PRIX EUROPA
Best European Radio Music Programme of the Year 2011
WDR 3 FAVOURITES
LIEBLINGSSTÜCKE
Entering organisation: Westdeutscher Rundfunk - WDR / ARD
Country: Germany
Susanne Ockelmann, Hans Winking (Authors/Directors), Hans Winking (Sound), Karl Karst (Commissioning editor), Susanne Oeckelmann, Hans Winking, Werner Wittersheim (Producers)
JURY CITATION
"The Jury was impressed by the remarkable connection which this major project had established between the programme and the listeners. The compelling idea was both simple and highly effective. The jury members were moved by the human stories which came to the fore through the careful editorial work; these stories proved both deeply touching and even sometimes amusing, and provided a way to understand the power that music has in key moments of people's lives. The participants' willingness to share personal emotional narratives meant that the musical appreciation was coloured with a strong sense of empathy. As well as providing a new angle on the music, the programme fulfilled the role of deeply connecting listeners with each other."
SYNOPSIS
WDR 3 has called up his listeners to name their favourite piece of classical music. In a countdown from 100 up to 1 WDR 3 played one piece each day from february until June – every piece connected with the personal story of one listener: touching, funny, sometimes sad, but always personal and emotional.
With this listener-activity WDR 3 has been the first broadcaster which developed a qualitatively ranking for classical music! The famous German TV-presenter Harald Schmidt accompanied the whole activity. WDR 3 did additionally a lot of journalistic work, special programs and panels relating to the subject of classical music and popularity in general. As a climax WDR 3 did a “grand finale” at a historical concert hall in Germany where Harald Schmidt presented the top three of the listeners favourites. The WDR orchestra played this top three in a live concert which was broadcasted ive via radio and internet (including live video stream).