Motherland of the Reformation. Event Highlights 2017-2018

MOTHERLAND OF THE REFORMATION. EVENT HIGHLIGHTS 2017-2018. MOTHERLAND OF THE REFORMATION

When Martin Luther was born on 10 November 1483, Saxony was at the height of its power. Elector Ernst and his brother Albert had been governing the most powerful country in the heart of the German Empire since 1464. But only two years after Luther‘s birth Ernst and Albert committed the most capital mistake in Saxon history: they divided the country and the ruling Wettin dynasty split up into two lines, the Ernestine and the Albertine. For a time now there were two countries under the name of Saxony, the Electorate and the Duchy, which were to play the most important yet different roles in the life of Martin Luther and in the progression of Reformation. While the ducal Albertines made Dresden their new residence, Torgau became the center of power under the electoral Ernestines. After the Albertines had deprived the Ernestines of their electoral dignity one year after Martin Luther’s death, their strongly augmented Saxony, which by then also comprised Torgau and Wittenberg, the „Mother of Reformation“, had the leading role among the Protestant regions of Germany for a long time and made for the consolidation and advancement of the Reformation. Already by the end of the 16th century, Saxony was given the honorary title “Motherland of the Reformation”. On the occasion of the anniversary of the posting of the theses, the first Reformation Day was celebrated in Saxony in 1617. Today’s federal state of Saxony also commits to the legacy of the Reformation and celebrates its most important events. Celebrate with us!

UNTIL 1 JANUARY 2018 | LEIPZIG GOD’S WORK AND WORD IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES – ART IN THE CONTEXT OF REFORMATION. The Reformation influenced nearly every area of life, not only in Germany but in other parts of Europe as well. It had also left lasting marks in art. On the occasion of the Re- formation anniversary, the Grassi Museum of Applied Arts in Leipzig invites its visitors to rediscover selected objects in a historic context that are displayed in the permanent exhibition “Antike bis Historismus” (from antiquity to his- toricism). These exhibits comprise sculptures, pieces of gold work, ceramic works, tin objects as well as coins and medals. They are made accessible to the visitor and highlighted in the exhibition by a signposting system. An accompanying publication provides depictions and detailed information on the exhibits. Additionally, further stock objects that are usu- ally not displayed, especially graphic works and books, have been temporarily integrated in the permanent exhibition.

1 JANUARY UNTIL 27 DECEMBER 2017 | DRESDEN MUSIC IN THE DRESDEN CHURCH OF OUR LADY What was only a ruin after World War II rose anew between 1993 and 2005 thanks to donations from all over the world. Today, as in old times, it represents the perfection of church construction according to Luther’s ideals. After its renewed consecration the Church of Our Lady in Dresden (Frauenkirche) once more took its place as top class musical Church of our Lady in Dresden venue. Naturally, music events taking place throughout the of proper artistic objects as well as items on loan – shows anniversary year 2017 will focus on the Reformation as well. the impact the restructuring of church affairs after the Re- Therefore, the Frauenkirche has invited prominent artists formation has had and how it influenced everyday life in and even asked the composer Jörg Herchet to write a new the parishes. composition basing on a famous hymn of thanksgiving by Martin Luther that will première on 24 June. 26 MARCH UNTIL 27 AUGUST 2017 | BAUTZEN FIVE CENTURIES. THE SORBS AND THE REFORMATION. In Lusatia, the Sorbs have preserved their own culture until today. This Slavic minority profited from Luther’s demand for propagation of the Word of God in the corresponding mother tongue through the development of a proprietary literature and manifold cultural achievements. This is de- picted in a special exhibition in the Sorb Museum and in the Michaeliskirche Church in Bautzen.

