“Plop, plop”, go the corks. Front, back, right and left. Glasses bump into each other, spoons dip into salads, forks into antipasti, bread is broken, cheese melts at a temperature of 31 degrees Celsius, and not only on the palate. Happy laughter, bright eyes like you usually only see at Christmas. Finally breathe a sigh of relief, leave everything behind and enjoy with all your senses: the food you brought with you on the picnic blankets, under apple and pear trees and between beautiful flower beds; the glow of the candles, lanterns and torches – which later glow in the dark like gigantic fireflies in the castle garden. And of course also and especially the live music. What a mood! The baroque picnic in Dachau Castle was once again the highlight of the year for 2000 visitors on two fantastically beautiful summer evenings.
On Friday evening, the vehicles rumble up the steep cobblestones to the castle at a snail’s pace. Park? No chance. Just stopping for a moment. Then the doors open, women and children tumble out, loaded with bulging bags, bursting baskets and extremely heavy cooler bags. They quickly join the line of people waiting, which stretches the entire length of the parking lot half an hour before admission. Pulling carts, on which camping chairs, tables and beach loungers are also trapped. Anyone who has it brings it with them.
The last places were sold out on Thursday
The tickets are ready to hand. Admission is quick – cell phones scan the code. If you don’t have one, you really have to go home disappointed. “The last places for the baroque picnic were sold on Thursday,” said Tobias Schneider, head of the cultural department. There have been no more tickets for Saturday anyway since Monday.
It’s always surprising how many visitors sit and feast on their generously laid picnic blankets shortly after admission. As if there was no time to lose. A phenomenon that has been admired for years. Since 2001 – with only one interruption – the baroque picnic has been taking place in Dachau: Until 2019 it was only on one evening and therefore almost unlimited with more than 2000 paying guests plus at least as many children. A beautiful, but also turbulent spectacle, in which not much meadow could be seen between the ceilings, children played football and romped around and in the third row the music could hardly be heard.
“You can’t even imagine what it used to be like”
The pandemic and its restrictions turned out to be a win in that regard. Limited to 200 visitors on three evenings in 2020, and 400 on two evenings in 2021 (separated into parcels), the cultural office no longer wanted to do without the pleasant atmosphere, fewer visitors and the choice between two music genres on two evenings. And so this year, despite the lifting of restrictions on public events, the baroque picnic took place again on two evenings and was limited. This time limited to 1000 children and adults. Tobias Schneider is beaming: “You can’t even imagine what it used to be like,” he says with a satisfied look at the picnickers scattered about, who are paying their full attention to the music.
And the “Passo Avanti” quartet (Alexander von Hagke, clarinets and flutes; Doren Dinglinger, violin; Lucas Campara Diniz, guitar and Eugen Bazijan, cello) really deserves it. The first tracks seem a bit strange at first. This mixture of well-known classical compositions, which the ensemble freely interprets and also expresses in new instruments. The sounds of violin and electric guitar with flute and cello are surprising, and the transitions are fluid. But once understood and listened to properly, the pieces unfolded into a treat for the ears, which could hardly have been better for relaxing, dreaming and switching off. It is enjoyed lying flat, stretched out on the blanket, eyes fixed or closed on the darkening sky. Splendid! A blanket is not needed this time either. And no bug spray either: Because even the mosquitoes, which otherwise so numerously feast on the picnic visitors, it’s too hot on this warm Friday evening.
At the baroque picnic, Passo Avanti served a treat for the ears to relax, dream and switch off.
(Photo: Toni Heigl)
As darkness fell over the castle garden, the candles, lanterns and lights came and spread a wonderful summer night atmosphere.
(Photo: Toni Heigl)
Sitting, lying down, with their eyes open and closed, the audience enjoyed the evening to the fullest.
(Photo: Toni Heigl)
During the breaks, time to wake up those legs that are sometimes not just asleep. Strolling along the paths, observing, is wonderful. Women’s hands hold up their mobile phones, photographing flowers, the panorama of Munich, with lightning flashing across the sky, filming the peaceful atmosphere … while the men still have to check their 158 emails. Looks change like only words. Understood.
With the darkness come the candles. The Torches. The lanterns. And then comes the silence. You’re fed up. One is happy. Worries and everyday life are far away. And you float away with melodies by Bach, Mozart, Puccini and Brahms, which are sometimes played sensually as a tango, are interpreted with great sensitivity in the style of samba and other directions. Once the audience is allowed to accompany a piece in two voices. It was also a wonderful moment of peaceful togetherness. If you could, you would come back the next evening. But the tickets for the local band “Garou” have long been sold out. Those who had one also had an unforgettable evening. Head of the Cultural Office Schneider looks back on Sunday with satisfaction, the response to the new concept from musicians and audiences could hardly have been better.