Slartibartfas

Are there any culture interested people here? Well, if so, and you are looking for a destination to go, you should not miss out the European cultural capital of this year. Its the 150.000 inhabitants town Hermannstadt, that is despite its not so overly large size exceptionally rich of history and culture. (Don't say you have never heard of it before.)

And not only the long list of events and activities is interesting, also the city itself has an amazing old charme.



Detailed agenda: Hermannstadt: European Capital of Culture 2007

Voland

Slart forgot to mention that Europe has two capitals of culture this year, the other one is Luxembourg..

RL - Luxembourg European Capital of Culture 2007 Award


« Luxembourg and Grande Région, European Capital of Culture 2007 »

Luxembourg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Slartibartfas

I know that Luxembourg is the second one. I focused however on Hermannstadt, as I deem it to be a highlight, for several reasons.

And Luxembourg is one of the most European citiese anyway
And probably the only one that is already the second time cultural capital. Isn't it?

You are however very welcome to talk about Luxembourg as well in this too.

Voland

Yes, Luxembourg already got the title back in 1995.
And Herrmannstadt/ Sibiu is definitely a great city that also it. I am involved in several of the cultural events and had the opportunity to visit Hermannstadt two times last year during the preparations and i´m looking forward to go again in April...
Maybe we should include more information about Transylvania ( home region of Vlad Dracul, known as Dracula etc.) to attract more readers..
Just very short and from memory since i have to go : The city of Hermannstadt was founded by german settlers in modern western Romania in the middle ages, the so-called "Siebenbürger Sachsen". They still make up a tiny german minority in Romania, and the citys mayor is one of them. Hermannstadt with the romanian name Sibiu has in spite of beeing ruled by Hungarians, Turks, Austrians and Communism etc. preserved most of its medieval and baroque buildings and makes a very fascinating of various cultures which live peacefully together and impressive old architecture.....It is worth a visit this year ( but also don´t miss Luxembourg...)

Slartibartfas

I wonder why Luxembourg is it again, if it was just 2 years ago too. I mean its an amazing town, but isn't it a bit unfair for the other great cities in Europe that one of them is it two times within only a few years.
Anyway, its for sure a great thing for Luxembourg and it certainly deserves it.

You are involved in some programs of your town? In an artistic way or organisation of events or background work if I may ask.

Voland

Hmmmm looking again i see that i indeed wrote 1995. Now that is two plus ten years .. literally twelve.
Luxembourg got the title again because the current concept was a little different. The title is for Luxembourg together with the surrounding Euro region with the german states of Rheinland- Pfalz ( the moselle valley region), and Saarland, the french department of Lorraine/Lothringen/ Lothringia and the belgian province de Luxembourg. Four the first time its one city and four countries, that is the new thing about it.
And about my personal involvement ? Well , Luxembourgish don´t share german standards of efficiency On the other hand that means everything is more relaxed. I am working in the press office, show german speaking journalists around, provide contacts for them etc., but i was also responsible for recruiting some of the artists, bands etc, for the celebrations.
But i still find time for my own cabaret group which will be there also....

FRYandBENDER

Do they do this every year? I guess so, duh. Anyways, I had never known about this event. I'll try to make sure that when I plan my trip to Europe, whenever that will be... maybe next year, I will definately have to make sure that I schedule that in.

Good picture too. I like the architecture.

__________________
Neither am I the means to any end others may wish to accomplish. I am not a tool for their use. I am not a servant of their needs. I am not a bandage for their wounds. I am not a sacrifice on their altars. ... I owe nothing to my brothers, nor do I gather debts from them. I ask no one to live for me, nor do I live for others. I covet no mans soul, nor is my soul theirs to covet.

Ayn Rand, Anthem.

Common insult examples and how to avoid them

Voland

Next year it´s going to be Liverpool...

Liverpool 08

Where in Europe are you planning to go ?....

Slartibartfas

Das wird mir jetzt ewig nachhängen

Well, my point is as valid wit twelve as with two years. But your point about the 4 countries cooperation is a new and very good one. Where else than around Luxembourg could one realize it in a similar way?

You are very much engaged in many different things, are you? So you also have a cabaret group too? Political Kabaret?

Voland

You are very much engaged in many different things, are you? So you also have a cabaret group too? Political Kabaret?[/quote]


Also. We started in the good old university days ( which aren´t over that long )as a forum for students who´d like to write their own stories, poems etc. At a certain point we started to hold public readings, in cafes but also in public, before the Grand dukes palace in Luxembourg or the Porta Nigra ( roman city gate) in Trier for example and it started to develop more into something like theater sports or poetry slams where the audience was ( "surprisingly") drawn into etc. What we´re doing now is to "construct" programs which normally last an evening and often blend musical and theater performances, texts and lyrics by ourselves but also from other and ( possibly ) better authors.
Our last thing was a theater parody about Kafkas : "the Judgement" which constantly bore paralells , hints and jokes directed towards politics, society etc. etc. Another time partially famous and partially forgotten writers and artists of the early twentieth century were rising from the grave gathering on a stage that was suppossed to resemble the Romanisches Cafe in Berlin, a favourite writers hang out in Berlin in the twenties , drank Absinth and fought over literature ( but not only....)
Do you want tickets...