Market square in Zwickau 1 APRIL 2017 | TORGAU REOPENING OF THE MUSEUM 18 FEBRUARY UNTIL 28 MAY 2017 | ZWICKAU “KATHARINA-LUTHER-STUBE” RENEWAL AND OBSTINACY – ZWICKAU’S Luther and his wife were quite familiar with Torgau. Since PATH THROUGH REFORMATION. the Saxon electors who protected Luther and promoted his In Zwickau, the largest town in Ernestine Saxony, people ideas resided on Schloss Hartenfels Castle, the Reformer were open to Luther’s ideas, thus enabling the Reformation visited the town many times. In 1523, after her famous flight to spread quickly there. Though many conflicts arose on the from the Marienthron convent near Grimma his wife-to-be way, which made it necessary for Luther to intervene time Katharina stayed in Torgau for a while before travelling on and time again. In the year of the Reformation anniversa- to Wittenberg. In autumn of 1552, already a widow, she ry, the Zwickau Art Collections present a special exhibition fled from the plague in Wittenberg and had an accident near combining significant papers and documents from the ar- Torgau in the course of which she broke her pelvic bone. chives, bibliophilic publications and printings, art works The mainly originally preserved house in the city center of and objects from the famous library “Ratsschulbibliothek”, Torgau where she died three weeks later now houses the the municipal archive and further Zwickau museums so as to museum “Katharina-Luther-Stube”. On the occasion of the provide insights into the historic events that had wide-rang- Reformation anniversary it has been redesigned. It illustrates ing effects far beyond the city limits. the work of Luther’s wife, divided in five main stages of life, as well as her reception through the ages. 11 MARCH UNTIL 5 JUNE 2017 | DRESDEN LUTHERLAND. PHOTOGRAPHIES FROM THE WORLD OF FAITH. Starting in October 2015, the Leipzig photographer Jörg Gläscher began travelling the regions where the Reformation once started as well as other regions of Germany in order to encounter people and landscapes where Luther’s ideas have been kept alive. His works are displayed in the Deutsches Hygiene-Museum Dresden, which is unique in its kind and constantly deals with current topics evolving around humans and society.

19 MARCH UNTIL 28 MAY 2017 | CHEMNITZ THE NEW FAITH AND THE ART. The building of the Chemnitz Schlossberg Museum itself represents the profound changes that were caused by the Reformation. The Benedictine monastery was closed and converted into a hunting lodge for the elector which, after numerous further changes, eventually became today’s museum. In the anniversary year, a special exhibition – consisting The memorial slab of Katharina Luther at St Mary’s church in Torgau 1 APRIL UNTIL 5 NOVEMBER 2017 | NOSSEN PROFESS! SAXON NOBILITY IN THE RELIGIOUS CONTROVERSY. The introduction of the Reformation and the initially opposing positions of the Ernestines and Albertines forced Saxon nobility to pick a position in the question of faith, often with far-reaching consequences that even lead to whole families splitting up. By means of personal objects a special exhibition at Schloss Nossen Castle shows the aristocrats’ journey through life underlining the distortions of those times.

5 APRIL UNTIL 17 JUNE 2017 | CHEMNITZ LUTHER AND MARX. In GDR times, Luther was at first defamed as class enemy, partly because he had supported the suppression of the peasants’ uprising, but was later declared a revolutionary. In Chemnitz, back then deliberately named “town of Karl Marx”, socialism and Christianity clashed especially hard. But what unites Luther and Marx was the attempt to change Depiction of the Dresden Elbe Valley on a coat of Elector Johann Georg I. society and humans for the better. This is reflected by a Chemnitz project on the occasion of the anniversary year 9 APRIL 2017 | DRESDEN dealing with the topic within the scope of music, literature OPENING OF THE RENAISSANCE WING and dance. IN THE DRESDEN ROYAL PALACE When Elector Augustus established the “Kunstkammer” (art chamber) in 1560 he laid the foundations for the world-famous Dresden State Art Collections. With the opening of the Renaissance wing the former Albertine residence shows the world-wide most comprising collection of ceremonial weapons, precious items and other objects from the Renais- sance period and the times of Reformation. Moreover, the electoral wardrobe invites you to a historic fashion show. The mere fact that the robes of Saxon rulers and their wives have been preserved over the centuries is most impressive and unique. The Dresden Royal Palace itself is an authentic place of Reformation history. It was built by Elector Mau- rice in superb Renaissance shapes as the new center of the Protestant world after he had deprived his Ernestine cousin of his elector’s dignity after the battle at Mühlberg. Maurice The small courtyard of the Dresden Royal Palace also built the castle chapel, one of the first Protestant church buildings, the portal of which depicts the profession of faith 8 APRIL UNTIL 5 NOVEMBER 2017 | MEISSEN of the former Saxon rulers. LUTHER, SONGS AND OFFICIALESE. As opposed to other exhibitions, the exhibition in the Meis- 12 APRIL 2017 UNTIL 28 JANUARY 2018 | LEIPZIG sen Municipal Museum, housed by a former Franciscan LUTHER IN DISPUTE. LEIPZIG AND monastery, shows an “everyday picture” of the Reforma- THE CONSEQUENCES. tion and specifically illustrates how the lives of the Meissen In the location of the Leipzig New Town Hall there once townspeople changed due to this event. But it also high- stood Pleißenburg Castle. Breaking his promise to keep lights another aspect: for his Bible translation Luther used silent, which he had made after his hearing at the Reichstag “Meissen officialese”, which consequently became the basis in Augsburg, Martin Luther participated in the Leipzig Dis- for a uniform German language. In the process Luther im- putation there in 1519. During this debate with Johannes pressed with rich wordiness and his own neologisms that are Eck he stated the differences of his opinion on the doctrine still part of the common German vocabulary today. At the of the Catholic church and formulated his “Sola Scriptura”, same time another exhibition is presented: “Jan Hus und which lead to the (originally not intended) break with the seine Zeit” (Jan Hus and his period). pope and the Albertine Duke George the Bearded. In Leip- zig, his followers were also referred to as “Lutherans” for the first time. An exhibition in the Leipzig Municipal Museum examines the Leipzig Disputation and its consequences as the repression of Reformation ideology in Albertine Saxo- ny, the introduction of the Reformation in Leipzig in 1539 following the death of George the Bearded and the further development up to the Schmalkaldic War. The central exhibits comprise the silver “Lutherbecher” (Luther cup), the wedding ring of Luther’s wife Katharina and paintings and epitaphs by the two Cranachs.

