The technical reasons that caused Bavarian Radio to call off a Herbert Blomstedt concert at the Herkulessal have turned out to be almost too trivial to be believed.
Apparently, an alarm light was flashing and no-one seemed to have the telephone number of an electrician. The concert was called off for reasons of health and safety and the 97 year-old conductor toddled off to an early meal.
Robert Braunmüller reports:
We hear that there used to be an electrician who could be called in the event of a breakdown in the Hercules Hall. He has since retired, however. The position has not been filled. They are cutting costs.
Here‘s another account:
The cause of the alarm could not be found. No fire, no smell, no signs of a defect in the building. When the alarm system (“lights that flash like in a disco,” according to one observer) could not be turned off, and this apparently despite several system resets, panic spread among those responsible at BR. The choir, orchestra, soloists and Blomstedt were already in the Herkulessaal. The conductor waited uncertainly in his dressing room. Those responsible for the hall, which is in the care of the Free State Palaces and Lakes Administration, were also unable to find a solution. An electrician is normally available there. But he could not be found. The man was supposedly retired and the position had not been filled.
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