Events organized on the occasion of Romania’s National Day at EXPO

 

 

 

11.00

Official opening ceremony

in the presence of H.E. Mr. Traian Basescu, president of Romania and H.E. Mr. Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu, Minister of Foreign Affairs

- EXPO DOME -

11.20

National Radio Orchestra

Madrigal Choir

Ballet – National Opera

Allegretto Choir

Pan-flute SINGER Nicolae Voiculet, accompanied at piano by Giovanni De Cecco

National Aerobics Team

- EXPO DOME -

12.00

Fanfara from Chetris

- Event Space -

13.00

Joint show of Romanian and Japanese children

Allegretto choir

Traditional drums orchestra from Minamichita

National Aerobics Team

 

- EXPO DOME -

14.00

Fanfara from Chet

- Event Space -

15.00

The Japanese-Romanian Economic Forum “Romania – The Future Destination of Your Business”

-          Rotary International EXPO Friendship Center-Rotary Club Hall –

-          UNder the high Patronage of H.E. Mr. Traian Basescu, President of Romania

Madrigal Choir

- EXPO DOME -

15.40

Fanfara from Chetris

- Event Space -

16.00

Pan-flute SINGER Nicolae Voiculet and piano SINGER Giovanni de Cecco

- EXPO DOME -

16.30

Fanfara from Chetris

- Event Space -

17.00

National Radio Orches

- EXPO DOME -

18.30

Fanfara from Chetris

- Event Space -

19.00

Rock band concert – Holograf

Unplugged

- EXPO DOME -

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Children’s Vocal Group Allegretto

Allegretto Vocal Group has been founded in 1974, being composed since then by children aged 4 to 14. They are selected on the ground of their musical talent (main sense of rhythm and good musical memory). The repertoire of the group has orchestral support and is adjusted to the age and memory capacity of the children.

The repertoire includes, forth Romanian plays, songs in foreign languages: Spanish, Greek, Turkish, Hebrew, Swedish, Ukrainian, Arab, Russian, Rromanes.

In the last 12 years, Allegretto Group performed in 54 international tours and has taken part in over 50 competitions and festivals, where it has been awarded 47 Grand Prizes, Golden Medals, the Grand Prix for interpretation, the First Place and several Laureate titles.

The group has the honor to play for main personalities of the world, as Pope John Paul II, the presidents of Poland, Italy, the Kings of Jordan, Morocco, Belgium etc.

The Allegretto Group has had several collaborations with Romanian Television companies such as Romanian Public Television – TVR, PRO TV, Antena 1, Prima TV, as well as with foreign TV companies, like BBC, ZDF, TF1, RAI UNO, Moroccan National Television, Jordanian TV, Latvian TV, Mongolian TV.

Allegretto is the only Romanian Group that has performed with the well known Romanian and world artists, among which Mariana Nicolesco, Richard Clayderman, Toto Cutugno, Nicola di Bari, Rita Pavone, Natalia Oreiro.

Nowadays, the Group repertoire comprises over 84 songs, as well as over 70 songs recorded for special events.

The group is trained and led by Adriana Codreanu and Gherasim Chirita. Their e-mail address is: allegretto@yahoo.com

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National Chamber Choir “Madrigal”

The Romanian National Chamber Choir “Madrigal” is one of the most celebrated and highly thought of choral ensembles, both in Romania and throughout the world, especially in Japan. Their fame is due to their unique singing artists – an experience testified to by Lord Yehudi Menuhin and Elizabeth Schwartzkopf, among others in the “Golden Book”, a guest book begun in the 1960’s to accommodate the many international accolades and endorsements the choir has received.

The “Madrigal Choir” was founded in April 11 1963, as a component of the then “Ciprian Porumbescu” Music Conservatory (now the National University of Music) under the initiative of Mr. Constantin – professor in residence, together with a few post-graduate student, all choral music lovers.

They had their first concert on 7 of July 1963, at the Music Theatre in Brasov, and their first international performance as part of the third edition of the International Festival “George Enescu” in 1964.

Designed as a Renaissance chamber ensemble, Madrigal choir and its director, Marin Constantin, aimed to prepare and make known the canon of the European Renaissance School in the original languages of the songs. The development and diversification of the repertoire involved the rediscovery of the great treasure of Byzantine and old Romanian music, Christmas Carols, folk influenced music and, shortly after its creation, Romanian contemporary music and vocal-symphonic works.

