With the nightingale to Oberhausen: Co-curator Frank Bartsch in conversation
17 December 2025Frank Bartsch's story is every Udo Lindenberg fan's dream. He listened to Udo's records in his childhood bedroom in the 70s, and decades later he was part of Udo's inner circle. In this interview, he talks about his personal journey with the rock legend and recounts the creation of the exhibition.
Udo Lindenberg and Frank Bartsch in the discography © Tine Acke, Ludwiggalerie 2025
It all started with a record player…
The art is housed in the Great Palace, the discography in the Small Palace: Udo's work occupies the entire LUDWIGGALERIE complex for this exhibition. While visitors can revel in liqueur paintings, nudes, and Udograms on one side, a nostalgic journey through Udo's musical world on the other will set fans' hearts racing. The art historical presentation and the music section were curated by museum director Dr. Christine Vogt and Frank Bartsch. And the latter has its own special place in the Udo universe.
His journey from fan to Udo Lindenberg's archivist began in 1977. His older sister received a record player for Christmas: In their shared children's room, alongside Cat Stevens, Udo Lindenberg's music was soon played constantly. Riki Masorati Bartsch played with his Matchbox and Siku cars. At 14, he saw Udo for the first time backstage at the Würzburg concert hall, and in 1992, they had their first conversation at a concert in Frankfurt. From then on, things took off: wherever Udo performed, Bartsch was sure to be there. After the two made personal contact in 2006, Bartsch began working for Udo's company in 2012. Flexible businesses Udos calls it that. “And I’m still flexible today,” says Frank Bartsch.
The creation of a special exhibition project
Even with the Oberhausen exhibition, it was ultimately chance that set the ball rolling. In 2019, Dr. Christine Vogt and Frank Bartsch met at an Udo Lindenberg exhibition. About four years later, an idea became a plan, and a plan became an exhibition. The project was finally realized only through funding from the Brost Foundation. Frank Bartsch took on the general organization, curated the rooms in the Small Castle, and contributed many exhibits from his own collection to the Great Castle. In the exhibition catalog, he recounts the project's genesis in detail. In an interview, he recalls the complex implementation:
“The work was challenging because we had just finished another exhibition at the New Art Museum Tübingen; the switchover happened almost seamlessly within a few days. I was impressed by the fantastic team at the LUDWIGGALERIE, who were always helpful and friendly, even when things got hectic. Dr. Vogt and Dr. Hülsewig curated the art with such expertise; Udo's work was elevated to new artistic heights. That surprised and impressed me.”
Udo's Path to Iconic Status
Frank Bartsch also fondly remembers the exhibition opening. It was a gray day with rain forecast, until Udo took to the stage and the sun literally came out. This wasn't the first time Bartsch had experienced this. Udo's performances often held little surprises and seemed capable of even changing the weather. Whether this was due to the iron will and belief of... nightingaleWhat is the secret to Udo's success, as he likes to call himself? Frank Bartsch believes these are the qualities that underlie Udo's great success: "His unwavering will and belief that he could become a big star are probably the most important foundations. In my view, he has worked hard and lived for four people in his life so far; all of this has shaped him into a living legend and has paid off handsomely for him since his comeback. It's wonderful that he can enjoy this success today in perfect health."
Alongside Udo, Bartsch experiences the musician not only as a warm-hearted and helpful person without any star airs, but also as someone he knows well. He understands how much Udo means to many of the fans and how much they care. They are often moved to tears during these encounters; no wonder, since in the eastern part of Germany, Udo is still strongly associated with the resistance against the GDR, with rebellion against the system, with a yearning for freedom. In the west, however, he is considered a pioneer of German-language music beyond the kitsch of Schlager and as someone who shows that one can dream big. Frank Bartsch finds Udo's art just as life-affirming: "Joy of life and good humor, sprinkled with a positive message."
The Phoenix in the Bottle
The exhibition is drawing ever closer to its end, but there are still some wonderful events with Frank Bartsch to sweeten the farewell. Visitors can enjoy, for example, at January 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th Visitors can look forward to guided tours of the exhibition and a lecture. The co-curator offers a word of advice: “Hurry up, the exhibition closes definitively on January 18, 2026. No further extensions are possible. Now is your chance to delve deep into the Udo universe, and there’s something for everyone – guaranteed even for those who haven’t actually liked Udo before.”
The exhibition therefore offers something for everyone, and you're sure to find the perfect piece of art to match your favorite Udo song. Frank Bartsch's favorite song, by the way, changes depending on his mood and life situation. His favorite painting, however, is clearly the... Phoenix in a bottleChampagne glass in hand and joint in hand, Udo emerges merrily from a green bottle, like a genie. Like a phoenix from the ashes, he constantly reinvents himself. He is, as Frank Bartsch aptly puts it, "a remarkable bird!"
Lena Elster
General