Today, few people will remember Orlando di Lasso. But in the 19th century, the Franco-Flemish composer was popular enough for a statue to be erected in his honor at the Eastern end of Promenadeplatz.
This statue to the dead composer gained an odd amount of attention in 2009, thanks to Michael Jackson. Within days of Jackson’s death, fans of the King of Pop began laying wreaths and personal tributes on Lasso’s statue.
Over time, the shrine has grown ,with posters, fan art, books, candles, and fresh flowers covering the lower sides of the statue’s base. The effect is a constantly updated memorial that changes from week to week.
There’s no actual connection between Jackson and di Lasso. Mourning fans chose the statue as the location of their shrine simply because it’s across from the Bayerischer Hof Hotel, Jackson’s favorite place to stay when visiting Munich.
