As of: March 2, 2024, 1:05 p.m
By: Manuela Schauer
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Full commitment: At the rehearsals for the 2022 Passion Play, Christian Stückl himself carries the cross, and now he will be presented with the Federal Cross of Merit First Class for his services in various areas.
Photo: db-a.
© db-a.
What an honor: Christian Stückl receives the Federal Cross of Merit, 1st Class.
Among other things, for his services to Passion and as a bridge builder between cultures.
Oberammergau/Munich – Who did the letter come from?
Christian Stückl didn't pay attention to the sender.
“I just opened it,” says the Oberammergauer.
Without attaching any particular importance to it.
But he quickly realized: The post is tough and weighs heavy.
The Bavarian Ministry of Culture had drawn up the letter to inform Stückl about his next award.
The Federal President awards the four-time Passion Play director the Cross of Merit, 1st Class.
Stückl read the lines on the paper in disbelief and just thought to himself: Excuse me?
This can not be true.
“I was very surprised,” says the theater director today, a few months after the good news.
But he still had to wait for this answer as to why and why he was given the honor.
She followed up in another letter.
What became clear: Prime Minister Dr.
Markus Söder (CSU) had recommended the theater maker for one of the highest awards that recognize services to the common good.
Bavaria's Minister of Culture Blume presents the award
Bavaria's father highlights Stückl's achievement.
“You contribute to our country far beyond the usual level.
As an extremely successful theater director and artistic director, you shape the Bavarian cultural scene.
As director since 1987, you have carefully modernized the Oberammergau Passion Play and brought it into modern times,” said the Prime Minister, explaining why Oberammergau was chosen.
In addition, this would promote young actors and be seen as a bridge builder between religions and cultures.
In short: It is his life's work that catapults Christian Stückl into the Olympus of dignitaries in the republic.
He is in good company there.
Actress and activist Iris Berben, publishing legend Hans Dieter Beck and entrepreneur Wolfgang Grupp, for example, belong to the group.
On Thursday, March 7th, at 2 p.m., the 62-year-old will receive the medal from Markus Blume, CSU State Minister for Economic Affairs and Culture, in the Gärtnerplatztheater.
Difficult beginnings
The director of the Munich Volkstheater has already won many awards in his career.
For example, the Upper Bavarian Integration Prize (2011), the Abraham Geiger Prize (2020), the Buber-Rosenzweig Medal (2021) or the Tolerance Prize of the Evangelical Academy Tutzing (2022).
“My grandfather was always more into the Bavarian Order of Merit,” says Stückl.
“I already have some at home.”
You can't rest on one price, you have to keep going.
Christian Stückl
He never even dared to think about being able to add the Federal Cross of Merit to the collection.
A great honor, but he still says: “Actually, you don’t want awards for life’s work yet.
“I’m not finished yet.” This particularly applies to his fight against anti-Semitism and racism.
Receiving awards for this, such as the Isaiah Award from the American Jewish Committee in 2022, was never his incentive and was previously unimaginable for him anyway.
Because of the difficult beginnings with the Jewish organizations at the beginning of his career as a passion play director.
And because of the challenges and resistance he faced because he wanted to reform the story of Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection, gradually freeing it from anti-Judaism.
Which he succeeded in doing.
Recognizable in the texts, costumes and prayers of the production.
Also recognizable because he opened it up to people in all their diversity.
His driving force for advancing cultural understanding was not the hope for fame and honor.
“You do this because it’s important,” emphasizes Stückl.
He has been passionately involved for almost 30 years.
“But unfortunately anti-Semitism doesn’t stop,” laments Oberammergau’s honorary citizen.
He doesn't think he's done enough to combat it yet.
“You can’t rest on one price, you have to keep going.”