This piece will certainly date me because I have watched the Goethe-Institut from its earliest beginnings to its present state, with Mr. Richard Kunzel as director. At the outset, the agency was called the Goethe House, and people used to call it and ask: “Is Mr. Goethe in?”
I came to know all its directors, and I was deeply grieved when Hubertus Kuhne lost his life in a plane crash while he was on an official mission. Another director, Gerrit Bretzler, aware of how conversant I was with the activities of the Goethe-Institut, graciously requested me to be the main speaker for the ceremonies marking its 20th anniversary in 1981.
My newly launched book “Turning Back the Pages” has a lengthy observation on the Goethe-Institut, the observation being part of my response to an award (Commander’s Cross of Merit) from the German government. Herewith the quote from my book which proves how immensely the Goethe-Institut has enriched our arts, culture and sciences.
The Goethe-Institut’s program, cultural in the broadest sense, has remained virtually unmatched for sheer range, scope, magnitude, depth and diversity. German experts have lectured on cancer, aging, nuclear science, philosophy, architecture, sociology — specifically on the problems of the working class — city planning, micropaleontology (this word is not in my concise Oxford dictionary), International law, book design, Oriental languages, the visual and graphic arts, music (classic, jazz, avant-garde), theater, dance — in sum, lectures on every conceivable aspect of human endeavor.
All these to disseminate knowledge derived from German experience, in fulfillment of the Institut’s aim to serve the host country and, in Goethe’s spirit, to contribute to universality, brotherhood, and the development of the total individual.
Further, world-renowned artists and ensembles in music and modern dance come from various German cities to perform in an endless stream, while balletomanes have their fill of ballet films.
The Institut complements its program by sponsoring lectures by Filipino experts, exhibitions by our emerging painters, festivals of Philippine films, concerts jointly featuring Filipino and German artists. For instance, Oscar Yatco who, for years, was a violin professor in Hannover, conducted for German soprano Margaret Shack in Manila. Through the Institut, such outstanding talents as Enrique Barcelo, Renato Lucas and Andion Fernandez obtained scholarships in German conservatories. Today, Barcelo is Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s principal flutist; Lucas, its principal cellist; Fernandez, a regular member of the Berlin Opera House.
To nobody’s surprise, and certainly not to mine, the Institut, from its inauguration in 1961 to the present, has maintained the incredible momentum, pace, vitality, range and scope of its program. During its celebration of the 250th birth anniversary of Goethe, of its own 40th anniversary in 2001, and indeed in any year chosen at random, each month is a virtual feast of art and culture in its widest latitude.
Tomorrow’s schedule of activities to mark Goethe-Institut’s 50th anniversary celebration follows:
16:00 Art Talk / “What’s Next?” — Round table discussion on the roles of international institutions and art communities in the Philippines. Moderated by Jay Cruz.
Dance — Myra Beltran/Film — Teddy Co and Jay Garcia/Visual Arts — Claro Ramirez/Alliance Francaise — Sabrina Durand/Embassy of France — Flora Geley/Instituto Cervantes — Jose Fons/Director Japan Foundation — Shuji Takatori/Director Geothe Institut — Richard Kunzel.
18:00 Opening Speeches/Director of the Goethe-Institut — Richard Kunzel/Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany — Christian Ludwig Weber-Lortsch
Music of Rizal — Performance by UST Choral Group/Choral Concert — Performance by Novo Concertante/19:30 — Cocktails
Documentary Film Screenings/20:00 — “As Told by Butterflies” — Nawruz Paguidopon/20:30 — “Neo-Rebolusyon” — Emmerson Reyes/21:45 — “Entablado” — EJ Mijares/Artistic Director — Claro Ramirez.