Classical music should not be missing in the run-up to Christmas. The festive Advent benefit concert by “BMW Munich”, which took place for the 29th time this year, is an absolute classic and also has a permanent place in the celebrities’ entire calendar. This year, host Bernd Döpke, the head of BMW Munich, was able to welcome, among others, Ursula Princess of Bavaria (who was once again patron of the concert) and her husband Leopold Prince of Bavaria in the magnificent setting of Munich's Cuvilliéstheater. Also there were the actors Heino Ferch, Johannes Berzl and Hannes Jaenicke, actress Christine Neubauer, model agent Peyman Amin, presenter Uschidämmrich Freifrau von Luttitz, Uli Hoeneß with his wife Susi, the actor couple Philip and Darya Birnstiel, and Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter His wife Petra, Verena Ofarim and presenter Frederic Meisner were guests. Moderator Nina Eichinger led the program again.
For a good cause: celebrities sell gingerbread and cookies
As a nice tradition, the celebrities served as gingerbread sellers before enjoying the music. At the “Käfer” Advent reception for a good cause, they sold gingerbread and cookies from “Kuchentratsch”, a social bakery in Munich where senior citizens bake cakes, for a donation of ten euros each.
© Jens Hartmann/BMW
by Jens Hartmann/BMW
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Many regular guests were there, but also some newcomers like actor Heino Ferch, who was there for the first time as a cookie seller for a good cause: “It's my first time at the BMW Advent benefit concert. I love music and like going to concerts. ” He also has experience in baking cookies, as he said: “For the last few years I have always baked around Christmas time, around ten different types, from macaroons to vanilla crescents.” Can he already enjoy the pre-Christmas season or does he still have work to do before Christmas “I got through it quickly, I was just filming for a true crime format in Venice.” How is he celebrating Christmas this year “En Famille,” he said simply: “ Heino and “I’m good friends,” said Hartwig.
This year there was also prominent support from actress Christine Neubauer, who took part for the first time and was accompanied by her partner José Campos. “We have come straight from the José Carreras Gala in Leipzig and are now looking forward to a wonderful classical concert for a good cause this evening. It was a good time because we are currently in Munich visiting my mother. “Under her expert guidance, José will bake Christmas cookies himself for the first time, but only two types. And I will watch and then enjoy these cookies,” she said with a laugh. “Afterwards we will take my mother to Mallorca, to warmer climes, and celebrate Christmas together there. As is our tradition, we have white sausages to eat. And I’m bringing these with me from Munich.”
© Jens Hartmann (digital)
by Jens Hartmann (digital)
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BMW Advent benefit concert with works by Mozart, Haydn and Mendelssohn Bartholdy
After the reception, the guests enjoyed the contemplative and atmospheric concert with works by Mozart, Haydn and Mendelssohn Bartholdy, among others, and with great world-class artists: The Bavarian State Orchestra under the direction of conductor Gergely Madaras, together with bass Tareq Nazmi (was at short notice for the bass-baritone who was unable to perform Erwin Schrott stepped in), mezzo-soprano Ekaterine Buachidz, tenor Samuel Stopford, Bass clarinetist Martina Beck-Stegemann, Blai Gumi Roca (double bass) and solo clarinetist Markus Schön at the Christmas concert.
As always, the focus is on a good cause: every year, the proceeds from the concert are used to support disadvantaged children and young people in the greater Munich area. This time there were two charitable institutions that aim to give children a better quality of life: the “Handball Campus Munich”, which works to ensure that children and young people in difficult situations develop new strength and joy of life through sport and exercise, and the “ “Munich Child Health Alliance”, whose mission is to give young cancer patients a greater chance of a worry-free life.
A total of 125,000 euros was spent
As in previous years, Ursula Princess of Bavaria took over the patronage of the concert. At the end of the concert she presented the check for 111,408 euros to handball world champion Dominik Klein, one of the two founders of the “Handball Campus Munich”, and to Prof. Dr. Dr. Christoph Klein for “Munich Child Health Alliance”. After the concert there were further donations, so that a total of 125,000 euros was raised!
© Jens Hartmann/BMW
by Jens Hartmann/BMW
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“This is my 25th time here. The nice thing about this event is that, like every time, we help children who are not on the sunny side,” says Ursula Princess of Bavaria. When asked about his personal favorite Christmas carol, Leopold Prince of Bavaria, who accompanied his wife, said without thinking: “Oh you happy one, because that fits perfectly into today’s times.” Your favorite Christmas tradition? “That we have a Christmas tree with real candles that my wife and I decorate together and then celebrate Christmas together with the children and grandchildren,” he said.
Bernd Döpke welcomed the guests and then presented the donation projects: “We at BMW move people with our cars. We are pleased that we are moving hearts today and that so many guests have come here for a good cause. This concert is taking place for the 29th time and we are sold out, which is sensational. The “Munich Child Health Alliance” will invest the money collected that evening in a microscopic analysis device. The “Handball Campus Munich” purchases sports consoles and wristbands for various sports games. Petra Reiter, the wife of Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter, also symbolically received a school cone with 150 hours of work for her “Bunte Münchner Kindl” project, which worked with volunteers to provide school supplies for 3,000 needy children.
Celebrities look forward to this special event every year
Nina Eichinger charmingly led the evening. For her, it's a wonderful tradition: “What's special about this evening is that new and important institutions are supported every time.” What are her Christmas preparations like? “The fridge is already full of butter and other ingredients, but unfortunately I haven't had a chance to bake cookies yet. Ginger bread and vanilla crescents are a must for me at Christmas. And that’s what I’m going to tackle next…”
© Jens Hartmann/BMW
by Jens Hartmann/BMW
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“Every year again,” said actor Hannes Jaenicke happily. “It's probably my tenth time here. It’s always a musical highlight in one of the most beautiful theaters there is for me.”
This time again it was cookies instead of Guglhupf for actor Johannes Berzl (“Guglhupfgeschwader”). He had already been there the previous year and this time he came accompanied by the actress Lina Bullwinkel. At the event he really got into the Christmas spirit: “I didn't have time to bake cookies yet because I was just filming a crime thriller and a series. “I’m all the more pleased that I’m here today for the second time for a good cause.” He spends Christmas with his family in the Bavarian Forest: “There are traditional sausages with cabbage, a nice tradition.”
“I've been here since the beginning,” enthused Uschidämmrich von Luttitz, who also sold cookies – in a sparkling sequin dress: “My mother always baked the very best cookies, but we always only got them on Christmas Eve.” Bought from her Then Uli Hoeneß also had one of the gingerbreads before he rushed to the theater with his wife Susi.
© Jens Hartmann/BMW
by Jens Hartmann/BMW
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“Kuchentratsch” seniors bake gingerbread and cookies
The sweet treats were baked by the seniors from “Kuchentratsch”. The aim of the social bakery is to make the lives of the older generation more livable by allowing them to pursue a meaningful activity.
Presenter Frederic Meisner, who has just become a grandfather, also sold this: “One of my two twin daughters made me a grandfather for the second time three days ago,” he said proudly.
Other guests: Ilka Horstmeier (Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Human Resources and Real Estate, Labor Director), Dr. Milan Nedeljkovic (Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Production), and much more.
