23-05-2025
Conductor David Brophy, an Irishman in Cologne: The Lyric Feature
The Lyric Feature production Der Musikmann follows conductor David Brophy's progress over his first six months with the WDR Funkhausorchester, on his new podium in Cologne; Presented by George Hamilton, the documentary observes the musical, cultural, and personal challenges this Irish conductor faces as he takes on one of the most prestigious positions in his field in Europe.
Producer Michael O' Kane introduces Der Musikmann – An Irishman in Cologne below - listen above.
From John Field, Michael Balfe, and Margaret Burke Sheridan in the past to James Galway and Barry Douglas in more recent times, Irish musicians have captivated audiences across Europe. To that illustrious list can now be added the name of David Brophy.
His musical journey, which began in a band at home on the northside of Dublin, took in a spell playing keyboards with the National Symphony Orchestra before he opted for a career on the podium, shaping the sounds with baton in hand.
David is one of music's most engaging characters, and a man I've known for a long time, collaborating on a variety of concert platforms.
Watch: Daft Punk's Around the World performed by Uwaga! with David Brophy & WDR Funkhausorchester
When he was appointed to the post of Chief Conductor of the WDR Rundfunkorchester in Cologne, this was too good an opportunity to miss. The Westdeutscher Rundfunk was my local radio and TV station when I lived in Germany many years ago and the personal connection expanded into a professional one when I began my career as a broadcaster in Belfast. WDR was one of the German-language stations I worked for as what's known in the business as a "stringer", a local correspondent. I was no stranger to the Funkhaus on Wallrafplatz with its famous paternoster lift, the broadcast centre in the heart of the city that's home to David Brophy's new band.
What emerges is a most engaging portrait of a dedicated musician whose winning charm puts students, musicians, and indeed audiences in the palm of his hand.
It already had its Irish connection through the work of the author Heinrich Böll, a native of Cologne, one of whose short stories is set in the Funkhaus and who was a regular in the café that welcomes all-comers to a corner of its ground floor. Tiring of the brashness of post-war Germany, Böll retreated to Achill Island where he wrote a journal – his Irisches Tagebuch – that captured worldwide attention when it was published in 1957.
David Brophy's artistic journey has taken him in the opposite direction. Producer Michael O'Kane and I followed him to the Rhineland to find out how.
We covered his debut on the podium in Cologne – an afternoon event broadcast live on the radio from the packed Klaus-von-Bismarck-Saal, the station's very own concert hall – and returned six months later for a progress report.
In between, we had the opportunity to follow the part of the David Brophy career that still resides in Ireland – his performances here and his teaching work at TU Dublin in Grangegorman.
What emerges is a most engaging portrait of a dedicated musician whose winning charm puts students, musicians, and indeed audiences in the palm of his hand. You may be surprised as the story takes shape, as preconceived notions give way to the colourful reality that includes the shoes he's been wearing in the orchestra's trademark shade of purple. The world of classical music is by no means all black tie and tails.
