Bio's Bahnhof

Alfred Biolek

Alfred Biolek tried a new concept in Bio's Bahnhof, which he conceived for the broadcaster WDR in Cologne: a mix of music genres, and an unusual setting in a former industrial site.[1] He collaborated with stage designers Dieter Flimm and Wolf Nöhren. Flimm searched for large halls with an original atmosphere around Cologne, and found a tram depot in Bonn, and a former depot of the Köln-Frechen-Benzelrather Eisenbahn in Frechen, which was chosen.[1][2]

The central idea of Bio's Bahnhof was a mix of many music genres, including pop music, hunting ensemble, classical music and contemporary music such as Karlheinz Stockhausen and Mauricio Kagel. Biolek talked with composers and performers, meeting many representatives of the different styles.[1]

Kate Bush made her first television appearance in the first issue of Bio's Bahnhof.[3] The show also presented dance ensembles, but rarely as they were expensive, compared to individual performers. Sammy Davis, Jr. was available for only 5,000 DM, because Fritz Rau used the appearance as advertisement for his tours.[1] Stars were encouraged to present something unusual, for example a duet of two artists who normally don't perform together; in 1979 Adriano Celentano sang a duet with Elke Sommer, Angelo Branduardi with Esther Ofarim, in 1980 Udo Lindenberg performed with Nana Mouskouri, and in 1982 Mario Adorf with Milva. The American Helen Schneider performed the German traditional "Heidenröslein" in 1978. Biolek, as amateur, sometimes performed with his guest, dancing with Hazy Osterwald and the Kessler-Zwillinge, singing with Caterina Valente and participating in a "clowns" act.[1]

Each show was meant to present one humorous entry, such as comedian Emil Steinberger.[1] The group Folies Parisiennes, of men dressed like Mireille Mathieu and presenting her song "Akropolis Adieu", had to come a second time by popular demand.[1]

In 1982, Biolek decided that he had experimented in enough fields in the show, and wanted to try something else.[1] A later sequel was named Bei Bio (At Bio's). Ten years after the last show, a special edition was aired on 2 October 1992 from the roundhouse of the former producer of locomotives, Orenstein & Koppel in Babelsberg.[4]

In 1983, Biolek was awarded the Adolf-Grimme-Preis in gold for the series.[5][6]

• Norbert Thomas: Alfred Biolek und sein Bahnhof. (in German) Bertelsmann, München 1982, ISBN 3-570018-63-6

• Bahnhof für Bio – Alfred Biolek wird 70. Documentation about the series Bio's Bahnhof with excerpts from the shows and interviews with Biolek, 2004, 100 min., book and direction: Klaus Michael Heinz, moderation: Anke Engelke and Hape Kerkeling, first aired on 10 July 2004 by WDR and NDR

• Bio's Bahnhof at IMDb