Opening of the Cultural Days of the European Central Bank – Netherlands 2010

The Cultural Days of the European Central Bank – Netherlands 2010, which are organised in cooperation with De Nederlandsche Bank and take place under the joint patronage of Jean-Claude Trichet, President of the European Central Bank, and Nout Wellink, President of De Nederlandsche Bank, will open tonight at 8 p.m. at the Alte Oper in Frankfurt in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Lord Mayor Petra Roth. At this Grand opening event, Het Nationale Ballet will perform three pieces by choreographer Hans van Manen and the world premiere of a piece choreographed by Juanjo Arqués.

Other highlights of the Cultural Days, which will run until 15 November 2010, include the following events:

Dance workshop and performance by ISH/Stichting Balls: street dance, break dance and beatbox dancers will share their talent in a workshop open to young people at the Künstlerhaus Mousonturm from 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. on 24 October. At 5 p.m. participants will present what they have learned during the workshop, and at 8 p.m. ISH/Stichting Balls will perform their show “BoyISH/GirlISH”.

Codarts – Rotterdam Dance Academy will show a film and excerpts from works by choreographers such as Itzik Galili, Ton Simons and Jiří Kylián at the Künstlerhaus Mousonturm at 8 p.m. on 30 October.

Charity concert in cooperation with the City of Frankfurt: the brass and string ensemble of the Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra), conducted by Theo Wolters, will perform works by Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, Giovanni Gabrieli, Richard Wagner, Otto Ketting and Jim Parker in Frankfurt’s Paulskirche at 8 p.m. on 30 October. Entry to the concert will be free of charge, and attendees will be invited to make a donation to the childcare organisation Kinderhaus Am Weingarten e.V., which caters for underprivileged children, many of whom have a migration background.

Café Amsterdam (in cooperation with the Dutch Foundation for Literature): a German-Dutch literary dialogue between Julia Franck and Arnon Grünberg, a discussion on social changes in the Netherlands between sociologist Paul Scheffer and novelist Adriaan van Dis, and a reading by Maarten Asscher, Adriaan van Dis and Marente de Moor followed by a poetical and musical show by Sonja van Hamel and Friends will take place at the Literaturhaus Frankfurt at 8 p.m. on 3, 4 and 5 November respectively.

Grand closing concert – Nederlands Jeugd Strijkorkest (Netherlands Youth String Orchestra): young musicians aged between 12 and 21 will perform pieces by Bach, Debussy, Vaughan Williams and Mendelssohn Bartholdy at the Schauspielhaus Frankfurt at 8 p.m. on 15 November.

The three-week Cultural Days programme will feature many more events, highlighting the multifaceted and colourful nature of Dutch culture, in the field of contemporary dance, music, theatre, cinematography, architecture and design at well-known cultural locations in Frankfurt.

More information about the events can be obtained by sending an e-mail to cultural-days@ecb.europa.eu or calling the Cultural Days hotline on +49 69 1344 5555 (Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.).