the sound of bass and drums. And give them a new twist.
only remains The “new classic” problem. Under this emergency term, which even record companies find inconvenient, a type of easy listening that is played on analog instruments, mostly piano, is being marketed. <لا> But it has absolutely nothing to do with real classical music. However, Dirk Huhn, head of music at RBB Kultur, insists you have to play “neo-classic” to be able to reach young people. What I’m Ignoring: High school students and students almost deliberately use this uncomplicated music as a background soundtrack when learning. But in a station dedicated to listening, the “new classic” simply has no place.