The sounds of Carinthia’s military music resounded in an almost sold-out Klagenfurt concert hall at the beginning of April. Military bandmaster Lieutenant Colonel Dietmar Pranter once again demonstrated the versatility of military music.
The musicians presented a wide-ranging repertoire to the more than 600 visitors. This ranged from classical marches and pop music to original compositions and a “Surprise” performance as the grand finale.
“Since the beginning of these benefit concerts by the Carinthian Military Music 37 years ago, a total of over 416,000 euros in net proceeds have been raised for charitable purposes,” explains Carinthia’s military commander Brigadier Walter Gitschthaler with delight. This charity concert is an annual fixture at the Carinthia Military Command. Under the name “Gala Concert”, initiated by military bandmaster Lieutenant Colonel Dietmar Pranter, it is a new edition with a mix of classical and modern music. The event was supported by Kärntner Raiffeisen Marketing and the Kleine Zeitung Kärnten newspaper. Together, a total of 10,000 euros was handed over to the charitable aid organization “Kärntner in Not”.
Anyone who knows the military bandmaster and musician Dietmar Pranter knows that he always provides a surprise or two. Soprano Marilene Novak and guitarist Florian Olsacher supported individual pieces of music as special program items. The 1st clarinettist was joined by the commander of the Villach Command Support Battalion 1, Colonel Ernst Berthold. To the surprise of the concert guests, Pranter handed over his baton to the Tyrolean military bandmaster, Colonel Johannes Apfolterer, at the end of the gala concert.
He conducted an Elton John and Beatles medley, which Kapellmeister Pranter himself accompanied with vocals and on the piano. The individual performances, from the “March of Friends” (Karl Safaric) to “Finlandia” (Jean Sibelius) and a “Michael Jackson Medley”, were introduced and moderated by Lieutenant Colonel Ralf Gigacher. At the end, the orchestra received thunderous applause and a standing ovation. “The preparations for this concert were very intensive and exhausting. In addition to the music training, such as various marches with music, we also complete the military training content like any other soldier. I really like military music because we learn a lot, such as staff leader training, and the camaraderie is at the top of the list,” says musician Private David S.
