It is loved by some for its glamour, and derided by others: the Opus Klassik, which is awarded every year. The Opus Klassik Gala will take place in the Berlin Konzerthaus on October 13th.
That’s just how publicity works
There’s a special journalistic affliction: Why is only a tiny fraction of the audience interested in my incredibly competent concert review, while some shallow Instagram post from the star violinist grabs thousands of hearts?
But that’s just how the publicity rabbit works, actually everywhere, not just the little classic rabbit. The attention market prefers marketing and image building to fiddly arguments. So don’t complain about being culturally pessimistic – not even about the Opus Klassik, which is imminent again soon!
More serious alternative
Of course, the discerning listener, like cultural journalism wants, doesn’t give a damn about the colorful shower of prizes. Instead, this listener diligently studies all thirty-two categories of the quarterly lists of the reputable German Record Critics’ Prize. He is completely independent, dedicated solely to the noble cause of art, the so-called recording industry doesn’t have a sticky finger on it.
More about the German Record Critics’ Prize
The Union “German Record Critics’ Prize” is an independent association of around 160 music critics and journalists from Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Organized into 32 expert juries, the jurors examine the offering of new recordings in 32 genres quarter after quarter, from symphonic music to opera to audio books, from cabaret to pop music to jazz. They publish lists of the best on a quarterly basis and also award annual and honorary prizes, as well as the “Nachtigall” once a year.
Things have improved somewhat
But at least the Opus Klassik is no longer just self-aggrandising by the record companies. That was different with the previous Echo Klassik award, which was replaced by the Opus Klassik in 2018 after various scandals.
In addition to representatives from Deutsche Grammophon and Sony Music, the Opus jury also includes independent music journalists such as Arnt Cobbers and Julia Spinola: renowned experts who won’t let any marketing babble fool them into using C sharp for D flat.
Big names care for the little ones
My musician friends still tend to ridicule Opus Klassik. Because of course you can ask whether that’s what’s needed: an award as Singer of the Year for Jonas Kaufmann or Juan Diego Flórez. Or an “Instrumentalist of the Year” named Anne-Sophie Mutter. And some people may have heard of the “Orchestra of the Year 2023” even without the Opus Prize: that was the Vienna Philharmonic.
But from the big celebrity gala table that presenters like Thomas Gottschalk and Desirée Nosbusch tend to, there are also seeds of attention for little mouths. Just as in a book publisher the striking bestseller cross-finances the fine series of poetry.
Special groups such as the Renner Ensemble Regensburg have already received awards. Or editors who have edited chamber music works by the composer Szymon Laks, an Auschwitz survivor. If something comes off the celebrity hype for such art, it’s more than just a collateral benefit. And a sustainability award for bicycle tours in Bach’s footsteps doesn’t hurt anyone either.
Rely on your own ears
As far as the gala is concerned: Let’s just grant the amusement to these cultural people who, like the media people, like to call each other “my wonderful colleague, my wonderful colleague”.
And the most wonderful listeners – you – don’t believe in prices anyway, nor do they blindly trust their favorite critic. They rely entirely on their own competent ears.
Broadcast of the Opus Classic Gala on October 13th
ZDF will broadcast the gala with international guests, including Lang Lang and Anna Lapwood, live from 10:15 p.m. In the ZDF media library The show will be available as a live stream and on demand from Monday, October 14, 2024, 10 a.m.
