10. July 2008.

It is good to be in Herend; it is good to visit Herend. The more so as one was able to attend superior events in recent years, practically from 2001 onward. Since the 4 day long anniversary event, no year has gone by without an outstanding program being associated with the Herend Porcelain Manufactory. Wine tastings, chamber music concerts, and programs with a special atmosphere have become regulars on the schedule.

And this is the second year in a row when even the shortest night of the year was worth celebrating in Herend; hundreds have indeed done so this year as well.

It was a fairy tale evening and now I shall invite you to walk backstage with me, to place the events under a slightly different light..

Feedback indicated that perhaps the most successful exhibition of the Museum to date was somewhat coincidental. The moving in of the goblins into the seasonal halls of the Museum were not planned. It was instigated by one of our colleague's 2007 stay in Kapolcs (perhaps many recall the 2007 Herend debut in the valley), who, as the father of a small child, was most strongly affected by the world of goblins in that place and at that time. There and then he got acquainted with Éva Bubutimár, with whom they got on well right away, enabling the world to move to Herend on this fairytale evening in 2008.

The brass quartet Fourtissimo, perhaps unknown to many, has become the surprise hit of the evening. Them being invited, and subsequently their outstanding success as well, was coincidental: we heard them, but we did not know who they were... We were searching for them for weeks until we discovered who they were and invited them to the event.

A coincidence. Or is there no such thing as a coincidence? Is there only fate? If this is fate, we can look ahead to the future with confidence.

It was a joy to organise the event, but it was also a responsibility. To live with the joy and fun of others, to give people a chance to remember Herend and the time they spent here with a light heart, was an incredible experience. It allows one to forget the work, the time, the effort, the tension, everything. It was really worth it.

It was uplifting to see happy children dancing alongside Ildikó Keresztes, to see Herend patterns on smiling faces, to see the Herend rose on the manicured nails of ladies, to run into goblins everywhere, to admire the ceremonial courtyard, lit by hundreds of oil lamps, to celebrate by the fireside, to hear rhythmic clapping, to see small children sleep on a lion with a Herend pattern, or just to see adults acting as children once again, with the manufactory cloaked in radiant holiday lights, hosting a vast crowd, lost in celebration.

I would personally like to thank everyone, all the sponsors, all the participants who have made it possible.

A fairytale evening can happen only once, but Herend has become an event city, hallmarked by the upcoming Herend Summer Festival as well.

It is worth visiting Herend!