The year 2020 was badly lived by the team of music enthusiasts from A-Productions, whose director Michel Welter sat down with RTL at his office.
“We are a team of enthusiasts who love to work. Forcing us not to work is therefore very hard. We have tried to offer alternatives during the summer such as the Carena de Pétange or the concerts at Opderschmelz. But these, too, were ultimately put on hold,” Welter explains.
In 2019, the Atelier organised 130 concerts, including the unforgettable night of Rammstein in front of 19,000 fans. The counter stopped at 21 concerts this year. Right now it’s no longer about confirmations, only postponements.
“We are working at least half a year in advance in order to be ready when the machine can be restarted, for the D-day”.
Concert halls will probably be the last establishments able to reopen. The summer open air shows are another glimmer of hope for the organisers who confirm that the sale of tickets is going well.
The year 2020 will undoubtedly leave its mark on the European music industry. Concretely for Atelier, practically the only private player in the sector in Luxembourg, turnover has fallen by 87 percent.
“The aid we receive is very important. Without this aid we could no longer keep this company alive. The work carried out over the past 2-3 years actually allows us to survive during this very difficult period.”
The return of groups like One Republic, Deep Purple or Simply Red does not only depend on national restrictions. Agents also need a certain security in their planning, which goes beyond the borders of Luxembourg. But Welter assures us that the team “is not going to give up, it’s not our style to whine in our corner.”
In an interview with RTL on Saturday, Culture Minister Sam Tanson strongly regretted the closure of the country’s cultural centres. But the response to the crisis must be common to all sectors experiencing restrictions. Last Thursday, the financial aid was adapted so that private concert halls are also eligible.
Video report in Luxembourgish:
