Off the cuff
They are regular guests at the Munich Theater Drehleier and at many other cabaret stages across the country, and they have a steady following of fans: Bastian Pusch and Andreas Speckmann, better known as the duo “Notenlos”. The two musicians play in duet and duel, they play on their keyboards, they sing, joke, cover and satirize their way through music history. And each time we present a dream concert that we have never heard before – depending on the desire, mood and creativity of the audience.
Because he is not only there live, but also helps shape the evening by shouting: Herbert Grönemeyer? Elvis Presley? Janis Joplin? Peter Maffay? The Dead Pants? A Schubert song? Whether jazz, funk, soul, rock, pop, film music, Schuhplattler or classical – the repertoire of the two Munich-based musicians seems to be almost limitless. After a few minutes the audience is grooving and dancing along, and the two musicians seem to be having the most fun themselves.
Bastian Pusch has been a freelance pianist, singer, composer and arranger for more than 20 years. He leads the St. Lukas gospel choir in Munich and the big band at the Munich University of Applied Sciences, also writes pieces for other artists and theaters and describes himself as a man for “piano, singing, composition and nonsense”. Andreas Speckmann is a pianist, accordionist, singer in various big bands, party bands, jazz combos and a natural talent as a comedian. The next request concert from “Notenlos” will take place on Thursday, January 11th, 8 p.m., in the Theater Drehleier, Rosenheimer Straße 123, www.theater-drehleier.de.
From childhood
Monika Reitmajer
(Photo: private)
The old days were usually not so good, but for many people memories are a kind of soul massage. Good and bad things can be pleasantly transfigured or worked through. Who feels like Monika Reitmajer Making the effort to bring anecdotes from childhood to light and publish them is not just doing yourself a favor. The former librarian and social worker, born in 1948, coming to terms with the past should jog the memory of older readers and, in some places, arouse amazement in younger readers.
The slim volume “Childhood in Munich – in the 50s” (Reimo Verlag, 12.90 euros) is informative, sometimes amusing reading material that describes the living conditions on the Isar after the Second World War. There was little sign of the economic miracle, especially in the early days. Reitmajer grew up with her parents and a sister in loving but cramped circumstances. For years the family lived with their grandmother in a rented apartment in Sendlingen. Despite the highest level of urgency, the housing office did not offer a solution. Reitmajer talks about open coffins in the forest cemetery, about tedious washing days and her years in the “elementary school”. She describes teachers who did not confront National Socialism and were unable to talk about sexual matters.
She likes to think back to the city’s 800th anniversary, which she experienced in 1958 with a “wonderful” fireworks display on the Theresienwiese. 50 years later she published her memoirs. They were soon sold out. Reitmajer has now revised and reissued it.
From the bean
Coffee lovers: Manuel Neuer (left) and Volker Meyer-Lücke.
(Photo: fam of creators)
The Munich coffee brand Alrighty Caretrade Coffee has opened its first roastery and café in the Werksviertel at Ostbahnhof. The FC Bayern goalkeeper was there at the opening Manuel Neuer, who is a co-partner of the company. Munich has become his second home, said the top athlete. Now he also has a fixed place to drink his favorite espresso. Events will also take place in the roastery in the future. Behind Alrighty are the founders Daniel Rizzotti, Sebastian Kroth and Volker Meyer-Lücke. The patron is environmental activist Jane Goodall.
From Berlin
The University Council of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has appointed the Chairman of the Board of the Berliner Charité, Hey K. Kroemer, elected as its new chairman. The pharmacologist has been chairman of the Charité board since 2019. Previously, among other things, he was spokesman for the board of the University Medical Center Göttingen and scientific director of the University Medical Center Greifswald. Also new to the TUM supervisory board are: Patrick CramerPresident of the Max Planck Society, and Stefan VilsmeierCEO of Brainlab AG.
The University Council decides, among other things, on the basic rules and development plans of the university as well as the establishment of study programs. The committee consists of ten members of the University Senate and ten external personalities from science, business and politics. As chairman, Kroemer succeeds Otmar Wiestler, President of the Helmholtz Association, whose term of office ended as scheduled after two terms.
From the treasure trove
New head of the Evangelical Lutheran Parish Office in Munich: Franziska Günther.
(Photo: private)
The administration in the Evangelical Lutheran Deanery District of Munich has had a new head, the administrative economist, since January 1st Franziska Günther. The 44-year-old will be responsible for more than 70 employees. City Dean Bernhard Liess explains that she has the necessary experience and skills for this task: Franziska Günther was most recently employed in the city treasury in the state capital; she has worked there in various management positions since 2001. Günther volunteers at the parish of St. Paulus in Perlach, where she has been the church caretaker since 2017.