PREVIOUS EVENTS
AT THE
EXCELSIOR CENTER
 A New Year's Concert
Selections from
Die Fledermaus
and More!
Friday January 1, 2010
2:00pm at the Altenheim
1720 MacArthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA
To RSVP email: hannelore@excelsiorcenter.org
or call 510. 530. 4013
View the Full PDF Flyer
 The
Altenheim
100 Anniversary Party!
August 15, 2009
4:00pm
1720 Mac Arthur Blvd.
Oakland, CA 94602
Featuring:
Distinguished Guest Speakers
Children’s Theatrical Performance
Performance by Pacific Sängerbund
Traditional German Food & Drink
Live Music & Dancing
View the Full PDF Flyer
 The
Sebastian
Schunke Group
July 23, 2008
7:00 PM
Tickets
$15 nonmembers
$10 members
A night of Latin Jazz
Sebastian Schunke is one of the young leading jazz composers
and pianists in the world. Based in Berlin, he is unifying
the modern Berlin Jazz with African and Latin American elements.
Sebastian brings together internationally renowned jazz musicians
coming from different cultures and they unify the intense
energy from their home cultures to create a completely new
song concept. With 4 internationally acclaimed CDs and several
tours the band represents a unique hip experimental world
jazz – totally new and unpredictable. This is an incredible
live-experience you won’t want to miss!
View the Full PDF Flyer
 A NEW YEAR'S CONCERT
Rebecca Rust
&
Friedrich Edelman
Jan 1, 2008, 4:00 pm
Excelsior Center at the Altenheim
 Max Raabe und Palast Orchester
March 16, 2007
Excelsior Center at the Altenheim
Address by Consul General Rolf
Schütte
On the occasion of the concert of
“Max Raabe und Palast Orchester”
Excelsior Center at the Altenheim
Oakland, March 16, 2007
Guten Abend, meine sehr geehrten
Damen und Herren,
ich freue mich, heute mit Ihnen einen wunderbaren Abend verbringen
zu können. Wir befinden uns im „Excelsior German
Center“ im „Altenheim“. Viele von den Anwesenden
sprechen Deutsch. Aber andere sprechen es nicht. Englisch
aber verstehen wir alle. Deshalb lassen Sie mich in dieser
Sprache fortfahren.
 Ladies
and Gentlemen,
“Connecting with German language and culture –
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”. That is the motto of
“The Excelsior German Center at the Altenheim”.
I repeat: “Connecting with German language and culture
– Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”.
When we look around, we understand
that this motto is very appropriate to describe the magnificent
building we are in right now. It was first opened in this
location almost 100 years ago. However, when I first visited
this building in 1996 (long before I became German Consul
General in San Francisco) and gave a speech here it looked
quite different from what it looks today. At that time, the
building was reflecting a long and glorious yesterday, a very
modest today and a tomorrow with many question marks. When
we look at the building today we are impressed by the wonderful
way in which the yesterday and the today have been blended
together, laying the foundation for a great and prospering
tomorrow.
But I don’t want to talk
about the building and its successful renovation, but about
what is going on inside. As German Consul General in San Francisco
with a consular district of eight States in the American West
I get into contact with many Germans and people of German
ancestry, older ones and younger ones. Many of the older ones
are members of clubs and associations where they cultivate
and enjoy traditional German culture. Most of the younger
ones keep away from these clubs because their idea of German
culture is a quite different one. Nevertheless, they all feel
“German” one way or another. They all look for
a connection to German culture here in the Far West.
There are even those that have
no German ancestry, but are very interested in German culture.
The President of the “Excelsior German Center”,
Mr. Michael Willis, is one of them.
But, I am deeply convinced, that
there will be no tomorrow for a German culture here on the
West Coast if today we only think about yesterday. Thus, the
motto of the “Excelsior Center” joining yesterday,
today and tomorrow is a recipe for the continued thriving
of a German culture in this part of the United States.
When I first talked to Michael and to the other members of
the Board of the “Excelsior Center” it was clear
that they see the situation as I do. They understand the challenges
and have come up with convincing answers. Thus, I was more
than ready to promise the Consulate’s support for the
forward-looking concept of a new German language and cultural
center in the East Bay.
I am very happy that the Consulate
could help to open the new “Excelsior German Center”
with what one can only describe as a “big bang”.
We are very happy to bring to you the best of the best in
German entertainment: “Max Raabe und Palast Orchester”.
In a way, their art is a combination of yesterday, today and
tomorrow as well: The music they play was written yesterday
- in the ‘20s and ‘30s. But today it is as popular
as it was yesterday. And both the music and the group will
have a great tomorrow – not least because of their roaring
success here on the American West Coast.
Even if we will not be able to
bring to you often world-famous musicians like tonight, I
can promise you that the Consulate will continue doing everything
within its means to support the work of the “Excelsior
German Center”: today and tomorrow.
Let me propose a toast to the
thriving of the “Excelsior German Center” as the
center for German language and culture in the East Bay.
But now: Let the music play!!!! |
