Between notes & central bank
Interview |
In addition to its core tasks as the central bank of the Republic of Austria, the Oesterreichische Nationalbank (OeNB) is also committed to domestic art and culture. With its collection of historical string instruments, it makes an important contribution to preserving and further enriching the richness of sound of the Austrian musical landscape. The instruments have been lent to musicians - including nine of the 46 in total to members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.
Both in 1989 and today, the further development of this extraordinary collection requires clear decisions and the will to actively support cultural commitment as a bank. Since July 1, 2025, this responsibility has been in the hands of Josef Meichenitsch, Director of Payments, IT, Financial Education and Culture. Chiara Galbusera, curator of the collection, talks to Josef Meichenitsch about the importance of the instrument collection and how the OeNB defines its role in the cultural life of the country.
Within your diverse area of responsibility, the collection clearly stands out. What was your first encounter with historical string instruments like? Did anything surprise you?
Together with the radio station Ö1, the National Bank organizes special free concerts for children. Musicians who use our instruments play for a very young audience. The stories behind the pieces of music are explained in a very lively way. When the children then look on with wide-eyed enthusiasm, it's really something special. This was the first official event at which I accompanied the collection as the responsible director, so to speak. I was surprised by the strong emotional connection between the artists and their instruments. They talk about a violin like a family member or a long-standing friendship. I don't play an instrument myself, so I couldn't understand this from my own experience. That surprised and touched me.
What importance do you attach to the collection in the OeNB's overall mandate - and how do you see its particular value for the public?
Each and every one of us has heard the phrase "Austria is a cultural nation" countless times. It is said with ease, we are used to the sound of it. What we should never forget is that there are people who work hard every day to maintain this reputation as a cultural nation. Austrian musicians and musicians living in Austria invest heart and soul, passion and discipline and are therefore among the best in the world. As a national bank, we are honored to be able to support them by providing instruments that do justice to this personal commitment. By lending out the instruments, we also make them accessible and tangible to the public. These valuable pieces are made for music, not for a display case or a safe.
These instruments date back centuries and, despite all the innovations, are still made by hand and in almost the same form today. I find this consistency reassuring in these turbulent times. How important to you is the idea of keeping this cultural heritage accessible for future generations?
We live in an age in which we no longer know for sure whether the music we are listening to was composed or recorded by a real person or whether it was created by artificial intelligence. Historic instruments and craftsmanship passed down through generations are an exciting antithesis to this. You can't replace the artistry and passion that people have with a clever machine. I think it's good to be reminded of this from time to time. That's why we at the National Bank are consciously committed to preserving these instruments and expanding the collection when the conditions are right. Future generations should be able to play, hear and experience them.