More than timpani and trumpets

Stuttgart, 27 April 2022
Concerts, cinema, dance, art and literature, exhibitions, cabaret and theatre – more than 200 cultural events invite you to experience and marvel at the Katholikentag in Stuttgart. The organisers presented this wealth today at the Haus der Geschichte in Stuttgart. “With our cultural programme, we want to transport the atmosphere of the Katholikentag into the city for five days,” emphasised Paul Magino, chairman of the Katholikentag’s cultural working group. More than 100 bands, choirs and individual artists have been selected in an application process and will be responsible for a large part of the cultural programme.
And: “We are working together with many cultural institutions in the city of Stuttgart, such as the Linden Museum, the State University of Music and Performing Arts, the House of Music, the State Gallery and the Old Playhouse, and will significantly enrich the Stuttgart cultural scene for this time of the Katholikentag.” Some venues at the Katholikentag are firmly linked to a particular genre: for example, cabaret lovers will flock to the Renitenztheater and the Gustav-Siegle-Haus. Those interested in author readings should note the Wanner Hall in the Linden Museum with readings by Anna-Katharina Hahn, Nora Bossong and Josef Haslinger.
Exhibitions provide their very own insights, such as “Under the Skin – My Tattoo, My Story” in the Akademiegarten (open-air). The most extensive and highly topical project of the Diözesanmuseum is the exhibition “”Vulnerable – Verletzlich” (Vulnerable – Vulnerable) in St. Maria, in which the award-winning works of the art competition of the same name of the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart – in selection – are presented. The background: The Corona pandemic and, most recently, the warlike actions in Ukraine made us clearly aware of our vulnerability. Vulnerability is an essential moment of human existence that weakens, but can also strengthen. In setting the task, the diocese had consciously decided to formulate the question of vulnerability openly and to allow itself to be challenged by the answers of young creative people – in other words, to make itself vulnerable and open. Especially against the background that the church is responsible for the worst psychological and physical wounds to children, young people and queer people, as recent studies and revelations have made shockingly clear. Around 600 artists responded to the call for entries. Contemporary art forms such as installations, video and sound works, projections and performances as well as objects of the classical visual arts such as paintings, drawings and sculptures were submitted.
The most extensive segment of the cultural programme at the Katholikentag is music – and this will be heard in very different places in the city. Gospel concerts, pop and rock, new spiritual songs, organ music and contemporary orchestral works will offer listening pleasure. A special work that also invites participation is the #coronation mass. At the centre of the premiere is Mozart’s Coronation Mass KV 317 as a symbol of joie de vivre and confidence. In addition, the specially developed sound installation allows each individual visitor to become part of the whole in advance – with the help of his or her individual voicemessage sung on the short musical phrase “Dona nobis pacem” using a smartphone. Simply sing it, call +49 711 20 70 31 70 and sing it on your voicemail or record it as a voice memo and send it by message to coronation@katholikentag.de. The deadline for sending in voice messages is 10 May.
The extensive film programme of the Katholikentag with its discussions is not only aimed at interested cineastes, but also at pupils and students and addresses current socially relevant questions. For example, in the film with discussion “The Unknown Girl”, which deals with moral integrity and social justice.
Contact:
Stephan von Kolson, phone: +49 175 4343485, email: presse@katholikentag.de