Reclam, Reclam and more Reclam. Everyone knows them - these little yellow books. When you look at my column photo, I'm sure many of you will immediately think of the many hours you have spent with Reclam books. Although I own many of these little yellow classics myself, my bookshelf also contains numerous normal editions, such as “The Magic Mountain” or “The Divine Comedy”... Which works of world literature are on your bookshelves? And which books would you never want to be without?

The little yellow Reclam books, they are primarily intended for educational purposes and serve several purposes:

• Accessibility of literature: they make classical works, plays, poems, philosophical texts and other important writings available in compact form. Many of these are part of the canon of general education.
• Affordable alternative: Reclam books are traditionally affordable, making them particularly popular with schoolchildren, students and readers on a budget.
• Compact format: Their handy format is ideal for on the go or for use in class.
• Education and study: The books often contain commentaries, footnotes and explanatory notes that make it easier to understand older or more demanding works.
• Promoting reading: With their wide selection of texts from different eras, countries and genres, they arouse interest in literature and culture.
• … 

Ergo: Reclam has made a significant cultural contribution with this series by making works of world literature accessible and affordable to a wide audience. They are synonymous with classical education and are an integral part of German and literature lessons. Quite in keeping with my motto: “Words are more than letters.” And you could add: Books are more than texts, stories and narratives. Where would we be without the many works of world literature?

Christmas is behind us, the new year ahead of us. Between the years - in the midst of Christmas feasting and contemplative hours - I look back on the year 24, which had many highlights in store for me. Such as:

• Shen Yun at the Leipzig Opera,
• the premiere of “Lohengrin” at the Vienna State Opera under Christian Thielemann,
• the concert “The Seasons” by Haydn in the Bamberg Concert Hall,
• and the “Atmospheric Christmas Magic” with the University Choir of the University of Bamberg in the former Dominican monastery in the old town.
• …   

These are just some of the cultural highlights that enriched my year 24. What can we expect in 25?

My latest acquisition is in front of me right now - the universal culture bag, purchased at the Schiller Museum in Weimar (see cover photo) and I am delighted with this little accessory. A few days ago, I visited the exhibition “Caspar David Friedrich, Goethe and Romanticism in Weimar” and learned once again how enriching culture can be. But sometimes it is somewhat glossed over in its presentation. The relationship between Goethe and Friedrich was not always easy, as I learned - an exciting addition from my wife, who has real expertise in this area. She is a big fan of C. D. Friedrich.

Back to the (Uni)versal culture bag 25! It reveals cards for me for:

• Shen Yun 25 at the Deutsche Oper Berlin - a highlight that I am looking forward to with my father, his girlfriend and my wife,
• a festive concert at the Cuvilliés Theater in Munich, presenting works by Verdi, Mendelssohn, Paganini and Dvořák. The Cuvilliés Theater, one of the most beautiful rococo theaters in Europe, is inextricably linked to Mozart and is a place steeped in history.

I'm excited to see what else the year 25 has in store - for example the Bach Festival in Arnstadt, which is not yet in my cultural bag. But what is not yet can still be ...

I'll see you again in the new year! I wish you all a happy new year and a great start to 25. Do you also have a culture bag for 25? And what's in it so far?

Sapere aude!

S.

PS: The word universal can be broken down into two parts: uni and versal. Both parts have Latin roots and their meaning can be derived. Uni: From the Latin word unus, which means “one”. Versal: From the Latin word versus, meaning “turned” or “turned”, and ultimately from the verb vertere (“to turn”, “to turn”). The compound: Universal. It originated from the Latin universalis, which means “general” or “all-encompassing”. It describes something that applies to everyone or everything, or something that covers many areas. Conclusion: Universal can be understood literally as “directed to everything” or “all-encompassing”. It combines the idea of unity (uni) with a comprehensive direction or effect (versal). So much for my spelling in the title: (Uni)versal.

The link to the original German text: https://www.ganjingworld.com/s/JvR39eyRAv