A Different Kind of Performance in Salzburg

It is easy to dismiss them as an “organized mafia gang” when they ask for a few cents on the street. However, the guests of a “musical evening with and about Roma” on November 20, 2019, at the Schauspielhaus Salzburg experienced a very different perspective. Franz Salm-Reifferscheidt, Special Ambassador of the Order for Roma, had invited attendees to learn about the living conditions of Europe’s largest minority and the Malteser project “Păuleasca.”

Perspectives for the Future

Păuleasca is a village in southern Romania, and for the Order of Malta, it is not an unfamiliar place. For the past two years, a local support project for Roma families has been underway, led by Anca Simu and Stefanie Lanzdorf. On a newly acquired piece of land, a new Roma center will soon be built—the eighth center of its kind established by the Order of Malta. This center will provide further opportunities and perspectives for Roma families and their children. Why Păuleasca, of all places? It is common for groups of Roma from this village to rent a bus and travel to Salzburg for three to four months at a time. “To work,” they say. Their “work” consists of begging on the streets. The money they collect is used to buy building materials, medicine, and food back home.

From the Roma Center to University

“Our project won’t prevent this kind of ‘work’ overnight,” said Franz Salm-Reifferscheidt, “but the children and grandchildren of the Roma families should be given the opportunity to build a better future in their homeland.” One example of how this is possible is 20-year-old Nikolett Horvat from Hungary. She grew up in one of the Hungarian Roma centers supported by the Order of Malta and is now studying psychology in Budapest. She still regularly visits her “center” to help with the education and care of children.

Thunderous Applause

The extraordinary evening was accompanied by music from 27 Roma children and 13 teachers from the Hungarian music project “Maltai Szimfonia.” These children are part of the 300 Roma children from the Order of Malta’s centers who regularly receive music lessons and come together for joint concerts. During their performance in Salzburg, they received thunderous applause from the audience, which included Dr. Elisabeth Hintner, Head of the MHDA Salzburg, Archabbot Korbinian of St. Peter, Archpriest Dimitru Vieziane of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Count Winfried Henckel-Donnersmarck of the Order’s government, Prince Erich Lobkowicz, President of the German Association, Delegate Mag. Johannes Gruchmann-Bernau from Salzburg, and Suzanne Harf, Chief of Protocol for the Salzburger Festspiele.