Testimonial von Ernst Löschner für Michel Pébereau
Soon after the creation of BNP Paribas (2000) I met Michel Pébereau in Paris, mon president, as I would always address him thereafter.
He had become famous as the brilliant strategist who had successfully accomplished two major privatizations of leading banks. As newly appointed Head of Territory of Austria I was among those who were invited to internal strategy meetings with our top management. He chaired these meetings with the clearest sense of direction which I had experienced in my career, coupled with wit and elegance. His many other interests and vocations, in academia (as teacher and writer), literature (as reviewer of futuristic novels) and in music (as pianist he was an admirer of Alfred Brendel, with a particular interest in chamber music), inspired me to leave also non-financial footprints of BNP Paribas in Austria which would be appreciated by our clients, positioning our great bank not only as leading international investment and commercial bank.
A close cooperation ensued with the Fondation BNP Paribas (especially with Martine Tridde-Mazloum) which led to the sponsorship of the great Fernand Leger-Retrospective in Salzburg (with Georges Chodron de Courcel opening the exhibition of the Rupertinum, coinciding with the opening of the Salzburg Festival 2005). Lateron (in 2009) we co-commissioned the world premiere of a modern opera in honor of the Austrian composer Gerhard Schedl.
The greatest lasting contribution in art was surely the commissioning of the clarinet quintet in A by Friedrich Cerha, the now 92-year old doyen of Austrian composers and close friend of Pierre Boulez. It was written for Paul Meyer and the Quatuor Ysaye as contribution to the Amitié entre la France et Autriche. The world premiere took place in the Vienna Konzerthaus in April 2006, with Michel Pébereau as host for 350 of our clients. The composition has been received with outstanding critical acclaim and has meanwhile been performed in all continents, as welcome juxtaposition to the famous clarinet quintets of Mozart and Brahms. The next day the concert was repeated in Paris at our Orangerie, again with M. Pébereau being the host for choice clients. from left to right: former Austrian President Heinz Fischer with his wife Margit Fischer, Mr. and Mrs. Michel Pébereau,
At this point I may share some inside information: Friedrich Cerha had planned to dedicate his composition to him, but M.P. asked for acceptance that the dedication should go to the bank and not to him personally. There is an important connection between Cerha and his clarinet quintet also with Alpine Peace Crossing: when former Austrian Chancellor Franz Vranitzky opened the APC-event which was organized, jointly with the Bruno-Kreisky-Forum and ORF-television in May 2017, in commemoration of 70 years Jewish Exodus Krimml, Friedrich and Traude Cerha were guests of honor when his music was performed.
All this brings me now finally to the connection of Michel Pébereau and APC. When I had conceived the plan for a commemorative crossing of the Krimml Alps, I shared these ideas with him, asking for his concurrence that BNP Paribas might function as head sponsor. Not only did he endorse the plan, he agreed to be on the Honorary Committee by name (Baudoin Prot and Jacques de Larosière were also among the prominent supporters), and was most generous in authorizing that 10 survivors of the Exodus 1947, now living in Israel, could be invited to take part in the ceremonies in Austria.
When I retired from BNP Paribas in 2009, calling on Michel Pébereau in Paris, I expected to be ushered in by his secretariat, but he came in person to the elegant hall in the Orangerie to welcome my wife Waltraud and me. Before I could thank him for all the support which he had given to me for almost 10 years, it was he who thanked me. I have kept all his personal notes over the years. He asked about my further plans with APC. Little did I know then that a Grove of Flight would be planted 8 years later, but it is a great honor for me now to be among those dedicating tree # 8 in this Grove to him. Michel Pébereau was not like Mstislav Rostropovich who would open his arms to show his emotions, but there was warmth and compassion in his eyes. A man of diversity and brilliance professionally, as human being a role model to many.
