An all-around successful musical show on the middle Sunday
For the 41st time, Matthias-Pschorr-Straße in front of the Bavaria statue served as a large open-air stage for Bavarian brass band music. In glorious late-summer weather, bands, guests of honor, and musicians provided an atmospheric musical kickoff on the middle Sunday of the festival (September 27) and demonstrated just how vibrant Bavarian traditions and customs are at the Wiesn.
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For over four decades, the traditional open-air concert by the Wiesn landlords has been held at the foot of the Bavaria statue at the Oktoberfest. This year, musician and host Dominik Glöbl once again welcomed tens of thousands of spectators, along with some 300 brass musicians and numerous well-known figures from the Wiesn scene.
The approximately 300 musicians, drawn from the bands of all the festival tents, performed the most famous and beautiful brass band marches and melodies beneath the Bavaria statue. Munich politicians and Oktoberfest personalities who have rendered outstanding service to the festival—and who, according to tradition, take up the baton themselves—also provided special moments.
This year’s event kicked off with Dr. Christian Scharpf, who served as Oktoberfest director for the second time. Franziska Reichert, landlady of the Pschorr-Bräurosl, and Dr. Jörg Lehmann, the new director of the Staatliches Hofbräuhaus München, also took the baton.
There was also a special premiere this year: For the first time, the famous Tölz Kanbenchor performed on the open-air concert stage. To mark its 70th anniversary, the choir performed alongside the Oktoberfest bands, enriching the musical program with a unique sound.
Bavarian traditions were not neglected either: The Marquartstein-Piesenhausen Mountain Folk Costume Preservation Association (G.T.E.V.), which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, showcased its skills beneath the statue of Bavaria.
The open-air concert at the foot of the Bavaria statue was so beautiful
The Wiesnwirte Honorary Award Went to Tour Guide Georgl Reichlmayr
Wiesnstadträtin Anja Berger also took up the baton in her role as “Oktoberfest City Councilwoman” and conducted the Archduke Albrecht March. She admitted to being an enthusiastic beer tent-goer. The Kaltental Alphorn Players provided alpine sounds with their “Alphorn Call.” Next, the Miesbach Hunting Horn Players brought another musical highlight to the stage with the atmospheric “Deer March,” before Dr. Hanna Sammüller, head of the District Administration Office, conducted the “Laridah March.”
This year’s honorary award went to Georg Reichlmayr, an official tour guide for the State Capital of Munich. With his special themed tours centered on Oktoberfest, he has rendered outstanding service in conveying the history and tradition of the Wiesn.
For the grand finale, Munich’s Mayor Dominik Krause took up the baton himself for the first time. He conducted the “Bavarian Parade March” before — as is the tradition every year — all the bands joined together to play the Bavarian anthem. Accompanied by the release of countless colorful balloons, the 41st Oktoberfest Square Concert finally came to an atmospheric close.
