by Volker Tarnow, January 11, 2006
She is an enchanting figure, and she brings a fresh breeze to the German concert scene. Like all the important heads of agencies in Berlin's musical history-think of dynasties like Wolff or Adler-Christine Douvier started her enterprise out of pure passion. But whether her Agency for Chamber Music, founded in 2002, will at some point turn into a giant concern, into a power-conscious and market-determining institution, is more than doubtful. Christine herself denies any such ambitions, and we believe her.
The confirmed Berliner acts on conviction. She will never move on to orchestra management for the simple reason that she is obsessed with chamber music and its small number of players who guard the true pearl of musical art. "I specialize in professional and passionate chamber musicians who create a cultivated ensemble tone." The portfolio is exquisite and handpicked. "I was lucky to be able to start with very successful and renowned ensembles. This eased everything." Her clientele includes the St. Petersburg String Quartet, the Indonesian piano duo Sonja and Shanti Sungkono, Canada's master pianist Anton Kuerti and last but not least, the Jacques Thibaud String Trio. Everything started with the Thibauds because after all, Christine's husband Philip Douvier plays the viola there.
"Their former agency never cared about the Jacques Thibaud Trio. Even at a time when the New York Times celebrated their concerts in the United States. I said to myself, 'Now you're going to take matters into your own hands!'" No sooner said than done. Her training as a hotel manager proved to be of great help, as well as her experience as a member of a choir. Whatever else was lacking, Christine taught herself, learning by doing, as she puts it. Not even her duties as a mother of three jeopardized her 'part-time job,' which she to this day pursues in her apartment in Berlin Lichterfelde. Only her beloved horse riding had to end. So she turned to badminton.
What makes Christine Douvier's work so effective and successful is her commitment to tradition and the art of interrelations, which is in danger of becoming extinct. She refuses to succumb to the rules of a commercialized classical music industry, choosing instead to trust her own style. "My musicians do not follow the mainstream, they do not do any crossover. I honor the old values, so to speak." This means pure, solid classic repertoire with a few definite rarities. The fact that there is contemporary music of a similar quality is still waiting for Mrs Douvier to discover.
We need to be grateful that there are people like Christine, who resist the customary musical fads. "Years ago, a big record company offered a contract to the Thibaud Trio," she recalls, amused. "The condition was that all three of them were to appear in lilac-colored tails. We declined, of course."
But can things succeed without any global players? Can you really make a good living? "We do make a living, and with a good conscience." Meanwhile, the agency continues to expand. Christine Douvier, who also takes care of public relations, is slowly approaching the breaking point. But that does not keep her from moving even further, crossing the borders to Austria and Switzerland, and starting her own CD label, Sophia Classics, whose first pressing has already been released: Mozart, Schubert and Françaix with the Jacques Thibaud String Trio. She is now planning her own series of concerts in Steglitz. There will certainly be no lack of public interest.
© Berliner Morgenpost 2006