The festival is periodically organized by the eponymous German non-governmental organization, chaired by composer Gabriel Iranyi—a graduate of the Cluj Conservatory, from the class of Maestro Sigismund Toduță, and currently residing in Berlin.
Its programs highlight a highly significant repertory domain concerning the theme of art versus oppression, demonstrating the resilience through culture of the victims of World War II. Thus, the Romanian public has been introduced to the works of very little-known but valuable composers, such as the locally-born Norbert von Hannenheim (1898, Sibiu – 1945, Meseritz) and Filip Herșcovici (1906, Iași – 1989, Vienna). The festival’s repertory selection includes modern and contemporary music, with a particular focus on dodecaphonic expressionism, which is less familiar to Romanian audiences.
The performers come from both Romania and other Central European countries, and the concerts are held in various cities across the country, including Cluj-Napoca, Timișoara, Brașov, and Sibiu.