The art of togetherness 28. February 2025

#1to1dialogues

Christian: A very warm welcome to the second edition of our 1:1 DIALOGUE series this year, which we have expanded to include the inherent one-to-one theme of surprise: there’s a real “blind date” and also a “blind topic.” In the last episode, Franziska surprised me with the guest Anemone from Hamburg, who, with her company Vergiss Mein Nie (“Forget Me Never”), is dedicated to grief counseling.

With her, I was able to talk about the topic of resonance - a subject that resonates in a very lasting way and was also personally moving! Today, the reverse is happening: I get to surprise my colleague Franziska with today’s guest, whom I would like to welcome right now. It’s Johannes Leuschner. Welcome, Johannes.

Johannes: Hi Christian, thank you.

Christian: I’m so glad you’re up for this surprise - that really makes me happy. I think Franziska is already quite excited. She still doesn’t know who her guest will be. A brief word about you, Johannes: you’re the Head of the Development Department at the Beethovenfest, where Franziska and I were “Inside Artists” last year - a sort of artistic residency. We experienced many different and unusual things there, and you’ve also brought along a topic that connects to this, namely…

Johannes: … the topic of Togetherness.

Christian: Exactly! And what that’s all about, you’re about to explain, because now I’m excited to connect you with Franziska. I’m opening the door to your one-to-one conversation now and wish you both lots of fun.

Johannes: Hello Franziska! “Me again!” - or what can I say?

Franziska: What a great surprise, Johannes! I’ve been wondering all day what Christian has in store for me today, Valentine’s Day. Johannes, I’m so happy to see you.

Johannes: I’m really happy to see you too. It’s almost becoming a bit of a tradition, I’d say. And because you mentioned Valentine’s Day, the topic actually fits quite well in a roundabout way. What I’ve brought along, something that connects us in general but also personally - and especially connected us in our work last year - is the keyword: togetherness. That really shaped our joint project and our collaboration.

Franziska: Absolutely. And how nice that we get to “be together” once again.

Johannes: So, why the topic of togetherness? Well, that was the motto of last year’s Beethovenfest, and under this theme we focused a lot on participation, democracy, and mutual exchange. And in the festival context, the question is especially important: How do we not only broadcast outward, but how do we also receive - from people, from our audience, from the different groups we aim to reach?

We tried this out very concretely during Inside Artists, where you and Christian were basically in residence with us for several months. We thought a lot about this concept - as well as about hospitality and encounters both small and large.

And as the Beethovenfest - and for me personally - I learned a great deal from your input. Did you also feel this togetherness in the project and its effect on the festival?

Franziska: Totally, I can only agree with that. Inside Artists - the name says it all! I actually felt quite quickly like we were part of your team: that we could have fun, voice criticism, cause a bit of disruption, go too far - and then be gently steered back when necessary. We were able to create things that you might not achieve in a “normal” collaboration between artists and festivals. You could put “co-creation” as a big headline over it, but I think that only partly captures it.

Johannes: It was more like a shared mindset we developed together, which could indeed be called “togetherness.” It was based on the fact that you as the 1:1 team, and we as the Beethovenfest, both had our ideas and approaches - and ultimately developed the projects together.

The format also played a big role: not only did your team meet regularly online, but every two months you spent at least two days here in Bonn with us. We put our heads together intensively, had productive talks, and did some great reflection and brainstorming. What, for you, was the most powerful moment of togetherness?

Franziska: Ah, interesting - I was just about to ask you that. One of the strongest moments for me is more of a feeling: that quite quickly, we were simply present as ourselves - as Christian, as Franziska, and you as Johannes. That happened pretty soon after the first workshop: the sense that here, you can simply be - just as you are, with all your strengths and weaknesses, artist identity or not. We met each other genuinely and authentically. Whether the kids were sick, or there was stress on another professional front - all of that was allowed. That’s a strong quality. I really enjoyed working together like that, with all our very different personalities, from slow to fast - and every pace had its value. Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing; every artistic process has highs and lows and needs friction. But I found it wonderful that we managed to create such a safe space where we could just be ourselves.