Chapel at Augustusburg Castle with Cranach Altar

29 APRIL UNTIL 5 NOVEMBER 2017 | AUGUSTUSBURG LUTHER AND THE SECRET OF THE CRANACH ALTAR. After the death of Elector Maurice his brother Augustus became his successor. He ended all religious and political conflicts and lead Saxony back to prosperity. Having done so he could afford to build a superb castle compound in Renaissance style on a taper of quartz porphyry in the Ore Mountains in 1568 that was named after him. In the castle chapel that was consecrated in 1572 and sets the background for a special exhibition in the anniversary year there still stands the precious altarpiece with a painting by Lucas Cranach the younger depicting Augustus and his family as The Old Town Hall in Leipzig professed Protestants and providing deep insights into the epoch of the Reformation. 29 APRIL 2017 | RADEBEUL PREMIERE OF THE PLAY 4 MAY UNTIL 24 SEPTEMBER 2017 | LEIPZIG “IN GOD’S OWN LAND” LUTHER – LEIPZIG – LETTERPRESS! Upon the early death of Elector Maurice, his brother and MARTIN LUTHER IN LARGE PRINT. successor Augustus dissociated himself from Protestants of Without the invention of printing with movable letters, other faiths and actually made Lutheranism the state reli- which was quite new at the time, Luther’s ideas would not gion. It was not before the 18th century that Saxony be- have spread as quickly as they did. Until the end of World came more tolerant in religious questions once more. But War II Leipzig was considered the center of the German the inglorious tradition continued to have an effect. The printing and publishing industry. Just as it had already theologian Heinrich Melchior Mühlenberg, who was or- played an important role in the production of print pro- dained in 1741, was sent to Pennsylvania by the foundation ducts during Luther’s lifetime. On the occasion of the Re- “Frankesche Stiftungen” to care for three German-speaking formation anniversary, the Leipzig Museum of Printing Arts Lutheran parishes. There he became involved in a dispute visualises this important aspect of Reformation history by with Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf, the founder of the modifying the permanent exhibition and introducing addi- Moravian Church from the Saxon town of Herrnhut, who tional activity stations. Yet, it also deals with Luther’s great wanted to unite all Protestants while allowing them to keep influence on the German language and the Luther Rose, his their individual practices. Mühlenberg on the other hand personal signet and one of the first trademarks. founded an institutionalised Lutheran church on the Ameri- can East Coast and is still known as its patriarch today. Based on Mühlenberg’s life, the theatre Landesbühnen Sachsen has created a play that is a product of the close cooperation of artists, historians, political and church institutions from the USA and Germany. After some performances at the home venue in Radebeul the play will be presented in Großen- hain, Meissen and Torgau before going on stage in the USA as well. The Leipzig Disputation 12 MAY UNTIL 5 NOVEMBER 2017 | MEISSEN A TREASURE NOT MADE OF GOLD. BENNO OF MEISSEN – SAXONY’S FIRST SAINT. Many legends tell of the life of St. Benno, who was the bishop of Meissen from 1066 to 1106. As he is supposed to have performed miracles, he was already worshipped during the 13th century. But it was the support of Duke George the Bearded, who had become a fierce opponent of Luther after the Leipzig Disputation, that enabled his canonisation in 1523. Martin Luther responded quite violently by publishing a polemic paper “Against the new idol and old devil to be elevated in Meissen”. After the Reformation, Benno’s remains were transferred first to Stolpen and Wurzen and eventually to their final resting place at the Church of Our Lady in Munich. Thus, as if by miracle, a Saxon bishop became the patron saint of the city of Munich and of the state of Bavaria. For the first time, the exhibition will illustrate the symbolic role that Bishop Benno of Meissen and his canoni- The Great Spiral Staircase at Hartenfels Castle in Torgau sation played, not only during the time of the Reformation. To this end, numerous artworks will be brought together electoral dignity had been transferred to the Albertines, it and put in dialogue for the first time, among them precious still remained of religious and political importance as the items on loan like the crosier and mitre of the bishop or the side residence of Reformation. In preparation for the Refor- large-sized altarpiece from the St. Benno Chapel in Rome. mation anniversary the Dresden State Art Collections have been staging annual special exhibitions at Schloss Hartenfels Castle since 2012, among them the first national special exhibition “Luther und die Fürsten” (Luther and the Princes) in 2015. As the last in this series the special exhibition in the anniversary year deals with Torgau in the role as residence thus summarising all the other special exhibitions. It displays chosen showpieces from the Dresden Armoury. Moreover, it addresses Torgau’s role as center of the art of goldsmithing, e.g. the “Torgauer Apotheke”, an Indian nacre chest in the setting and décor of a Torgau goldsmith.

