45 years of art & culture Raab: “It’s about passion”

Wow, what was that again today?” Rudi Wötzlmayr often hears this question after concerts, both from the audience, who “leave with goosebumps,” and from the musicians, who sense one thing: “It’s about heart and soul,” says Wötzlmayr, who the history of the Raab Art & Culture Association since its founding as a film club in 1979: “We are fighting to ensure that music, art and culture have a lot of space in the country.” For which the association received the country’s Golden Culture Medal in 2021 and the Great Medal in 2005 State Culture Prize for Cultural Work Initiative was crowned.

The “hard core” of the volunteers also includes his wife Johanna Wagner, her brother Peter Wagner and Dieter Wagenbichler. The latter is proven to capture unforgettable concert moments with his camera. A selection of his most beautiful impressions will be shown in a permanent exhibition that will open on March 15th, 7 p.m., in the Raab Music School. No effort was spared: “We had the most atmospheric photos of the last ten years printed on aluminum dibond panels,” says Wagner.

After the Ve

The trio HAEZZ can be experienced in the music school’s jazz club, where the club finds a stage thanks to “uncomplicated collaboration”. Concerts are also held in the Sparkasse Park, the parish church and the Maria Bründl Church – the club has brought a total of 90,000 visitors and 2,450 musicians to Raab, repeatedly demonstrating its instinct for up-and-coming talent. For example, Gregory Porter’s jazz voice could be heard in Raab before the American conquered the world’s stages: “Three years later he was a superstar.”

Personal contacts

The list of local greats ranges from Wolfgang Puschnig to Lorenz Raab, Karl Ratzer, Harri Stojka, Christian Muthspiel, Federspiel, the Duo BartolomeyBittmann, Martin Gasselsberger Trio mg3 – to name just a few.

The visitors have long known about the high quality on offer here: “Some come from Linz, and we have also had visitors from Munich,” says Wötzlmayr. A secret of success is the personal contacts that the team makes: “We travel a lot ourselves at various festivals, at the Brucknerhaus or at Porgy & Bess in Vienna. We know almost all the musicians personally,” says Wötzlmayr, who also often hears: “Hey Rudi , we want to play with you again.”

Not because of the fee, but because of the special atmosphere, which the audience also appreciates: “We have a small jazz café where you can easily chat with the musicians before or after the concert. It’s important to us that everyone feels comfortable.”

Young people are welcome

One of the club’s special wishes for the anniversary is to “motivate young people to go to concerts,” says Johanna Wagner, inviting anyone who is curious. “We often have young musicians,” including on March 15th, when at 8 p.m. in the jazz club the stage is set for the Austrian-Czech trio HAEZZ. Anyone who would like to get a taste of the work of the cultural association and share its passion is also welcome.