That’s how I would wish any collaboration to be. Which now actually makes it difficult to go on to other projects, because you develop a certain standard for how you want to work. And those were the strongest moments for me, over and over again - when I thought: wow, here we are meeting each other as people, not just as “Franziska Ritter from 1:1 CONCERTS” but as Franziska. How about you, Johannes? Did you also have moments like that?

Johannes: Definitely. There were actually many such moments. You and Christian - especially with our Beethovenfest colleagues - came up with so many ideas. From a flower-giving action with violist Nils Mönkemeyer, to concert intermission talks you led between the audience members. You wove people into exchanges and encounters. There were countless special moments like that, which were very formative and lasting.

It was a lot of work, of course, and there were many logistical constraints. But considering the reactions from people - who, unlike us, hadn’t spent months together - the way they joined in and later told us these were “star moments” of human connection they hadn’t expected… I think it was totally worth it.

And we can also learn a lot from it as a general model for our festival - and simply as an attitude, whether in our professional or private lives: taking time for one another, letting relationships and conversations develop - it doesn’t always have to be “by the book.”

Franziska: Do you feel it’s influenced your festival work for this year as well? Did your team manage to adopt a different pace?

Johannes: Sometimes it’s the little things that show it. We had special conditions last year that allowed us to create these safe spaces. Once you’re back in everyday reality, with fewer resources and capacities, last year’s project can serve as a good bridge. Especially when thinking about program design - what can we offer the audience that will have an impact beyond the concert experience - all of that plays a role. And yes, also the spirit and willingness to discuss, the acceptance of differing viewpoints - knowing there’s something productive and supportive in that.

And what about you?

Franziska: For us too. I feel the intensive exploration of the topics - also theoretically - was an absolute enrichment, a kind of deep dive with lasting effects. We researched a lot at the start - for example, on experience design: How do you create good, resonant concert experiences? I take that knowledge with me into my new projects and teaching at various universities.

And since it’s Valentine’s Day, Johannes, we can’t completely avoid talking about love - such a big word! But I think - to tie it back to the start of our conversation - a key lies in approaching something with love and dedication. In all the little details that make a program work: how you design a beautiful encounter, how you greet your guests at a concert, how you say goodbye (last impression/first impression). We tested and implemented so many variations of this. That love for detail - even though it takes lots of time, discussions, and sometimes you think “Do we really have to discuss this right down to the smallest detail?” - yes, it’s worth it!

That’s also what makes 1:1 CONCERTS so special - they only fully work if every detail is carried out exactly as we conceived it. You must have noticed that yourself, Johannes, when you hosted some of them. It’s about being authentic and human, while also lovingly perfecting the details.

That, I take with me - it became even clearer last year. It’s worth “walking the extra mile,” as Christian says. That’s exactly what it means. For example, remember our “team star gift exchange”? Each person surprised someone else with an idea. What was your surprise, Johannes?

Johannes: Mine was really great. Near the end of the festival, I received a heartfelt letter with a link to a personally curated Spotify playlist. Someone had thought deeply about my preferences. I’m the kind of person who brings playlists to team events - songs we play on car trips during the festival. Someone had noticed this and compiled 15 or 16 songs tied to festival moments, each with a note explaining the choice. Putting on my headphones, I could relive those moments. Totally unexpected and wonderful.

Franziska: How beautiful! And hand on heart - would knowing who it was change anything? Or is it even more special because it’s left anonymous?

Johannes: Both, I think. Of course, I’d like to thank them personally, but maybe it’s nice to let it stay that way.

Franziska: What a lovely gift, gave me goosebumps.

Johannes: That’s part of the spirit you brought. I find it important to care for each other beyond just the work relationship. It energized us.

Franziska: Thank you, Johannes. And thank you, Christian.

Christian: Thanks to both of you. As a 1:1 host, I’m curious - Franziska, how was your surprise?

Franziska: Great! I knew nothing, and it was wonderful to meet Johannes again. We resonated beautifully over our theme of “togetherness.”

Johannes: Absolutely - a joy.

Christian: Thanks to you both for agreeing to this “blind date.” And to our listeners and readers - maybe you’d like to be surprised, or have a topic with which to surprise someone else. Franziska and I look forward to hearing from you. Take some “togetherness” with you from this conversation. Thank you.