21 MAY 2017 | TORGAU Meissen with castle hill OPENING OF THE SPALATIN HOUSE Frederick the Wise allegedly protected Martin Luther merely 18 MAY UNTIL 18 JUNE 2017 | DRESDEN for political reasons and is said to never have met him per- 40TH DRESDEN MUSIC FESTIVAL sonally. The closest confidant of the ruler was his court chap- In its 40 years of history, the Dresden Music Festival has be- lain and confessor Georg Spalatin. He acted as mediator bet- come a significant point of attraction for artists and a diverse ween Elector and Reformer thus becoming the “helmsman audience from all over the world. In its anniversary edition of Reformation”. As reward for his services Spalatin received the festival also focuses on the Reformation. Its highlight is the house “Im Sack” in Torgau as a gift from Frederick the the presentation of the silent film “Luther – ein Film der Wise. It is the only house of overall 15 priests’ houses that has deutschen Reformation” (Luther – a film of German Refor- been preserved until today. And after extensive reconstruction mation) with background music by the MDR symphony works it is now dedicated to the work of Georg Spalatin. Yet orchestra. another friend of Luther lived in Torgau: Johann Walter, the “original cantor of the Protestant Church”. He published the 19 MAY UNTIL 31 OCTOBER 2017 | TORGAU first Protestant choir hymnbook. Together with the musically TORGAU – RESIDENCE OF RENAISSANCE interested and talented Reformer he worked on the “Deutsche AND REFORMATION. Messe” (German Mass) and other songs. Later he founded to- As residence of the Saxon electors from the line of the Er- day’s Saxon State Orchestra in Dresden on behalf of Elector nestines Torgau was the political center of the Reforma- Maurice. With exhibits and musical performances his life is tion. Although the town became less important after the illustrated in the new exhibition as well. 25 UNTIL 28 MAY 2017 | LEIPZIG PROTESTANT CHURCH CONVENTION IN LEIPZIG On the occasion of the Reformation anniversary the Ger- man Protestant Church Convention takes place in Berlin, with a great final service in Wittenberg. Additionally, six further lay conventions will take place at important Refor- mation locations. Under the motto “Music. Debate. Life.” the Protestant Church Convention will be held in Leipzig. It focuses on the town’s resistant spirit and its rich musical tradition. What started with the Leipzig Debate still re- sounded in Leipzig’s leading role in vanquishing the GDR regime. And Leipzig is also the town of Bach who expressed Luther’s thoughts in texts and music like no other. Approxi- mately 400 events at 100 locations await the visitors. Among the highlights is a performance under the name “Zum Licht” (Towards the light) and a concert with 10,000 brass players at Augustusplatz square.

9 UNTIL 18 JUNE 2017 | LEIPZIG LEIPZIG BACH FESTIVAL The great composer Johann Sebastian Bach spent the last 27 years of his life in Leipzig and was buried at his main place of work, the Thomaskirche church. Under the motto The Small Zittau Lenten Veil “Music and Reformation” the Leipzig Bach Festival 2017 is dedicated to Luther’s chorales that were extensively edited 800 years in the nearby Ostritz and Nikolaus Ludwig von by Bach. Another focal point will be how Heinrich Schütz, Zinzendorf, together with Bohemian and Moravian exiled the “father of German music” who mainly worked in Dres- Protestants, founded the Moravian Church in Herrnhut fol- den, and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, who rediscovered lowing the tradition of Jan Hus, Reformation quickly made Bach’s music, dealt with the Reformer’s legacy. its way to Zittau. Today, the closed Franciscan monastery houses the Historico-Cultural Museum. The monastery church with its more than 80 epitaphs has been newly re- furbished and builds the framework for an exhibition on the special history of the region in the age of Reformation.

