The music is in the foreground – classical, jazz, bossa nova, sometimes played by small ensembles, sometimes by soloists. But the background isn’t bad either at the “Gastmahl” concerts in Pullach’s Tresor Vinum. More specifically, the atmospheric background. The historic vault, opened in 1881 as an ice cellar for storing Märzen beer for the Kalb brewery, has had a stylish lounge atmosphere since it was renovated and reopened in 2015. Indirect light and candles warmly illuminate the unplastered rooms, which are accessed via a steep staircase. Wine bottles are stored there in lockable compartments, drinks or appetizers can be ordered at the elegant wooden counter and enjoyed at bar tables.
Stage and grand piano are also part of the inventory. Because, as I said: “The music is in the foreground” – Michael Hofmarksrichter, who organizes the “Gastmahl concerts” with his wife Astrid and Klaus Jaspers, it is important to emphasize this. “There should be an exclusive wine club someday.” , he says and reports on concert-goers who have had a fear of the unknown before the place is perceived as too “chic” and “exclusive”.The wine club concept that was intended for “Tresor Vinum” when it opened in 2015 is really right didn’t work. “The initiators didn’t find that many members after all,” says Hofmarksrichter. Then, after a few years, there was a change in management and the historic Tassilo vaults in the Großhesselohe district of Pullach now function primarily as an event location, which can be rented – and as the setting for the “Gastmahl” concerts.
The admission prices are reasonable, but according to the organizers, they still do not make a profit
On Tuesday, February 22, the Rick Hollander Quartet interprets the legendary Beatles album “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonley Hearts Club Band” – in a more jazzy way. “The musicians love the intimate atmosphere,” says Hofmarksrichter. There are experienced, professional and partly internationally renowned protagonists who have been coming to the cellar since the beginning of the concert series in 2016 (including the Ayinger pianist Sophie Pacini), but the purely musical and virtuoso ability is not the only decisive factor for Hofmarksrichter: ” I love bringing people together. And an artist doesn’t have to be flawless, it’s more important what he conveys.” So the famous spark that should jump over, so to speak the “vibrations” that make a concert more than a cultivated service. Hofmarksrichter, who comes from a large musical family and grew up in the south of Munich – his grandfather played the organ in a church in Sollner, he says, and several relatives are professional musicians – bursts with energy when he talks about his passion and about it concerts.
The name “Feast” is inspired by Plato’s famous dialogue “Symposium” (Feast). For several years now, the Hofmarksrichters, who now live in Bad Tölz, have been organizing events and cultural events, in which music and cuisine are initially equally played a role. As a guest or visitor, however, you don’t necessarily have to talk about the platonic-metaphysical concept of the erotic ascent to the sea of beauty, it’s – to put it simply – about sensual experiences, culinary delights and good conversations. “For enjoyment” as wine lover Hofmarksrichter says.
Michael and Astrid Hofmarksrichter from “Tresor Vinum” in Pullach.
(Photo: organizer)
The 54-year-old, who works in the sales department of a dental software company, emphasizes that the concerts, for which regular admission prices are charged, do not make a profit. “It’s actually a lot of work,” which he does in addition to his job. Astrid Hofmarksrichter is also involved, preparing appetizers and sometimes larger dishes. Wine or other drinks are of course also served before the concerts in the Tresor Vinum, but the tasty offers are only an accompanying factor. Among the guests there are now many regulars, a number of artists have also performed more frequently, and according to the Hofmarksrichter, word of the attractiveness of the concert venue often gets around through recommendations and word of mouth.
Of course, the offer has been reduced over the past two years and the private “Gastmahl” concert operators were not able to benefit from state subsidies during the pandemic. With the minimized number of spectators – only a maximum of 120 visitors fit into the concert room anyway – it was virtually impossible to work cost-effectively. The artists usually get a hefty share of the sales, the tickets have recently become a little more expensive, but at least a sponsor now helps to compensate for deficits.
Well, the situation is also slowly improving in the cultural sector, the upcoming concerts are likely to take place again under more relaxed conditions and with a larger audience: the next classical performance on April 22nd will be played by the promising young pianist and composer Yojo Christen and the next jazz concerts will be performed by Norisha Campbell Band on March 12 (“Stand for Love”) and the Christos Asonitis Quintet on March 29 with the program “An Ode to Light”.
More information is available at https://www.gastmahl.eu.