The “Madrigal” choir has constituted, for young or experienced composers, professors or composition students at the Music Academy, a unique musical interpreter and original laboratory of creation in which bloomed the trio composer – director-interpreter Anatol Vieru, Miriam Marbe, Tiberiu Olah, Stefan Niculescu, Irina Odagescu, Dan Buciu and many others.

The choir was affiliated with education programs at the Music Conservatory by the activity of Marin Constantin at the Faculty of Ensemble and Choral Directing and through the presence in the ensemble of the students and post-graduate students of Music Conservatory. National Chamber Choir “Madrigal” was permanently present in the teaching activity through concert-lessons, meeting with pupils, students and teachers within the musical field, symposia or special concerts for different anniversaries.

Titles, prizes and distinctions

UNICEF Medal 1968

German Music Critics Prize 1971

Il Saggitario d’OroItaly 1976

Una Vita per l’Arte – David Michelangelo d’Oro – Italia 1977

Honorary Diploma and Prize, “Grand Duc Adolf” – Luxemburg 1979

Medaille en Vermeil – Luxembourg 1979

Exceptional ATM Prize for the Treatise “The Art of Choral Construction and Interpretation”

Premium Magnum of M.Jora Foundation 1993

Honorary Diploma Union of Romanian Musicologists and Composers 1985, 1993

Tours abroad

“Madrigal” performed on various world stages, as: USA, Italy, Germany, France, Yugoslavia, Poland, UK, Hungary, Bulgaria, Spain, Belgium, The Netherlands, Austria, Russia, Republic of Moldova, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, San Marino, Switzerland, Canada, Portugal, Turkey, Finland, Greece, Luxembourg, Lichtenstein, North Korea, Japan.

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Marin Constantin

Marin Constantin was born on the 27th of February 1925, in Urleta (Prahova) – Romania.

He graduated the Faculty of Musical Pedagogy and Choral Directing of the National University of Music from Bucharest (1944-1949) and the Faculty of Psychology and Philosophy of the University of Bucharest (1945-1949). During his studies, he was also a teacher at the “King Michael I Cultural Foundation” under the direction of the founder of the Romanian School of Sociology, Dimitrie Gusti.

1948-1952 – Assistant teacher at the Faculty of Psychology and Philosophy of the University from Bucharest

1951-1974 – Director and conductor of the Romanian Youth Ensemble, with whom he participated at many international tours and festivals, being awarded with gold medals and the title of Emeritus Artist

Since 1956 – member of the Union of Romanian Composers and Musicologists

Since 1960 – Assistant, lecturer and then professor at the Faculty of Ensemble and Choral Directing at the National University of Music from Bucharest

1960-1964 – Director of the Musical Department of the Ministry of Culture

1966-1970 – Director of the National Opera in Bucharest

1976-1994 – Lectured Master courses of choral directing and performance in Italy, Switzerland, Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Luxembourg, Venezuela, USA, directing concerts with some of the most representatives choirs from these countries. The recorded opus “The mastery of choral structure and performance” is the result of Marin Constantin’s teaching and artistic experience. During his life he has performed a large and various choral repertoire, that comprises masterpieces from the European Renaissance, Byzantine music, Romanian and Universal classical and contemporary music, in more than 3500 concerts all over the world.

He initiated and directed other choral ensembles, such as the Choir of the University from Bucharest (1948), the Choral Chapel “Gheorghe Cucu” (1958).

Although he had to respond to the demands of the Romanian and international musical culture, since 1963 his life has been identified with the existence of The National Chamber Choir “Madrigal”.

His activity has been enthusiastically rewarded by musical critics all over the world with many prizes and distinctions, including the followings:

UNICEF medal (1968)

The German Critics Primary Musical Award (1971)

Il Saggitario d’OroItaly (1976)

Una vita per l’Arte – David Michelangelo d’Oro” – Italy (1977)

Medaille en Vermeil – Luxembourg

Honorary Director of the Musical Conservatories of Tolima and Mexico city

The Grand Duc Adolf prize Luxembourg (1979)

Exceptional Prize of the ATM for the Treatise “the Art of Choral Structure and Performance”

UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador (1992)

Honorary Diploma of the Romanian Musical Critics Organisations (1985, 1993)

Honorary Diploma of the American Biographical Institute (1994)

International Man of the Year (1990, 1992, 1994)

Doctor of Philosophy of Music – USA, Arizona (1984)

Honorary diploma from the Romanian Ministry of Education

Patriarchal Cross of the Sacred Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church (2000)

Doctor of musicology – Cluj Napoca (1985)

Doctor Honoris CausaAcademy of Music “Gheorghe Dima”, Cluj Napoca (1994)

Honorary citizen of various towns in Romania and abroad

Founder, conductor and honorary director for lifetime of the National Chamber Choir “Madrigal” as ordained by the Romanian National Education Ministry, under the Governmental Decree 57/1998.

