A Word from the Artistic Director

Dear Friends,

In 1924, regarding the rise of Fascism in Europe, poet William Butler Yeats declared: “It is impossible not to ask oneself to what great task of the nations we have been summoned in this transformed world where there is so much that is obscure and terrible.” Has the world changed so little to this day or has it come full circle? In so many places, concealed under various guises, we see the emergence of the same fundamentalist, totalitarian tendencies leaning toward fascist cultures and mentalities. Our world is full of uncertainties, conflict and loss once again breeding hatred, discrimination, racism and anti-Semitism. We cannot change the past. But we have the profound opportunity to participate in a movement to change the course of history. Each of us in our own small way may contribute toward a future where human dignity, justice and freedom of belief replace greed, aggression, mistrust and absolutism.

In these fast-paced days of the 21st Century, there is a tendency to relegate the horrors of the 20th to the dust of history books. If we neglect the memory of human beings murdered or driven into exile by the Nazis, if we let their memories slip into oblivion, history is prone to repeat itself. And, yet, to remember without taking appropriate action is a hollow and dangerous tribute to these mighty dead.

Let us embrace change and the wonders of this new age filled with challenges and opportunities, but “remember for the future,” for our future. Remember, as Holocaust survivor Primo Levi advised us in his memoirs, that “it has happened, therefore it can happen again. It can happen everywhere.” And with this in mind, ever vigilant, we move actively, step by step, toward building an ethically sound and viable future for all of us.

I invite you all to come to Bernried, “the most beautiful village in Germany”. Visit our 6th Elysium Festival and participate in the artistic and intellectual dialogue revolving around our Festival’s motto “Remember – For the Future”. Come and experience creative exchange and trans-Atlantic friendship

With best wishes and regards,

Gregorij H. von Leïtis