Over 700 guests listened to the compositions of Ernst von Dohnányi, Andrzej Panufnik and Wojciech Kilar performed by the Symphony Orchestra of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, conducted by Michal Klauza. The concert took place in the grand hall of the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest on 17 October 2014.
The Polish Institute in Budapestwas officially opened on 24 May 1939. Besides the Polish Institutes in London and Bucharest, it is the oldest Polish diplomatic post promoting Polish culture abroad and, what is more, the oldest culture centre in Hungary after the Italian Institute of Culture. The Institute has been operating for 50 years in its current seat situated in the very centre of Pest.
“While planning Polish-Hungarian cultural cooperation, we should draw inspiration from the far-sightedness of our predecessors. In the 1930s, that foresight made Poland and Hungary European pioneers which signed an agreement on cultural cooperation and decided to open institutes of culture in the two countries,” Jacek Olbrycht, Director General at the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, said at the event. “Our modernization plans of the Institute’s beautiful building, located in such a special place of equally beautiful Hungarian capital, will make it even more interesting for our Hungarian friends,” added Director Olbrycht.
“The Institute’s anniversary is a mark of the stability of Polish-Hungarian friendship, unique in Central Europe,” Zoltán Balog, Hungarian Minister of Human Resources, said in his address. He also observed that culture is a treasure which unites nations regardless of short-term political differences.
The concert also featured a 4-minute film presenting the Institute’s headquarters and its activities.
“In order to reach new generations, 25 years after regaining independence, we need to focus not only on presenting what is the most interesting and the most valuable in Poland, but also on facilitating dialogue. That is why we are carrying out our projects in cooperation with Hungarian partners,” emphasised Katarzyna Sitko, Director of the Polish Institute in Budapest.
The events were organised under the patronage of the Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Małgorzata Omilanowska, and the Hungarian Minister of Human Resources.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs RP Press Office, Polish Institute in Budapest
Photo © Peter Egyed