A silent film with a live voice-over by a modern artist and musician, public readings of the works of the famous German writer Thomas Mann presented in both the original and in Lithuanian translation, classical music under the church dome and a cup of coffee at the museum. Both locals and visitors can expect this and much more at the 23rd Thomas Mann Festival to be held on 13–20 July. It will be centered around the theme “Europe of Homelands”.
The event which is based on a unique concept is organised by an international team of curators seeking to highlight the fascinating beauty of the Curonian Spit resort and its unique heritage. “The festival is based on a time-tested formula, yet each year we add new locations, partnerships, and meetings with interesting people. This year, the programme will include about 30 events devoted to music, art, film, and spoken word, which will traditionally attract people to a variety of different resort venues,” said Dr. Lina Motuzienė, Director of Thomas Mann Cultural Centre, organizer of the festival.
According to the chair of the festival’s curatorium, Dr. Ruth Leiserowitz, the theme of this year’s festival “Europe of Homelands” is meant to provoke thought and invite people to talk about manifold meanings of the term “homeland”. Homeland may be your home, a city or a country you were born in, or a sense of togetherness. It may also be a holiday homeland, an idea nurtured by the Mann family who called Nida their holiday homeland and visited it on a regular basis.
This year’s programme includes nationally-known participants who are sure to capture the attention of the Lithuanian audience. The festival will feature a performance by the prominent operatic tenor Edgaras Montvidas and meetings with Jindrich Mannthe, Czech writer and film director and grandson of Thomas Mann’s brother Heinrich, Canadian-Lithuanian writer and director of the school for creative writing Antanas Šileika, German literary scholar Uwe Neumann, and Polish poet and translator Tomasz Różycki.
Music lovers will be able to enjoy interpretations of European and Lithuanian classical music, works from the “golden collection” of classical chamber music, début performances of Lithuanian composers Onutė Narbutatė and Teisutis Makačinas, and the presentation of the end result of the creative workshops of young conductors.
The art programme will include modern art projects and a historic statement on gender equality: exhibition of the paintings from private collections featuring the works of the East Prussian artists who pursued their creative endeavours in Nida Art Colony. Visitors will also have a chance to attend the festival’s film screening nights featuring the works of European cinematographers.
The festival venues will include Writer Thomas Mann Memorial Museum, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Nida, the Curonian Spit History Museum, V. and K. Mizgiris Artists’ House, Nida Art Colony of Vilnius Academy of Arts, and Neringa Gymnasium.
All events will be held in Lithuanian and German. Full festival programme and tickets are available at www.mann.lt.