After the presentation of the Peter Varming Memorial Prize 2017 to the Symphony Orchestra's 1. Janitshar Gert Sørensen, Anette Faaborg, former rector of Vestjysk Musikkonservatorium, addressed the politicians directly.
I will allow myself to stay on stage for a few more minutes and say a few words about the symphony orchestra and the new year, 2018. It is customary for the orchestra to wish its large audience a Happy New Year at these festive New Year concerts.
This year it has to be our turn to wish the orchestra A happy new year.
Because in January, political negotiations will begin on the media agreement, which includes a proposal to move the symphony orchestra to the Royal Danish Theatre. Theatre.
We know that the Ministry of Culture has had a working group in place for some time to investigate how an organisational merger could take place - whether such a merger could bring new dynamics - and save money.
It is worth all honour to periodically look at whether organisations can be adjusted to function better, but this requires that it is done by people with deep insight into the matter itself. In this case, Denmark's two star orchestras: Det Kg. Kapel and the DR Symphony Orchestra. Two very different orchestras with very different tasks and competences.
Unlike the Royal Danish Orchestra. The Danish National Symphony Orchestra plays concerts all year round with new programmes featuring international conductors and soloists. The concerts are broadcast on the radio, accompanied by expert commentary and interviews with musicians, conductors and soloists, and they are broadcast on Danish TV and internationally.
In this way, the work of the symphony orchestra reaches everyone who loves classical music at the highest level - even those who didn't know how much they loved it beforehand!
Precisely because the orchestra belongs to Danish Radio with all its media platforms, it occupies a very special place in Danish musical life. For years, the orchestra and its outstanding artistic leaders have taken this importance very seriously. They have by, that the orchestra occupies a place at the top of the musical food chain in Denmark. The top that many children and young people strive to reach. The orchestra organises countless school concerts and many other activities because it knows how important it is to inspire children and young people to play, sing and listen to music.
It would be extremely painful for the Danish music scene if the negotiations end with the orchestra being moved away from the dissemination of music that only Danmarks Radio can offer - namely dissemination through radio and TV.
So - dear audience - all of us who love music both as the highest art and as a means of community, joy and fulfilment for our children and grandchildren - we must protest. The Radio Symphony Orchestra must not be moved!
So please join me in wishing the DR Symphony Orchestra a happy and prosperous New Year 2018!