POLSKI

Inauguration of the Messiaen Days Festival 2025 – "Quartet for the End of Time"

On January 15, 2025, a traditional performance of 'Quartet for the End of Time' by Olivier Messiaen took place at the Memorial Site Stalag VIII A in Zgorzelec – exactly 84 years after its world premiere at this historic location. For the first time, this concert was not the climax of the festival of music, history, and art, but its inauguration, as the second phase of the Messiaen Days 2025 will take place on April 25, 2025, offering many inspiring events. The festival program is already available at https://www.messiaen-tage.eu.

The Power of Art in the Face of Crisis

'Quartet for the End of Time' by Olivier Messiaen is a work of extraordinary spiritual and artistic significance, regarded not only as one of the groundbreaking achievements in music history but also as a living symbol of the power of art, capable of awakening hope and sustaining humanity even in the darkest moments. Its performance at the premiere site, Stalag VIII A – a place where tens of thousands of prisoners of war struggled with inhumane conditions – connects local history with a universal message. 'This inspiration and the ability of art to uplift were strongly felt during the concert,' emphasized Klaudyna Michalska, the director of the Messiaen Days festival. 'The Quartet occupies a special place in the world of music. Hearing it in the place and anniversary of its premiere, imagining prisoners of war in the icy January night of 1941, starving and listening to the sounds of instruments, out of tune from the frost – this is an experience that does not leave one indifferent,' added Michalska.
The international symbolism and power of the performance

Symbolically, the quartet also had an international composition. The musicians came from France, Poland, Ukraine, and Germany. This constellation exemplifies international cooperation despite a difficult shared history, particularly in a place of such symbolic significance. The artists Federico Kasik (violin), Nicolas Defranoux (cello), Robert Oberaigner (clarinet), and Michał Francuz (piano) created an unforgettable atmosphere.

One of the participants shared her feelings: 'Every year I listen to Messiaen's quartet at the European Center. It has become a tradition to participate in the January concert, and each time this work sounds different. This time it also moved me – in an exceptionally profound way.'
Another guest added: 'It was a moment of stopping, a journey through darkness, while simultaneously a call for hope.'

Challenges and Success

Despite logistical challenges, such as a power outage at the European Center for Memory, Education, Culture two days before the concert, the event was successfully realized in this extremely important location. 'The preparations were intense and full of emotions, but every minute of effort was worth it,' said Alexandra Grochowski, director of the Meetingpoint Memory Messiaen e.V. association.

Ceremonial Opening

This event inaugurated the Messiaen Days 2025, which will take place from April 25 to 27 in Görlitz and Zgorzelec. The festival program includes concerts, discussion panels, literary meetings, and workshops that will highlight the legacy of Messiaen and Stalag VIII A.

The event was organized by Meetingpoint Memory Messiaen e.V. in cooperation with the Foundation for Memory, Education, Culture. Among the invited guests was Barbara Klepsch, Saxony's Minister of Culture and Tourism, who emphasized the importance of cross-border cooperation.

The Messiaen Days Festival 2025 is supported by the Sparkasse Oberlausitz-Niederschlesien Foundation, the Polish-German Cooperation Foundation, the Kulturstiftung des Freistaates Sachsen, as well as the cities of Zgorzelec and Görlitz.

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