Dear Johann,
“Punctuality is an ornament, but you can get further without it.” Anyone who knew you well knows that you were very fond of this saying. Not because you wanted to be rude, but because you always took the necessary time for your district, your social and political projects and the people who were close to your heart. As a result, you were “consistent and busy” – as was your nature – and lived your own schedule to the end, in your words, “flexibly”.
And that is exactly what you are now asking of us, your colorful bunch. And more than ever. We were used to your own sense of time, even as your colleagues at the castle concerts. No phone call under 60 minutes. Team meetings late into the night. Passionate pleas for your passion project, the new Neuschwanstein concerts.
One of your trademarks: Endlessly long e-mails. What began with three small dots only ended many paragraphs later. A tour de force through your thoughts and your inexhaustible wealth of ideas.
You took each of us with you personally. The same applies to state ministers, sponsors and the palace administration. No obstacle was too high for you. After all, it’s not for nothing that your homepage says “Problems are there to be solved”.
Unfortunately, we now have to shoulder this without you. But we will always have your mantra in our ears: “Good is not good enough.” You were a perfectionist à la couleur. Your ideas were visionary. You set the pace for us. You set the pace for us. Lento was not your speed. Everything had to go presto. And pronto.
No one could pay as much attention and energy to the smallest details as you did.
But all this was forgotten once you had arranged everything behind the scenes again – without much fuss. “Unagitated and unconventional” is probably the best way to describe you. You were our driving force, motivator and mentor at the same time. We thank you, our maestro, from the bottom of our hearts.
You left the stage before the final applause, which you deserved so much. May your spirit and your smile be with us.
While we are struggling for every word here in our grief, you would have struck the right note there with your own ease, completely relaxed, charismatic and confident. We promise you that we will once again pool all our strength for you on the home straight. So that you can still receive the final applause from your heavenly box seat.
In your name, we will bow in deepest gratitude and humility. To the audience, to your family and to you.
