Everyone knows the statue of Orlando di Lasso on Promenadenplatz, but few know who it actually depicts. In fact, it owes its current fame not to the musician it portrays, but to the future King of Pop. Yet in his day, Orlando di Lasso was the most famous of all composers and served, among other roles, as a court musician in Munich. Thus, his monument in front of the Bayerischer Hof today directly honors two musical legends.
The composer behind the monument
Orlando di Lasso was born in Belgium in the early 1530s and was exposed to music from childhood. He became a choirboy in his hometown of Mons before moving to Italy as a teenager. There, he began his first attempts at composition and moved in aristocratic circles. After 10 years in Italy, he moved to the Netherlands before joining the Munich court as a tenor singer in 1556. Over time, he rose to the position of court Kapellmeister and remained in Munich until his death in 1594.
Orlando di Lasso was considered one of the most famous composers of his time, demonstrating great musical diversity. The Orlando House on the Platzl is named after him, and in 1849, King Ludwig I had his monument erected on Odeonsplatz. In 1862, it was moved to Promenadenplatz in front of the Bayerischer Hof. During World War II, it fell victim to destruction, which is why it had to be rebuilt later.
Michael Jackson at the Bayerischer Hof
In 1997, Michael Jackson stayed at the prestigious Bayerischer Hof for the first time. Contrary to what one might expect, he didn’t put on any airs of stardom, and his rider was almost modest. He requested a humidifier, flowers, Fanta, and Swiss cheese. His first stay went smoothly, and as a result, the Bayerischer Hof became the singer’s go-to place to stay in Munich. Consequently, on each of his visits, crowds of fans gathered outside the hotel, hoping to catch a glimpse of their idol.
When Michael Jackson died in 2009, the shock and grief among his fans were immense. The base of the Orlando di Lasso monument quickly became a place of pilgrimage for fans. Due to its location in front of the Bayerischer Hof and its depiction of a great musician, it was the perfect memorial site. Admirers of the King of Pop began laying flowers and pictures at Orlando’s feet and lighting candles. To this day, the monument serves as a Michael Jackson memorial, offering comfort to Munich fans and honoring two musicians instead of just one.
