Nico Helminger (born 1953) is a Luxembourg author who has written poetry, novels, plays and libretti for operas. In 2008, he was awarded the Batty Weber Prize for his literary work. [1] [2]
Born on 1 July 1953 in Differdange, he is the elder brother of the author Guy Helminger. After graduating from high school in 1972, Helminger went on to study German, Romance linguistics and drama in Luxembourg, Saarbrücken, Vienna and Berlin. In 1980, he went to Paris where he taught German and history at secondary school. From 1984, he became an independent writer working in Munich, Heidelberg, Paris and Luxemburg, finally settling in Esch-sur-Alzette in 1999. [2]
Helminger has written socially critical plays such as Miss Minett und de schantchen in which he brings out the psychological and social problems suffered in the industrial south-western area of Luxembourg. Other works like Kitsch, Läschten eens käe liewen, and Kurzgeschichten address domestic violence and loss of hope and purpose as symptoms of an inhuman, materialistic society. He ascribes these trends to the repression of political and social issues as a result of the Second World War, the power of the church and the media. In his later works (In eigener säure, Grenzgang) he introduces increasingly poetic, intertextual and multilingual elements. [2]
The Music of Luxembourg is an important component of the country's cultural life. The prestigious new Philharmonie concert hall provides an excellent venue for orchestral concerts while opera is frequently presented in the theatres. Rock, pop and jazz are also popular with a number of successful performers. The wide general interest in music and musical activities in Luxembourg can be seen from the membership of the Union Grand-Duc Adolphe, the national music federation for choral societies, brass bands, music schools, theatrical societies, folklore associations and instrumental groups. Some 340 music groups and associations with over 17,000 individual members are currently represented by the organization.
Differdange is a commune with town status in south-western Luxembourg, 17 miles (27 km) west from the country's capital. It lies near the borders with Belgium and France and it is located in the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette. With a population of around 26,000, Differdange is the country's third largest city. It is also the main town of the commune, and other towns within the commune include Lasauvage, Niederkorn, Fousbann, and Oberkorn.
The culture of Luxembourg refers to the cultural life and traditions of Luxembourg. Most citizens are trilingual, speaking French and German in addition to the Germanic national language of Luxembourgish. Although its contributions to the arts are not largely known outside its borders, Luxembourg has a rich cultural history, especially in music, painting and photography. Its evolving museums, concert halls, theatres and galleries testify to its citizens' growing appreciation of culture.
Paul Eyschen was a Luxembourgish politician, statesman, lawyer, and diplomat. He was the eighth Prime Minister of Luxembourg, serving for twenty-seven years, from 22 September 1888 until his death, on 11 October 1915.
Paul Helminger was a Luxembourgish politician who was Mayor of Luxembourg City from 1999 to November 2011. He was a member of the Chamber of Deputies for the Democratic Party.
Guy de Pourtalès was a Swiss author.
Théo Kerg was a Luxembourgian painter and sculptor who specialized in modern art.
The following lists events that happened during 1953 in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Emile Kirscht (1913–1994) was a Luxembourg painter who worked with acrylics and gouache on paper. In 1954, he was a co-founder of the Iconomaques group of abstract artists in Luxembourg.
Nico Klopp (1894–1930) was a Luxembourg painter remembered above all for his post-impressionist paintings of scenes on the River Moselle where he lived.
Luxembourg art can be traced back to Roman times, especially as depicted in statues found across the country and in the huge mosaic from Vichten. Over the centuries, Luxembourg's churches and castles have housed a number of cultural artefacts but these are nearly all ascribed to foreign artists. The first examples of art with a national flavour are paintings and maps of the City of Luxembourg and its fortifications from the end of the 16th until the beginning of the 19th century, although these too were mostly created by foreign artists. Real interest in art among the country's own citizens began in the 19th century with paintings of Luxembourg and the surroundings after the country became a grand duchy in 1815. This was followed by interest in Impressionism and Expressionism in the early 20th century, the richest period in Luxembourg painting, while Abstraction became the focus of art after the Second World War. Today there are a number of successful contemporary artists, some of whom have gained wide international recognition.
Harry Rabinger (1895–1966) was a Luxembourg artist who is remembered for his portraits and Expressionist landscape paintings, especially those of the industrial area in the south of the country.
Batty (Jean-Baptiste) Weber (1860–1940) is considered to have been one of Luxembourg's most influential journalists and authors, contributing much to the development of the country's national identity. His style is characterized by his sense of humour and skillful use of irony.
Anise Koltz is one of Luxembourg's major contemporary authors. Best known for her poetry and her translations of poetry, she has also written a number of children's stories. In 1962, she was a cofounder with Nic Weber of the successful literary conference series Journées littéraires de Mondorf in which she has always played a key role.
Guy Rewenig is a Luxembourg author and novelist. In 1984, he wrote the first novel in the Luxembourgish language although poems and theatrical works had appeared in the 19th century. Together with Roger Manderscheid, he is credited for initiating the current trend for novels written in Luxemburgish.
The Batty Weber Prize or Prix Batty Weber is Luxembourg's national literary prize. It has been awarded every three years since 1987 to a Luxembourg writer for his entire literary work. It is named after the writer Batty Weber (1860–1940) who considerably influenced Luxembourg's cultural life.
The literature of Luxembourg is little known beyond the country's borders, partly because Luxembourg authors write in one or more of the three official languages, partly because many works are specifically directed to a local readership. Furthermore, it was not until the 19th century that the literature of Luxembourg began to develop in parallel with growing awareness of the country's national identity following the Treaty of Paris (1815) and the Treaty of London (1867).
Guy Helminger is a Luxembourg author who has written a number of successful novels and plays in German.
Events in the year 2021 in Luxembourg.