Audi 2011 Annual Report Download - page 117

Belle Époque-style Kurhaus. No less
impressive: the Hawaiian multi-
instrumentalist Bruno Mars, who
performs a classical soul review – with
a fantastic band and a repertoire full
of catchy tunes: Just the Way You Are,
Grenade, The Lazy Song, The Other
Side and lots more. The hall is bubbling
with life – people are waving lighters,
singing along and giving standing
ovations. The overfl owing enthusiasm
is such a surprise to some of the artists
that they forget their inhibitions, leave
the safety zone of their hotel room and
stroll openly through town: across
the squares dotted with fountains,
past the cafés and restaurants,
down the small alleyways lined with
exclusive boutiques and through the
parks on the banks of the Oos River.
Baden-Baden has a Mediterranean
fl air, especially when bathed in
gleaming sunlight.
This is likely part of the reason that
Rumer, the vocal powerhouse from
Britain, is happy to mingle with the
crowd on the second day of the festival,
inviting Zaz, the shooting star from
France, to a spontaneous acoustic gig
on Konrad-Adenauer-Platz. Brooke
Fraser, New Zealand’s most successful
pop export with her hit Something in
the Water, is in fact contemplating a
longer stay in the Baden area: “The town
is incredibly beautiful and inspiring to
me. I could well imagine writing my next
album here. Simply because I enjoy the
architecture and the people are so nice.”
Indeed, it is the people who are
another special feature of the SWR3
New Pop Festival: This is not an
audience interested in wild partying.
The members of the public here are
attentive, enthusiastic and receptive
to new ideas. They are fully focused
on enjoying the music and the
performances, and swear by the variety
of the program here, the quality of the
artists and the relaxed atmosphere.
There is a good reason that the festival
in Baden-Baden has so many repeat
visitors. It is a genuine musical tradition.
The SWR3 New Pop Festival 2011
draws to a melodious close in a festival
special on the third and fi nal day of the
event with Rea Garvey, Natalia Kills,
Gypsy & The Cat and Melanie C rocking
the stage. As soon as the last note
fades, Baden-Baden begins waiting for
the next SWR3 New Pop Festival
with new talents, world-class music and
unreserved enthusiasm.
O
Powerful voice:
Songwriter Brooke Fraser
from New Zealand fl ooded
the Kurhaus with her
emotional folk songs.
114
_ Inspiration
“I could well imagine
writing my next
album here.”
Brooke Fraser
PHOTOS | GORDON WELTERS/LAIF; SWR3 (2); SWR3/WILLI KUPER; ACTION PRESS; AUDI AG
Culture: The brand is also involved
in the area of classical music in the
shape of the Audi Summer Concerts.