Opening Night – many people, cultural sites and temples of dining, good food, various contacts, lively conversations, an entertaining evening – content.

Day One – arrival at Praterinsel, surprisingly different location, irritation, demolition style, no doors, graffiti and chunks of wall, exposed pipes, chaotic setting, recognizing freedoms, wanting to engage, widening horizons, using multitude, pleasingly different, horizons widening, exciting workshops, about feelings, processes of participation and refugee crises, city development in scrum logic with a suitcase full of Lego bricks, top improvisation theater with Ulan & Bator, full attention, entertaining, humorous and surprising, colour games and wonderful dinner, tango impressions as a finale – quickened…

Day Two – contrasting program, CityBound at AllianzArena, back to the roots, typical conference atmosphere, cushions instead of chairs, conversation with the Munich Philharmonics’ orchestra committee, hierarchy and democratization, inspiring workshops, about personalities, cyclic intelligence and further to tribes, dolling up full of suspense, airy dinner at the Sky-Bar, interview with Munich Philharmonics’ general director Paul Müller, great anticipation, vibrating opening concert, followed up at Martini Club, cocktails and dance – entranced…

Middle of the Night, back at the hotel – conclusion at the bar, shattering news from Paris, the dream is over, dead tired and wide awake – distressed…

Final Day – despite everything start in the hotel, agile transformation in the opening panel, about demands and realities, trends and grounding, location change to Gasteig, waiting for the Maestro, impressive Valery Gergiev, inner motivation, powerful agility, a life full of music, far and yet so close, Jazz and participation, officially dawdling about in concert, concluding panel full of gratitude, wanting more, fresh air and distance, enjoying the surroundings, now more than ever, two concerts in the evening, rich and light, Andreas Hofmeir playing the tuba, a successful crossover, great Till Brönner meets MPhil, stunning, senses sharpened, bodies rocking to the rhythm, improvisation and perfection, the air is on fire, the audience enthusiastic and we are – utterly inspired…

And what remains – waiting for Sophia 2016!

Renate Standfest