Volunteers for Chemnitz 2025 publish reports on their experiences, assignments and adventures around the European Capital of Culture.
Bettina and Bodo live in Neukirchen in the Ore Mountains. Bettina has been a volunteer since 2024 and contributes her valuable voluntary experience to the European Capital of Culture gGmbH. Bodo has been a volunteer from the very beginning and has been involved with Chemnitz 2025 for several years. He uses his organisational expertise in the volunteer editorial team and takes care of archiving the texts.
My day began on Saturday morning with an exciting programme showcase in the Stadthalle.
Our shift started shortly after ten o'clock, unfortunately the security team had to check every corner of the Stadthalle very carefully due to a bomb threat. The atmosphere leading up to the official opening was electric; there was a palpable tension in the air as many people were eager to see what was in store for them.
After my first shift as a volunteer, it was time for a quick change of clothes. My wife and I got dressed up and went to the opera together. We had a limited time slot between 2.00 and 2.15 pm to get in. Martina Schneider, Hanna Skovgaard-Sörensen and we were invited on behalf of all the volunteers.
The celebratory programme began punctually at 4 pm, starting with the scene "The Study" from Goethe's "Faust". Afterwards, Mayor Mr Schulze gave a very good introductory speech. This was followed by the wonderful songs "Kiss of Fire" and "Meeting on the Ocean", before Federal President Mr Steinmeier gave the second successful speech of the evening. Minister President Mr Kretschmer rode onto the stage on a diamond bicycle and had an excellent conversation with the presenter about the opportunities of the Capital of Culture and the regions. After an impressive performance of "The World Enjoys a Rendezvous", Mrs Claudia Roth, Federal Government Commissioner for Culture, was interviewed. The Robert Schumann Philharmonic Orchestra continued to accompany the afternoon with some great pieces. Finally, the European Commissioner for Culture, Mr Glen Micallef, spoke before the evening was wonderfully rounded off with "The James Bond Theme" and Beethoven's 9th Symphony.
Mr Micallef presented the City of Chemnitz and Europäische Kulturhauptstadt Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH with the Melina Mercouri Award, which comes with a prize of 1.5 million euros. The ceremony was accompanied by wonderful films about Chemnitz and the surrounding area .
For us, it was a very successful opening ceremony with lots of great moments, for example the greeting of our Mayor by an eleven-year-old girl, but also contributions with a certain humour and a twinkle in the eye, as in the song "In Chemnitz am Sonntag um 4".
Another unforgettable moment for us was seeing the Federal President, the EU Commissioner and our Minister President sign the Golden Book of the City of Chemnitz. After a short get-together together, we then enjoyed the open-air show in front of the Karl Marx Monument. Our Federal President, Mr Steinmeier, opened the Capital of Culture year with a short welcome address.
The one-hour show was entertaining and very amusing.
It was a cheerful atmosphere - whether spectator or guest of honour - everyone enjoyed the outdoor event.
For us, the performances of the Philharmonic Orchestra on the rooftops and the musician Fritz Kalkbrenner were the highlights of the show. The opening ceremony was perfectly complemented by an impressive light show. All in all, it was a moving day full of unforgettable impressions and moments that will certainly not be repeated in a hurry.