National Order of the Faithful Service, Grand Officer status (2000)

Mihai Eminescu” and “George Enescu” jubilee medals

Grand Prize for discography, SADCO festival

Marin Constantin was mentioned seven times in “Who’s Who” in
Great Britain and in the USA, as well as in the “New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians”.

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Mendi Rodan


Mendi Rodan, Music Director and Chief Conductor of the Israel Symphony Orchestra - Rishon Lezion and Laureate Conductor of the Israel Sinfonietta Beer-Sheva, takes an active part in all facets of Israel's musical life. He was Associate Conductor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (1993-97), Music Director and Permanent Conductor of the Belgium National Orchestra in Brussels (1983-89), Principal Conductor and Music Advisor of the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra (1963-72), Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Israel Sinfonietta Beer-Sheva (1971-92) and Music Director of the IDF Educational Corps Chamber Orchestra. In 1965 he founded the Jerusalem Chamber Orchestra. Prof. Rodan was Head of the Jerusalem Rubin Academy of Music and Dance (1984-93) and was Music Advisor of the Jerusalem Music Centre Mishkenot Sha'ananim. Mendi Rodan conducted the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra for the first time shortly after he settled in Israel and has since appeared with it numerous times as well as with other Israeli orchestras. He has also conducted many prestigious orchestras in Europe, in the Far East (including China), in Australia, in the USA and in Mexico. He serves as juror at many international music competitions (in both composition and conducting), is a member of the Council of Higher Education in Israel and is Professor of Conducting at the Jerusalem Rubin Academy of Music. He has conducted orchestral recordings for international labels and television stations. In recognition of his artistic achievements, the President of Italy awarded him with the Medal of Distinction of the Republic of Italy. He is also an Honorary Citizen of the State of Arizona, USA. In 1997 Mendi Rodan was awarded the Frank Pelleg Prize as Musician of the Year by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

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Nicolae Voiculet

 

Musician, composer

A CAREER DEDICATED TO THE PAN PIPE

From an early age when he heard the music of travelling bands of gypsies in his native Romania, Nicolae Voiculet yearned to be a musician.

The virtuoso playing of Nicolae Voiculet creates a soothing aural landscape, an oasis of calm in today`s increasingly frenetic world.

Nicolae Voiculet is the recipient of well deserved critical and public acclaim the world over, his in music for the heart and soul. Unique, bewitching and moving, Nicolae Voiculet is an extraordinary artist. A Nicolae Voiculet concert is an extraordinary event

STUDIES

  • National Academy of Music, Bucharest / Romania
  • George Enescu Music College, Bucharest / Romania

PROFESIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • Asociate professore of Music at “Art Resource Studio” – Chicago, USA
  • Assistant: Gheorghe Zamfir

MUSIC REPERTOIRE

  • Classical, contemporary, folk, jazz, new age, pop-rock, world music

Nicolae Voiculet an exceptional musician has been committed to music since age.3. The only student ever accepted by the great Gheorghe Zamfir, Voiculet de veloped his own style and repertory including the piano, however the panflute remains of course his forte and main instrument. He performed on prestigious stahes the world over: in France, Spania, Cehia , Germany, Austria, Hungary, UK the U.S.A, Japan, Thailand and Italy where he recentlyheld an extraordinary concert in memory of Mother Theresa. Nicolae Voiculet he sustainednumerous concerts in Detroit, Chicago, Los Angeles, las Vegas and New York. Among his professional achievements are a panflute school founded in Chicago where he taught lovers of the panflute from all over the World..

In an absolutely authentic manner the two artists convey the same message:that art will survive in all it`s splendour over the decades serving at the same time as moral lighthouse in the darkness of the ages.

When Nicolae Voiculet plays the panpipes, the instrument becomes magic. His virtuosity is the result of rare musical talent, fabulous technique, and intense concentration – the last one being essential for the panflute are one of the few instruments that cannot be see while being played: and which are controlled by the breath of the player alone.

Nicolae Voiculet`s musical repertoire is among the most extensive of today`s artists. It ranges from baroque and classical composers like Bach, Corelli, Vivaldi, Schumann, Schubert on Puccini, to among the best known contemporary song writers.

No one in Europe nor the world sings as the Romanians and no one has a richer, more amazing, nature and God bound folklore.

