Bernhard Kerres has decided to quit after the coming centenary season. No obvious reason. Here’s the press release, followed by a personal letter to friends and colleagues:
Bernhard Kerres leaves the Wiener Konzerthaus, Vienna, Austria
Bernhard Kerres will leave the Wiener Konzerthaus at the end of the 100th Season in June 2013. In the six years as CEO and Artistic Director he and his team have developed an award winning outreach and education program, increased subscribers and audience numbers, developed international links, and produced many musical highlights.
More than 12.000 young people were reached with the education and outreach program UNISONO in 2011/12. UNISONO focuses on actively making music together across generations. UNESCO is the patron for UNISONO which is a case study of the EU Commission for successful outreach and education programs.
Together with the Vienna Boys’ Choir and Caritas, the Wiener Konzerthaus has developed ((superar)) under the leadership of Bernhard Kerres. In 2011/12 more than 700 children have sung every single day and performed regularly also in the Wiener Konzerthaus. In the Fall 2013, for the 100th Anniversary of the Wiener Konzerthaus, ((superar)) will open its dedicated house in an old bread factory in Vienna. It will be one of the largest facilities of its kind.
Bernhard Kerres and his team was able to grow audience numbers. For 2011/12 it will be a +3,5% compared to 2007/08 when Bernhard Kerres took over. The house was especially successful in increasing subscriptions – a plus of 7% compared to 2007/08. For the 100th Season a record in subscription sales is expected.
Many musical highlights took place in the period of Bernhard Kerres’ leadership. Some highlights were:
- the performance of all symphonies by Dmitri Shostakovich with the Orchestra of the Mariinski Theater St. Petersburg conducted by Valery Gergiev in 2010
- the Beethoven quartet cycle by the Belcea Quartet in Spring 2012
- the festivals “Spot On Turkey Now” and “Spot On Jiddischkeit”
- the upcoming first residency of the Berlin Philharmonic at the Wiener Konzerthaus in Spring 2013
- starting to perform all Cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach with Georg Nigl and Luca Pianca
- the concerts and series with percussionist Martin Grubinger
At the same time many recordings could be realized in that period.
The Wiener Konzerthaus has also developed close international ties. A close exchange with China including regular concerts of the Wiener Konzerthaus at Shanghai Concert Hall are part of it as are the regular concerts at various venues in New York.
Bernhard Kerres would like to thank the wonderful and professional team of the Wiener Konzerthaus, the amazing musicians and artists, all the generous sponsors and provides of subsidies, an amazing and open audience, as well as all partners and friends of the Wiener Konzerthaus.
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Dear friends,
Bernhard Kerres has done a fantastic job at the Konzerthaus, and has been innovative and creative in a way we didn’t think was possible in Vienna. In the six years of his leadership the Konzerthaus has acquired a wonderful atmosphere for audiences and artists alike, and it’s a great place to make music. From the box office to backstage it’s a pleasure to be in touch with Bernhard’s team, and I am very sorry to see him leave so soon.
Hear hear!
We had the pleasure to work with Bernhard Kerres and his fabulous team for the Spot on Turkey in 2009. He was very innovative and bold to introduce aspects of different cultures in Konzerthaus. We all hope to see him very soon on the music scene again,
Friends from the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts