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Cologne 75: The secret of the legendary piano concert revealed!
On July 2, 2025, the film “Köln 75” will premiere at the Filmcasino, which tells the story of the creation of the legendary piano album “The Cologne Concert”.
Cologne 75: The secret of the legendary piano concert revealed!
A special event is coming up in Vienna: The film “Köln 75” is coming to the Filmcasino and highlights the impressive story of the most famous piano album of all time, “The Cologne Concert”, by Keith Jarrett. The premiere will take place on Wednesday, July 2nd at 6 p.m. What’s special about it? Following the film screening, there will be a live concert with pianist Florian Birklbauer in the Margaretner Amthaus, who will demonstrate his skills at 8:15 p.m. Admission to the film is 10.50 euros, with ticket reservations available at filmcasino.at is possible. The concert is free, although donations are welcome - reservations can be made by email booking.f.birklbauer@gmail.com be made.
The story of the film revolves around 18-year-old Vera Brandes, who musters the courage to bring Keith Jarrett to the Cologne Opera House - against the wishes of her conservative parents. The concert itself experienced a few glitches, including the fact that the concert grand piano that was ordered was not available. Instead, Jarrett had to improvise on a smaller and not optimally maintained Bösendorfer model, which he apparently managed to do anyway. Despite initial concerns about canceling the concert, he performed and improvised the entire piece, which brings together jazz, classical, minimal music and gospel.
A milestone in music history
Originally billed as the worst concert by an elusive artist, The Cologne Concert went on to become Jarrett's best-known album. The concert, which took place on January 24, 1975, is considered one of the most important solo piano works of the 20th century and has had a lasting influence on the music world. With over 3.5 million copies sold, it is the best-selling solo piano album in history. Critics highlight the work's emotional immediacy and structural density, which redefined the boundaries between improvisation and composition. Historical elements and numerous mysteries surrounding the concert, including contradictory eyewitness accounts and the absence of archival material, have helped to create a mystique surrounding the work.
The concert consists of four parts and lasts around 66 minutes. An official sheet music edition was published by Schott Music published after Jarrett had long been against such a publication. This sheet music edition provides amateur and professional musicians with a faithful reproduction of the original concerto, further demonstrating the enduring significance of Jarrett's masterpiece.
For music lovers and anyone who would like to take a look behind the scenes of this unique concert, the film “Köln 75” in combination with the live concert offers a wonderful opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of Keith Jarrett and explore the secret behind his most famous work.