19. 10. 2009.

Oskar Danon Opens the 49th MESS International Theatre Festival

From the Opening Ceremony of the 49th MESS International Theatre Festival

Tonight, at Sarajevo's National Theatre, the laureate Oskar Danon officially launched the 49^th edition of the MESS International Theatre Festival. Also the recipient of the most significant MESS Festival award this year, 96- year-old Danon addressed the packed auditorium of the National Theatre by video message. After a hearty applause for Oskar Danon and MESS Festival Director Dino Mustafić, the stage gave way to MESS’s first performance this year, Constanza Macras’ “Hell on Earth”, performed by the “Dorkypark” theatre group. This marked the beginning of the MESS Festival, which will, between 16 and 26 October this year, present theatergoers in Sarajevo, Zenica, Srebrenica and Goražde with a total of 26 outstanding theatre performances from 14 regional and world countries.

You can read a transcript of the opening ceremony addresses below:

MESS Festival Director Dino Mustafić:

“Esteemed MESS audiences, dear guests, good evening and welcome.

At the beginning, we go back to 1939. Hitler attacks Poland, thus beginning a war that will, in the next six years, kill over 40 million people and wipe out entire cities. Fascism, the greatest evil of that time, but also of this time, threatened to destroy everything that the word “man” reminds us of. It was in 1939 that a group of students returning from Prague to Sarajevo established the “Collegium Artisticum” artistic group. But, the group’s ideals of humanism would, only a few years later, lead them away from galleries, theatres and concert halls, into a struggle against fascism, where they would trade their easels and conductor batons for guns and rifles. 

They were antifascists!

Those who stood up against this evil, who gave up their bodies, their lives, their ideas to the war against the fascist beast, those who defended and still defend man’s right to dignity and life regardless of race, religion or nationality… They were the ones whose ideals, whose struggle restored true meaning to the glorious word “man”. One such man will launch this evening the 49^th edition of MESS, our international theatre festival. But before he does, allow me to present this man with MESS’ greatest honour, the Golden Laurel Wreath Award for Contribution to the Art of Theatre, for all that he has done for our country, for our art, and especially because he, in 1939, established the first alternative theatre in Sarajevo, the “Otvoreno pozorište” (Open Theatre).

Una Bejtović (MESS Festival PR Officer): “Mr. Danon, it is my pleasure to be able to present you, on behalf of the MESS Festival Head Office, the Golden Laurel Wreath for your contribution to the art of theatre. Congratulations!”

Oskar Danon: «From the bottom of my heart, thank you. »

Dino Mustafić:

“The world wasn’t born yesterday. This is unfortunately a truth that some need to be constantly reminded of. Every artist and every scientist knows that the future is best seen when looked at from the shoulders of the heroes of the past. The past is not, and must not be a chain that prevents us from moving forward. A glorious past can and should illuminate our road to the future. Take the MESS Festival, for example. Today, the MESS is the region’s oldest, greatest and most significant festival of theatre. But where did it all begin? 49 years ago, Sarajevo theatre fanatic and enthusiast, Jurislav Korjenić… In fact, I will let Oskar Danon tell you the story…”

Oskar Danon:

«Forty years ago, a theatre fanatic and enthusiast, Sarajevo native Jurislav Korjenić, Jurica as he was known in Sarajevo, was not happy with the state of culture in Sarajevo at the time. He wanted to use a new approach to the art of theatre, to raise the awareness and the values of young generations in Sarajevo. He was therefore addressing only young people, and in this effort, he raised the question of how to establish an alternative theatre, something we would call a small stage. What is most interesting is that the festival that was established, a festival of the small stage, the MESS Festival, in the end became significant not only for Sarajevo and the former Yugoslavia, but also achieved global significance. We can therefore claim that the quality of Sarajevo’s MESS Festival has been recognized in the world as well. »

 Dino Mustafić:

« Mr. Oskar Danon really wanted to be here this evening, to address you in person, but ninety-six is a lot of years, and the island of Krk is a long way away. However, this is his message to you…»

Oskar Danon:

«In my ninety-sixth year, I have been honoured with another MESS Festival award, the award, as they call it, for lifetime achievement. I am deeply grateful, and very sorry that I could not be there in Sarajevo, to thank in person the people at the helm of the MESS today, and to address today’s young generations, which are, I believe, aware that the MESS is geared to young people, focused on the development of young people, and that it can also contribute to society today – when we need to influence all people, not only younger generations, to break free of the chains of national division, and to look ahead in life, optimistically, because they hold the key to humanity, to love, to all that is beautiful and noble in man, and to liberate themselves from the hatred that has taken over today. In that way, art can help, and I think that the MESS is a jewel in the crown over the artistic milieu of Sarajevo. »

 Dino Mustafić:

«Don't worry, Mr. Danon. MESS has always been, and will always be antifascist in nature. »

Art is a universal expression of the human ideal of freedom. With that in mind, the MESS this year again beckoned artists from all corners of the world, from France, Germany, Spain, Hungary, Russia, Austria, the Netherlands, Italy, Serbia, Belgium, Croatia, Slovenia, Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina…and has brought together theatre artists whose ideals and opinions defend and expand man’s freedom, and who, in the face of attacks by a new and bewildered fascism, defiantly spell out “No passaran” in their artistic work.

…And as I already announced, this year’s, the 49^th MESS Festival will be opened by our award-winning Oskar Danon.”

 Oskar Danon:

“Therefore, it is my pleasure to announce that the 49^th MESS International Theatre Festival is now officially open.”