Goethe Institute in Damascus outlines rich cultural activities
Syria-Germany, Culture, 4/5/2002

" The German Cultural Center in Damascus new cultural program for the coming Summer season is eventful and rich, reflecting the deep cultural ties linking Syria and Germany, said the Institute's director in Damascus Mr. Bjorn Luley, in a statement to Arabic News (ArabicNews.com).

He said that the highlights for April will be four concerts by Germany's vest film pianist Jochen Barenz, who will accompany well known German silent films of the twenties like Fritz Lang's " Metropolis" ( on Monday, 8th April), George Wilhelm Pabst's " Lulu" ( on Tuesday, 9th April), Ernst Lubitsch's " the eyes of the mummy Ma" ( on Wednesday, 10th April) and Robert Wiene's most famous expressionist film " The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari" ( Thursday, 11th April). All films shows with live- piano music will begin at the Goethe- Institute at 7,00 p.m.. Mr. Luley commented that film- interested Damascenes should not miss those four concerts.

He continued that in the second half of April the Swiss Embassy and the Goethe Institute will present a photo exhibition by Switzerland's best photographer Beat Presser about the Alp 's. Opening will be on Monday, 15th April. As the United Nations have proclaimed the year 2002 as the International year of the Mountains ," in order to draw the attention of mountainous regions of this earth, this exhibition will portrait the Alps, Europe ' most important mountain range.

He added that in the framework of this exhibition, the Goethe Ð Institute, the Center Cultural Francais and the Italian Cultural center will show different feature and documentary films from Austria, France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy about the Alps between 15th and 28th April. This " Alps- Film Festival" will be opened on the 15th April at 6.3- p.m. by the screening of Germany's most dramatic mountain film ever made " The White hell of Piz Palu " from 1929, starring leni Riefenstahl, who will be 100 years old this Summer..

In may, the play " Woyzeck" by the 19th century German play-write George Buchner will be presented ( in English by the Damascus Theatre group " Magic Carpet Production" on 12th and 13th and 14th May at 8.00 p.m. in the Goethe- Institute.

Germany's most renowned poster designer Prof. Holger Matthies will open an exhibition of his best works on 13th May at 12,00 noon at the faculty of Fine Arts of Damascus University, where he will also conduct a three day design and creativity workshop with students of the visual communication classes.

On Wednesday, 15th May at 6.00 p.m. Prof. Matthies will give a lecture with slides at the Goethe- Institute about " Poster design and visual communication" in German with translation into Arabic.

An exhibition by the German Artist Antje Siebrecht will be presented from 20th May until June and a lecture about the famous German orientalist, diplomat and lover of the Arab world Max Von Oppenheim ( 1860- 1946) on Wednesday 22nd May at 6.00 p.m. will conclude the May program.

Highlights of June will be an exhibition live and work of the German- American film diva Marlene Dietrich, whose 100th birthday was celebrated by film lovers around the world in last December. During this exhibition, which opens on Monday, 3rd at 6.30 p.m., the Goethe- Institute and the US Cultural Center will show famous films with Marlene Dietrich.

A concert by Munich based " Harmonic Brass" Quintet on Friday 7th June at 8.30 p.m. in the Damascus Sheraton Hotel will be a feast for music lovers, since the ensemble's repertoire includes music from the renaissance, baroque, romantic period as well as pop music of our time, presented in a very humorous way.

Mr. Luley indicated two other activities of less importance. he said that on Sunday, 14th April at 6,00 p.m. The prominent German Middle East Specialist Dr. Volker Perthes will talks about the role of the Middle East in German Foreign Policy. Dr. Perthes will talks in Arabic but there will be a simultaneous translation into English. He added that another interesting lecture in the Goethe- Institute's series " Scenarios for Syria " will be by Samir Seifan, a prominent Syrian economist, who will lecture on " Syrian economy's chances for a rapid growth" on Sunday, 19th May at 6.00 p.m.

Worthy mentioning that with this cultural program, the director of the Goethe Ð Institute Damascus since 1997, Mr. Bjorn Luley, wants to say goodbye to all friends and partners of the institute and thanks for the long-standing co-operation. Mr. Luley will leave Damascus for good in mid July to take up his new assignment in Kyoto, Japan. His successor Dr. Manfried Wust will take over as a new director on 1st September, 2002.

Previous Stories:
  Goethe Institute director urges cultural cooperation with Syria   (1/18/2002)
  Goethe Institute director: Personal contacts between peoples of different cultural pivotal for inter- cultural bridges   (6/13/2001)
  Goethe Institute for boosting cultural ties with Syrian partners   (11/20/2000)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search