6th Think Tank: Educated, but incapable of the whole!

Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the creative elemental force of undisciplined, unleashed thinking

Panel discussion with Prof. Ernst Smole and other stakeholders

Moderation: Tanja Obmann-Lichtblau

May 9, 2026, 11.00 a.m.

The problems facing humanity in the first two decades of the new century require - unlike the 20th century - networked, global thinking and local action. The strict separation of STEM and non-STEM disciplines with the associated thought patterns is inevitably reaching its limits in the face of geopolitical challenges.

We observe this "demarcation" in our everyday lives, but also in political discussions, with the result that often nothing progresses - for example in education or healthcare reform or in questions of climate and global policy.

Nikolaus Harnoncourt never allowed himself to be pigeonholed from an early age. As an eternal seeker, he constantly questioned everything and himself. Was he a musicologist? No. He was a researcher and a new thinker and always applied his findings in practice. Was he a qualified teacher? No. His lectures on performance practice at the Mozarteum Salzburg from 1973 onwards were stormed by the students and viewed with skepticism by the professors. His findings spurred on discussions. He sought contradiction in order to grow from it. Was he an author? No, but his books are read all over the world. Was he a trained conductor? No. He conducted with conviction.

Nikolaus Harnoncourt was an example of how extraordinary things can be created when you think and act outside of conventions - and against the resistance and the respective specialists.

There are Nobel Prize winners who are honored for achievements outside of the discipline that is their actual profession, or the study from the USA that proves that most Nobel Prize winners - compared to scientists without a Nobel Prize - engage in high-level artistic and craft activities in their free time without being formal "professionals" in these areas.

ADMISSION FREE

Registration is requested: https: //register.bruckneruni.at/e/denkwerkstatt6

The event will be streamed live.

Access is barrier-free.

As part of the supporting program of the International Harnoncourt Days