Hohenloher Zeitung - July 26, 2003


Albums

Songs

Concerts

Press

by Matthias Stolla

translation by Astrid Nolde-Gallasch


Only one was finally allowed to sit

An evening with... concerts that are called like that, are generally 
seated, and the program usually takes care that the listeners stay neatly 
on their seats. Not so with Chris de Burgh in Künzelsau. Even before the 
Irishman enters the stage, the Künzelsauer celebrate a standing party at 
this warm summer evening in the Schlosspark. One sees and has to be seen. 
Michael Kübler for example, open air organizer of the Würth company, checks 
out his competitor Christian von Stetten in a friendly manner.

Eberhard Gienger comes out of musical interest and out of the connection to 
his political colleague in the Bundestag: "It's Christian's birthday today.
" But where is he anyway? He jumps eagerly over the festival area, cares 
about the chairs, the barriers - a stressed out birthday boy. Mustang boss 
Heiner Sefranek also cares about another event: With castle owner Wolfgang 
von Stetten, he quickly arranges a couple of details for his church wedding 
on Stetten castle this weekend. He also likes Chris de Burgh: "I still have 
the old vinyl records at home." The audience in the Schlosspark is 
international.

That's especially because of Christian von Stetten's brother Richard, who 
calls himself modestly "the unknown". He currently visits a training in 
Mannheim and brought along his colleagues to the concert in the Kochertal: 
all UN watchers-to-be from Africa, Mongoly and from Eastern Europe. His 
father Wolfgang meanwhile chats intensely with Josef Winkler. He is 
politician in the Bundestag, has Indian ancestors and therefor dark skin. 
To the joy of the former CDU politician: "A green, who is black", he says.

Winkler belongs to a group of young Bundestag representatives who come to 
the concert thanks to Christian von Stetten. Christina Köhler (CDU) from 
Wiesbaden, Dr. Sascha Raabe (SPD) from Hanau and Sören Bartol (SPD) from 
Marburg. Everybody watches and chats, until von Stetten junior gets to the 
microphone himself: "Please take your seats, the concert starts in five 
minutes." A bit later everybody is sitting, and some are astonished when 
Chris de Burgh promises: "We are going to celebrate the biggest party in 
Germany."

"What - with guitar and piano? Sure, that too, but especially with charme 
and modesty. Chris de Burgh turns the "evening with..." into a truly 
familiar party. The presently last concert of his marathon world tour 
shows a relaxed and humourous star. He constantly chats with the 
Künzelsauers, strips a little right at the beginning and is really 
overwhelmed with flowers and gifts. Inevitable the little birthday song for 
Christian von Stetten. And because the celebration later in the 
Barbarossakeller on Stetten castle isn't his own party, de Burgh generously 
invites all 2000 visitors. When the barrier straps are teared down, the 
"evening with..." is finally over. The free view from the first row too.

At the front everybody is dancing and cheering, the celebrities have no 
choice than to get up from their seats as well. Mayor Volker Lenz thinks 
it's "absolutely fantastic", what the Irishman manages. And only one is 
finally allowed to sit: Christian von Stetten listens. "The first time in 
five years as a concert organizer."




Questions or comments?

File last modified on August 26, 2006