8 SEPTEMBER 2017 UNTIL 28 JANUARY 2018 | LEIPZIG BACH AND LUTHER. The Leipzig Bach Museum is located in the former dwelling house of Bach’s friend, the rich manufacturer Georg Hein- rich Bose, next to the former school Thomasschule where Bach lived and taught. The special exhibition on the occasion of the Reformation anniversary illustrates the Protes- tant Thomas cantorate and the importance of Martin Lu- ther’s achievements for the composer. A special role comes Bach Festival concert at Augustusplatz square in Leipzig to the original handwritings from the famous year of the chorale cantatas 1724/25 and a Luther Bible with a hand- 30 JULY 2017 UNTIL 7 JANUARY 2018 | ZITTAU written notice of possession by Bach. A DIFFERENT APPROACH. REFORMATION IN UPPER LUSATIA. 10 SEPTEMBER 2017 | TORGAU In the course of time, Lusatia changed its owner several OPENING OF THE PERMANENT times. Yet none of these rulers reigned on-site. Thus, the EXHIBITION AT HARTENFELS CASTLE. region always preserved some autonomy and is still charac- Schloss Hartenfels Castle in Torgau became a magnifi- terised by religious diversity today. While Germany’s oldest cent residence under Elector Frederick the Wise and his Cistercian convent has persisted without interruption for successors. The castle church is the first new Protestant Courtyard of Hartenfels Castle in Torgau

church building and was consecrated by Martin Luther 24 SEPTEMBER UNTIL 30 DECEMBER 2017 | ZWICKAU himself in 1544. The builder was Elector John Frederick SCHUMANN AND LUTHER. the Magnanimous who also built the famous “Großer On the occasion of the Reformation anniversary the Robert Wendelstein”, the “Great Spiral Staircase” that has just Schumann House explores the relation between the Zwickau recently been restored to its old colourful splendour. composer and the great Reformer. Schumann’s grand- He was a nephew of Frederick the Wise and the last Sax- father was a Lutheran priest in Thuringia. In his publishing on elector from the line of the Ernestines. He ranks as house “Gebrüder Schumann” his father August Schumann leading worldly innovator of Luther’s doctrines in his time published an edition of Martin Luther’s writings as well as and, together with his wife Sibylle von Cleve, is at the engraved illustrations of reformers. Martin Luther was a center of focus of the new permanent exhibition in the for- frequent topic of the musical magazine “Neue Zeitschrift mer electoral chambers, which have recently been restored für Musik” that was edited by Robert Schumann. In 1851, to their former glory, and the legendary “Flaschenturm” Schumann even attempted to compose an oratorio on the tower. The ruling couple embodies the importance of Reformer as drafts presented in the exhibition will show. Torgau as the center of power of the Reformation and as Schumann’s last composition was the transcription of an significant European location of courtly representation. obituary chorale by Martin Luther, the original of which will be shown as well.

CONTACT INFORMATION Fotos: Auerbachs Keller Leipzig (Foto AND IMPRINT Kunstmann), Augustusburg/Scharfenstein/ Publisher: Lichtenwalde Schlossbetriebe gGmbH, MOTHERLAND OF THE REFORMATION. Saxony Tourism KULTOUR Z., LTM (Gerdt Mothes, Andreas (Tourism Marketing Company of Saxony) Schmidt), Tourismusverband Sächsisches EVENT HIGHLIGHTS 2017-2018. Bautzner Strasse 45-47 Elbland/Andreas Franke, Schlösserland 01099 Dresden Also available: Sachsen gGmbH, Staatliche Kunstsamm- Germany lungen Dresden (David Brandt, Jürgen „Motherland of the Reformation - [email protected] Karpinski), Sylvio Dittrich, Wolfgang Gärtner, On the Trail of a World Event“ www.visitsaxony.com Rainer Weisflog, TMGS, Title: St Mary’s brochure, 96 pages www.sachsen-tourismus.de church in Pirna Please order at: MOTHERLAND OF THE REFORMATION. ON THE TRAIL OF A wORLD EvENT. www.visitsaxony.com Funded by the government of the Free State of Saxony www.saxonytourism.com Information on barrier-free offers at www.visitsaxony.com