“80 Years of UNESCO” ceremony at the Casals Forum – Music, dialogue, and cultural diversity
The evening began with a panel discussion moderated by Prof. Dr. Tiago de Oliveira Pinto. After a welcome by Raimund Trenkler and Oda Cramer von Laue, Christoph Wulf (German UNESCO Commission), Prof. Dr. Christine Volkmann (UNESCO Chair for Entrepreneurship and Intercultural Management), and Jörg Süßenbach (Goethe-Institut) discussed the role of culture in changing times. The panel highlighted the importance of cultural diversity, historical responsibility, and international cooperation, which have been central concerns of UNESCO since its founding in 1945.
This was followed by a concert that combined music and the art of text. The program included Beethoven's “Ghost Trio,” Shostakovich's Piano Trio No. 2, Piazzolla's “Invierno Porteño,” the world premiere of “An die Musik” by composer Jeffrey Ching, and Pablo Casals' “Song of the Birds.” Accompanying texts by Walter Benjamin, Claude Lévi-Strauss, Ailton Krenak, and Casals were presented by members of the Kronberg Academy, adding further depth to the program.
With this ceremony, the Kronberg Academy made one of the first cultural statements marking the UNESCO anniversary in Germany. The event honored the legacy of Pablo Casals and showed how music and dialogue can build bridges between cultures, generations, and perspectives.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
