Farewell - Multitudes gather for Peter Sodann's memorial service in Halle
Around two months after his passing and on what would've been his 88th birthday, numerous individuals convened in Halle to honor the renowned actor Peter Sodann. During a commemorative service hosted at the New Theatre, where Sodann had invested considerable time, actors, cultural influencers, politicians, and citizens united. Actor Matthias Brenner recounted Sodann's headstrong demeanor, inconsistencies, witty demeanor, and gall. He fostered inspiration, amusement, and controversy.
The thespian, director, and theatre administrator succumbed on April 5 at the age of 87. Sodann rose to prominence throughout Germany as a result of his somewhat surly portrayal of Chief Inspector Bruno Ehrlicher in "Tatort," which he portrayed from 1992 to 2007. Sodann was born in Meissen, Saxony, as the offspring of a laborer. He embarked on an apprenticeship as a toolmaker and briefly studied law before attending the Leipzig Theatre Academy.
Additionally, Sodann managed a cabaret that was dismantled in 1961 due to a program deemed counter-revolutionary. He was detained for treason. Subsequent to this, he was surveilled by the Stasi. He gained notoriety as a theater impresario. As an intendant, he established a distinctive cultural sanctuary in his hometown of Halle, comprising multiple theaters. In the GDR, he obtained the National Prize in 1986. In 2001, he was also bestowed with the Federal Cross of Merit.
Cultural State Secretary of Saxony-Anhalt, Sebastian Putz, remarked: "Peter Sodann dedicationally embodied his ideals as a politically engaged individual and believed he was an East German with a leftist mindset - unwavering in the face of feedback and divisiveness for his viewpoints." Putz emphasized that he lamented the absence of "this blunt and upright democrat, with his distinctive and biting approach to affecting change, from this tumultuous and tumultuous era."
