May 1, 2020
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German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier emphasized the importance of cultural life in the corona crisis. “Art and culture that we can experience together are not dispensable,” he said in a speech on Friday at the Berlin Philharmonic’s European concert in Berlin, which took place without an audience and was broadcast live on television and on the Internet.
“It is in these days that we are finding out that art and culture are, in a very literal sense, food,” Steinmeier continued, according to the speech. It is “a strange atmosphere” without listeners in the Berlin Philharmonic. This may be a particularly pure musical enjoyment, but “we would like to sit in a large audience again”.
However, the musicians under the direction of conductor Kirill Petrenko would not only stand for themselves. He thinks “also of the many freelance artists, indeed the entire cultural life, which is particularly affected by the crisis”, said the Federal President. Many existences there are currently threatened by the corona pandemic. “I very much hope that the help that is given will go where it is needed,” Steinmeier emphasized.
He also generally called for standing together in the crisis: “Only together can we master the difficulties that affect us all today and in the future.” This is especially true in these difficult times. “We have to help each other – and we will help each other,” said the Federal President.
The Berliner Philharmoniker’s concert should have taken place on the occasion of a state visit by Steinmeier in Tel Aviv. This was canceled due to the corona pandemic, as was the entire tour of the musicians. In order to be able to comply with all distance rules, a reduced ensemble played in the Philharmonie.
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