Unexpectedly deceased
University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar mourns the death of its former president Prof. Dr. Christoph Stölzl
The University of Music FRANZ LISZT Weimar expresses its dismay at the sudden death of its former president, Prof. Dr. Christoph Stölzl. He died unexpectedly on January 10, 2023 at the age of 78 in Evenhausen (Bavaria), as his family informed the university. Until June 30, 2022, the historian, publicist and cultural journalist had still stood at the head of the Weimar University of Music and for twelve years guided the fortunes of the house with a steady hand and great empathy.
"We mourn the loss of a person for whom kindness, humility and modesty were just as important maxims in life as knowledge of the connections in the world, of historical contexts, and above all of art and music," says University President Prof. Anne-Kathrin Lindig, Christoph Stölzl's successor. "Quite suddenly, it took our highly esteemed colleague from life. Our sympathies go out to his family, relatives and friends."
Christoph Stölzl had said farewell to his university in a festive setting during the celebration week for the university's 150th anniversary in June 2022. Of course, with a lot of music, because the passionate amateur musician had often taken up the double bass and banjo himself during his tenure. "So soon after his farewell, his humor, his open ear and his brilliant speeches are still very much with us. We will miss Prof. Stölzl very much," said Prof. Anne-Kathrin Lindig.
In an interview in the university's LISZT magazine in the summer of 2022, former magnificence Stölzl looked back on his presidency, "My Weimar time is littered with moments of happiness, whether it's a Dvořác cello phrase piercing through the wall of my office or hearing the applause erupt in the Weimarhalle after a concert by the university orchestra and being happy in the 'We!" with the lucky ones up on the podium."
The Weimar University of Music owes much to its former president. He positioned the house in a clearly perceptible way in the cultural and political events of Thuringia and generated international appeal. Christoph Stölzl's decades of experience in the cultural sector made him a sought-after interdisciplinary thinker for national media publishers and broadcasters, as well as a regular guest on major podiums.
His two terms included important appointments at the University of Music, including the endowed chair in the history of Jewish music. He also succeeded in significantly increasing the number of German scholarships to be awarded.
Prof. Dr. Christoph Stölzl (*17.02.1944, † 10.01.2023) studied history, literature and sociology. From 1974 he worked at the Bavarian National Museum, from 1980 to 1987 as director of the Munich City Museum, and then until the end of 1999 as founding director and general director of the German Historical Museum in Berlin.
Christoph Stölzl has organized numerous major exhibitions on European cultural history and published many works on European history, culture and politics. He was Berlin's Senator for Culture and Science in 2000/2001 and Vice President of the Berlin House of Representatives from 2002 to 2006. Christoph Stölzl has also worked for many years as a publicist in the press, radio and television. From 2010 to 2022, he served as president of the University of Music in Weimar.
[11 January 2023]