The Technical University of Munich (TUM) celebrated its 150th anniversary with a gala concert in Raitenhaslach this past Sunday. The TUMChor in its chamber choir line-up arranged a varied sunday morning concert together with the internationally renowned soloists Ute Ziemer (soprano), Bronwen Murray-Berg (piano) and Zsolt Medgyesi (piano). Almost 100 invited guests enjoyed a choice of songs by Johannes Brahms, Franz Liszt and Franz Schubert.
With shining eyes and conducted by Prof. Felix Mayer, the experienced singers already rehearsed from Saturday morning onwards in the Aula maior, the ceremonial hall of the former monastery in Raitenhaslach. Everybody was thrilled by the historic surroundings and the acoustics in the hall. Thus, the concert guests savored the program, which comprised virtuoso piano solos as well as choir works of several voices, in an almost informal atmosphere: The artists renounced a big stage.
After the concert, TUM-President Prof. Wolfgang A. Herrmann turned to the citizens of Burghausen and the region: With the gala concert celebrating the 150th anniversary, the university expressed their sincere thanks for the warm welcome in Raitenhaslach. "It is our aim to be a world-famous international university whose members do not forget that their roots lie in Bavaria" said Herrmann. Especially here in the region he liked to call to mind that top-level research is for everyone. It affects rural areas by providing education for many professions indespensable for society.
In the anniversary year, TUM likes to stress its social commitment as a provider of education and knowlegde in a world increasingly affected by technical progress. Therefore, on October 13, 2018 a big open house day is taking place at all TUM sites. In Raitenhaslach, too, the doors of the Science & Study Center are open from 11 am to 6 pm on that Saturday.