Dear participant, we are delighted to welcome you to our Lied Competition in the European city of Görlitz-Zgorzelec. Görlitz-Zgorzelec is a special city: on the one hand, it is binational (one half belongs to Germany, the other to Poland), and on the other hand, it is one of the most architecturally rich cities in Germany. Almost the entire city has preserved its original structure and showcases treasures from all periods of European history, including the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, and Gründerzeit (the industrial heyday of the late 19th century). It was precisely around this time, the turn of the century, that our city experienced a particularly vibrant cultural scene. Singing societies (Gesangsvereine) sprang up throughout the region, meeting annually for festivals to sing together. The Silesian Music Festival is perhaps the oldest festival in Europe (founded in 1830). The diplomat and composer Bolko von Hochberg, born in the famous Fürstenstein Castle (now Książ Castle in Poland), returned to his Silesian homeland after his directorship at the Royal Theater in Berlin and dedicated himself to the Silesian Music Festivals, which were first held in Jelenia Góra in 1875 under his direction. He developed this festival into one of the most important in Europe. In 1910, he opened the Görlitz City Hall (Stadthalle) for this purpose, one of the most beautiful concert halls with outstanding acoustics for singing. But in 1914, the First World War broke out. A dark time began in Europe, and a second, terrible world war changed the face of the region forever. While Görlitz belonged to Prussia before the war and had a significant Jewish community, it is now divided between Poland and Germany. Sadly, the Jewish community no longer exists. Only the magnificent monuments, the synagogue, the department store (Kaufhaus), and the city hall serve as reminders of that wonderful time.

I want to build on this era and remind us, the younger generation of Europe and the world, of this golden age, so that we can draw inspiration from it for a better future and use our art to dispel the spectre of war. Today, we are in the heart of Europe, at the bridge between East and West. Here, I would like to invite you, the ambassadors of culture, to celebrate not only the European, but also the rich musical heritage of the entire world through our singing.

The third edition of the competition is co-financed by the European Union. The INTERREG Poland-Saxony Fund supports joint projects between Poland and Saxony, enabling us to discover our shared cultural heritage and get to know each other better through cultural tourism. We warmly welcome culture enthusiasts and musicians from Poland, Germany, and all over Europe.