What was going on there? Our KHO musicians tell us about a snapshot before - or in this case after -  a concert. This time: principal bass clarinet Norbert Möller and his camera.

Farewells to colleagues, pre-concert rehearsals and everyday scenes on tour, backstage encounters with conductors and guest artists - not only from the unusual perspektive of his seat on the woodwind podium, Norbert Möller has captured many special moments in the Konzerthausorchester with his small compact camera. It easily fits into the inside pocket of his tailcoat.

This was during our last tour in May with Schubert's Great C major Symphony, right after one of our successful concerts. Our principal oboist Michaela Kuntz, who plays long solo passages in the work, was presente with the bouquet of flowers by our principal conductor. For our principal flutist Yuan Yu, this was his first tour after completing his probationary period. Together with fellow flutist Antje Schurrock, they asked me if I could take a photo of this beautiful moment. Groups of colleagues often ask me to do this, and I am always happy to oblige.

That picture was taken by my clarinet colleague Ralf Forster. He is a fantastic photographer with high quality standards, works intensely on each picture, and also enjoys experimental approaches.

I'm most of all interested in a more reportage kind of style. Of course, the pictures should be of good quality, but what matters most to me is that I'm always able to have my camera ready. So, I decided to make a compromise by using a compact camera.

Photos: Fotos: Simon Pauly (1 & 2); Ralf Forster (3)

Surprisingly, relatively late. There are no pictures from my school days, nor from my time at the conservatory. Sometimes, I took photos while on vacation. I really can't pinpoint exactly since when I have the ambition to document the concerts and tours of the Konzerthausorchester like a photo reporter—even if it's just for the memory album!

Photos: Norbert Möller

When we go on tour, I try to take photos that tell the story of the tour. But I make sure that I don't photograph anything that someone might not want to show. You'll never see that with me. And I want to get the focus right. On tour, that focus is the music.

There isn't just one, but many. Our former principal conductor Christoph Eschenbach, for example, liked to come up to the woodwinds players during the applause to thank us personally. In this emotional moment after a successful concert, no official photographer can be as close as I am. I send the photos to everyone who appears in them. Especially when some time has passed, it can be a source of joy: “Oh, sure, we played there with that lineup at that time!”

Since nobody brought a tripod to the tour, Norbert Möller handed his preset camera to a colleague after the last concert: “That's how the entire woodwind section of the 2025 tour including Ralf and me ended up in the photo.”