An 18-year-old rents the Cologne Opera House and gets Keith Jarrett on stage. When the wrong grand piano is standing there on the day of the concert, she does not give up.
Problem Solving: Those who can solve problems gain influence very quickly.
3 min read5 sectionsSituationLink to the quality
Contents
“Köln 75” is a feature film by Ido Fluk, who also wrote the screenplay. It premiered at the Berlinale on 16 February 2025 and opened in German cinemas on 13 March 2025. Mala Emde plays the young Cologne concert promoter Vera Brandes, John Magaro the pianist Keith Jarrett. The film is based on a true story; what is described here is the portrayal in the film. It shows the Quality of Initiative: whoever wants to lead does not wait to be given an assignment.
In a row of pale keys, two of them dull, one golden key is pressed and arcs of sound rise – like the concert on the wrong piano in “Köln 75”.
01
Starting before anyone asks
Situation
Vera grows up in Cologne in a conservative home; her father is a dentist. School interests her little, and in the evenings she sits in jazz clubs. At just 16 she organises a tour of Germany for Ronnie Scott’s trio.
Link to the quality
Initiative begins without a title and without permission. Whoever sees an opportunity and acts gains experience that carries them later. Leaders should recognise such people and give them real tasks early on.
02
A goal with a name
Situation
In 1973 Vera travels to the Berliner Jazztage against her father’s wishes. There she hears Keith Jarrett for the first time. She decides to bring him to Cologne for her concert series “New Jazz in Cologne”.
Link to the quality
People with initiative know what they want. A clear goal turns enthusiasm into a plan. In everyday life it helps to put the project into one sentence with a name, a place and a date.
03
Bearing the risk yourself
Situation
At 18, Vera books the Cologne Opera House for 24 January 1975. She does so at her own risk and has to put up 10,000 DM.
Link to the quality
Initiative costs something, otherwise it remains a suggestion. Whoever goes ahead is liable for the outcome. Leaders win trust when they bear their own risk instead of passing it on.
04
The wrong grand piano
Situation
Instead of the Bösendorfer Imperial that was ordered, a small, out-of-tune grand piano is waiting. One pedal is broken, keys are sticking. Jarrett refuses to play. Vera finds a better instrument nearby, but transporting it is too risky.
Link to the quality
This is where the Quality of Problem Solving shows. Vera does not look for someone to blame, but examines options and rejects the dangerous one. In a crisis, good leadership quickly separates the desirable from the feasible.
05
Sticking with it until the first note
Situation
Two piano tuners work on the instrument while the opera “Lulu” is still running on stage. Vera implores Jarrett to perform anyway. He plays to an audience of around 1,400. The evening goes down in music history as “The Köln Concert”.
Link to the quality
Initiative does not end with the idea, but with carrying it out. Vera combines a technical solution with a personal conversation. Leaders often need both: making the problem smaller and winning the person over.
Key takeaways
Key lessons
01
Do not wait for an assignment when you see an opportunity.
02
Phrase your goal so concretely that a date is attached to it.
03
Bear the risk of your idea yourself.
04
In a crisis, look for options, not for someone to blame.
05
Talk to the person when the technical fix alone is not enough.
Summary
The film shows a young woman who acts without any office and against her father’s wishes. She sets herself a goal, takes the risk and, on the decisive evening, solves one problem after another. The result is a concert that almost did not happen. Initiative means taking the first step and not leaving the last one to others.