The Romanian sings as he breathes and within all the creating metamorphoses he has known to preserve with sacredness the sublime note that has been the starting point of the whole system being created in his genial “laboratory”.

The beauty and the freshness of each melody, is like a perfumed petal to the flower, because each spring, hill, valley, forest or mountain has its own voice, its inner vibration, which are expressed by the magnificent tubes of the most oldest, complex, real and divine of instruments: the PANPIPE.

Each melody is a small prayer, that is part of the whole prayer of peace, hope and harmony on Earth.

Whit his magic flutes, Nicolae Voiculet has crossed innumerable boundaries, both musical and geographical. Musicaly he breathes new life into classical, popular, ethnic, new age,jazz, world music and sacred works; geographically he has thrilled audiences in concerts from Japan, Italy , UK,Cehia Austria, Germany, France,Thailand, Spain to Scandinavia, from South America to Australia.

This mastery of an ancient instrument requires a rare musical talent, extraordinary technique and intense concentration. Panpipes have been played for over 6000 years and are found in cultures ancient and contemporary in Europe, Asia, South America and Japan.

Nicolae Voiculet has taken this traditional and naive set of pipes and transformed it into a sophisticated solo instrument, capable of playing an enormous musical repertoire, from Baroque concertos to popular themes to Nicolae Voiculet first own compositions written for the pipes whit piano, organ, chamber or full orchestra.

From an early age when he heard the music of traveling bands of gypsies in his native Romania, Nicolae Voiculet yearned to be a musician.

The virtuoso playing of Nicolae Voiculet creates a soothing aural landscape, an oasis of calm in today`s increasingly frenetic world.

Nicolae Voiculet is the recipient of well deserved critical and public acclaim the world over, his in music for the heart and soul. Unique, bewitching and moving, Nicolae Voiculet is an extraordinary artist. A Nicolae Voiculet concert is an extraordinary event

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Romania National Radio Orchestra

Romania National Radio’s main symphonic orchestra has a long history of successes. The orchestra has been founded in 1926 by Mihail Jora, one of the most representative Romanian composers, considered the creator of the national ballet and lied. Since 1932, it entered in the national theatrical seasons, maintained until now between October and June.

The main mission of the Orchestra is to make know the Romanian creations in the country and abroad, as well the world masterpieces. In that sense, during the theatrical seasons, or in special concerts, the Orchestra is outlining various classical compositions, in a particular interpretation.

The orchestra has as directors, high profile Romanian musicians, as well as soloist. One of the representative abroad guests has been: Roberto Benzi, Emil Ceakarov, Sergiu Comissiona, Aaron Copland, Lorin Maazel, Ion Marin, Igor Markevitch, Kurt Masur, Willem Mengelberg, Václav Neumann, Michel Plasson, Ghenadi Rojdestvenski, Hermann Scherchen, Leopold Stokowski, Jin Wang, Carlo Zecchi. Among the soloists, we’ll mention the piano players: Monique de la Bruchollerie, Aldo Ciccolini, Emil Ghilels, Nelson Goerner, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Radu Lupu, Nikita Magaloff, Garrick Ohlson, Gerhard Opitz, Sviatoslav Richter, Francois - Joël Thiollier, Mihaela Ursuleasa, Elisso Virsaladze s.a.; the violin players Lola Bobescu, Oleg Kagan, Jean-Jacques Kantorow, Gidon Kremer, Silvia Marcovici, Mihaela Martin, Yehudi Menuhin, David Oistrach, Eugen Sarbu, Isaac Stern; the cello players Radu Aldulescu, Vladimir Orlov, Mstislav Rostropovici, Alexandr Rudin; the organist Pierre Cochereau and the canto singers Monserrat Caballé, Eliane Coehlo, Viorica Cortez, Ileana Cotrubas, Placido Domingo, Ruxandra Donose, Angela Gheorghiu, Luciano Pavarotti, Eduard Tumagian.

The records for the radio broadcasts, the repertoire, the TV shots, as the live transmissions (including the international transmissions through the Radio European Union) are honoring that elite symphonic orchestra. Their prestige have been recognized by important national and international awards, among which we’ll mention: Charles Cros – France, Puerta del Sol -Uruguay, Koussevitzky-USA. The tours made all over the world propagated the fame of Romania National Radio Orchestra, as one of the prestigious bands of the world Radios.

