Ján Figel’—Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture, and Youth

Brucknerfest 2009
Linz, 13 September 2009
Speech

Sehr geehrter Herr Bundespräsident,
Sehr geehrte Frau Ministerin,
sehr geehrter Herr Landeshauptmann,
sehr geehrter Herr Dobusch,
sehr geehrter Herr Watzl,
meine sehr geehrten Damen und Herren,

Es ist mir eine große Ehre, heute anlässlich der feierlichen Eröffnung des Brucknerfestes bei Ihnen zu sein.

This festival has been a landmark in the cultural calendar of Linz for a long time, and I’m happy to see that it has become part of the programme you have prepared for Linz 2009.

We can all be very proud of the Capitals of Culture initiative, one of the best–known actions of the EU. Over the years, the events associated to the initiative

• have brought Europeans closer together;
• they have promoted a better understanding of our common cultural heritage; and
• they have celebrated the richness of our cultural diversity.

The last two points may seem in contradiction, but they are not. And another project you have launched for Linz 2009 can help me explain why.

The programme of Linz 2009 includes the “Twelve Europes” project, which is devoted to the musical traditions of the twelve countries that have joined the Union since 2004.

Music is a form of expression that can travel well across linguistic and cultural borders. So, in principle, it would be easier to speak of a common musical heritage for the whole of Europe.

At the same time, many communities around Europe have been developing distinctive musical traditions; and this is why the “Twelve Europes” project is showcasing twelve of them here in Linz – one country for each month of the year.

The “Twelve Europes” concept shows that what seemed like a contradiction is anything but. The dedicated audience who will have listened to the entire series will form a richer and more precise meaning for the phrase ‘unity in diversity’ by the end of the year.

There would be countless examples like this. Together, they would show that the EU motto in varietate concordia – to use the Latin version – is an accurate description of Europe’s cultural landscape.

I also regard in varietate concordia as a strategy for the future. Because the more we explore the rich cultural, linguistic, and artistic diversity of Europe, the more tools we will have to build our united Europe of tomorrow.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The Capitals of Culture event is unique in scale and scope. The experience of many participating cities shows that its benefits can be felt long after the end of the respective years – for instance in terms of urban development and job creation.

The idea is not to promote cities that stand out thanks to their history or charms, but to give a European stage to the cities that present the most innovative programmes and that can best involve the people.

I would like to stress the innovative aspect, especially in this 2009 which is also the European Year of Creativity and Innovation.

The Capitals of Culture programmes are often forward–looking and make ample room for contemporary forms of artistic and cultural expression.

For this reason alone, I think that this year’s Brucknerfest will be remembered as one of the centrepieces of the programme for Linz 2009.

In terms of innovation, this festival matches perfectly well the broader concept of the European Capitals of culture. I am thinking of the interplay of sound and image, one of the main themes of the festival.

The capacity to combine tradition and innovation has always been a factor of success for previous Capitals of Culture. I am sure this music festival will help Linz 2009 renew the tradition.

Ich wünsche dem Brucknerfest viel Erfolg.

Vielen Dank.