Words of Welcome from the Honorary President

Ernst Krenek came into the world on 23 August 1900, at 7am on a Thursday; on 22 December 1991 at about 3pm he left it. During his creative period he gave us many important works, including 20 operas - for most of which he composed the words himself - and which reflect his great love of, and talent for this genre. Krenek's unique artistic and intellectual ability and his insatiable curiosity drove him to discover new horizons in order to express his ever more extensive musical visions. He wrote in almost every idiom of the 20th century, but in all his works one hears -one finds - his personal style, that is to say, his own signature - from Opus 1 to 242.

It gives me great pleasure to support the activity of the Ernst Krenek Institute. In this year we have found an exceptional team, which, starting from the general secretariat where the threads come together, takes care of the affairs and the various tasks connected with the promotion of Krenek's works.

The Institute has recently published a corrected edition of the Ernst Krenek-Gesamtwerkverzeichnis (Index to the Collected Works of Ernst Krenek), which collates information and contact addresses of all the publishers in Europe and America that have published works by Krenek. I am continually being asked where particular works by Krenek might be obtained and I am now happy that through the activities of the Institute this improved basis for work is now available. The Ernst Krenek Institute and I have tackled other tasks this year: finding a home for the Krenek estate and establishing a foundation in Krems.

In the future, too, I am looking forward to continuing work with the Ernst Krenek Institute in Krems to promote the great oeuvre of Ernst Krenek!