Konrád, one of Hungary?s best-known writers abroad, offered his views on the culture of Hungary and of Europe.
?The culture of Europe knows no boundaries. It can be found everywhere. In universities, libraries, museums, theatres and concert halls,? Konrád said. The arts, literature and religion hold together Europe?s symbolic culture, he said. ?There are more man-made artifacts and historical monuments (in Europe) per square kilometre than anywhere else.?
What is special about Europe is that no one can lord over it, Konrád said. The European Union has shown people Europe is their home, and that all of its cities, its great minds and its arts belong to them.
Europe is also a verbal continent, because it writes about, ponders and analyzes everything from love, to politics, to literature to food, he said.
This union is effective in spite of the many languages in the region, Konrád said. ?Most people are multi-lingual and can overcome the confusion of Babel.?
Konrád said he was pleased that the European Union ensured the sovereignty of each nation state, encouraging greater independence for city ? and even village ? society.
Also among the conference?s speakers were Gérard Mortier, the head of the Paris Opera, Yudhishthir Raj Isar, who heads the European Arts and Heritage Protection Forum, Graham Sheffield, the arts director of the Barbican Centre, Johann Zietsman, the head of ISPA and Benson Puah, the director of the Esplanade Arts Center.
ISPA, based in New York, counts among its members more than 600 directors, managers and artists from 50 countries around the world. They include the heads of London?s Barbican Centre, the Paris Opera and Singapore?s Esplanade Arts Center as well as dance professionals, actors and musicians. ISPA holds conferences twice a year at different venues. The previous conference was held in New York.
Géza Kovács, the director of Hungary?s National Philharmonic Orchestra and the conference?s organiser, said Budapest?s chance to host ISPA?s conference had been ?a dream come true.?