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HOLOGRAF

The earliest rock bands in Romania emerged in the students environments and the first ever rock music festivals were also featuring students bands. It so happened that this kind of music had an appeal to the studying generation , and it was the students who started offering the youth an alternative to the "official" pop music. The students environment offered the adequate bohemian way of life and allowed minor excesses in music and "look", because the strict directives of the censorship were ingeniously bypassed in the students Houses of Culture.Consequently , in the autumn of 1978 Mihai Pocorschi , a student at the Polytechnical Institute and folk music performer , winner of the " Ballad Spring " festival , started rehearsing at the students House of Culture ( the famous "Preoteasa") together with a few others , students at Geology.Some of them went away , some new ones came along and a more or less stable formula was reached, including Mihai Pocorschi, (guitar/vocals), Eugen Sonia (base), Cristian Lesciuc (solo guitar) si Boris Petroff (drums). They called themselves Holograf. Very soon Edi Petrosel took over as drummer.Later Tino Furtuna (keyboards) joined in, and Stefan Radescu became the vocalist. At a later stage Cristian Lesciuc was replaced by Cornel Stanescu and in this structure they stayed on during their students time.Together they won several awards of the Students Arts Festivals and had their music recorded at the radio and television.
The sweet years as students were quickly gone and the band members were now facing a big problem.In those days all graduates had to spread all over the country ,in cities as far as possible from Bucharest,where they were ordered to go to work, so that in most cases the students bands disappeared. The members of Holograf stayed together , managing to "group" near the city of Pitesti. Two difficult years followed , with exhausting shuttle trips and financial sacrifices made in order to be able to rehearse and perform.However , due to their determination to stick together at any cost Holograf made themselves a name in the musical world of those days.The time had come for yet another step forward..

There comes december 1989. The Iron Curtain has fallen and the Western World, only glimpsed at in magazines and video cassettes until then was out there waiting to be conquered.. Or ,at least so they believed .At the beginning of 1990 they travelled to England and France , only to find out that a friendly and polite audience or a recording session do not mean anyting , and turning over the magazines is little help in understanding how this merciless musical industry is operating. And most of all , that one must live there , among those people in order to be able to sing about them. It is not the instruments , but the ideas that are the key to success.It was in this period that Nutu Olteanu moved to Sweden and his place with the guitar was taken by Florin Ochescu..
This was another difficult moment.In the country the Romanian music of any kind was swept away by the foreign one, which , after being censored for decades , was now exploding in all the radio and tv stations , as well in discos.Politics and tabloids were taking care of any remaining public attention , so that Holograf was nearly becoming a memory of the 80's.
Like ten years earlier , the solution was to change "the nest".Between 1991 and 1993, the band performed in Holland, in clubs and discos.This way they managed to stay together and learn about the operation of the European musical industry. They were performing in the country every now and then and were even able to publish a new album, "Banii vorbesc"("Money talks"). In 1993, Florin Ochescu leaves the band and is replaced by Romeo Dediu, a young guitar player coming from a band called Commando.1994 was the year of resurrection for the Romanian music.People had had enough of MTV and were ready to rediscover the local bands.The advertizing industry became involved in organizing events and things got moving.

The golden "triplet" of the Romanian rock (Iris, Holograf, Compact) regained their place in the heart of the audience.But now they had to fight a new challenge - each year a new style was "in".The "old dynosaurs" were outdone , in turn , by thrash, tehno, rave, jungle, dance or , as the case may be, by the Romanian press. Finally Holograf succeeded to overcome the "age" complex and mind their own way.

In 1995 the album "Stai in poala mea"( Sit in my lap), stll tributary to 80's rock. 1996 brings "69% Unplugged", a collection of hits played live. The real success came in 1998, with "Supersonic", that shadowed any other previous musical achievement and proved that , in spite of their age , for Holograf a new era was beginning. They understood that real music will not be affected by age or fashion. And the young jounalists were no longer looking at them as at some curiosity but as what they really were - a successful band..

The album "Undeva departe"( Somewhere far away)in 1999, produced yet another hit, and "Holografica", published in November 2000, swept off the sales records.For the first time ever a Romanian band enjoyed the absolute success, irrespective of the listeners age, tastes, in the country or abroad.22 years after its set up Holograf was reaching far beyond the dreams of those few students reahearsing in the little room at the 2nd floor back at the Students House of Culture.

2003 was a sensitive year for Holograf. Success is two-sided and those who are not cautious will be destroyed by it. Any Holograf product is now much more carefully judged and the only chance is to permanently try to be better than the previous time. Far beyond the record , the ups and downs , the Holograf story is the story a a handful of people who showed that love for music , friendship and determination can make a dream come true..
"Pur si Simplu"(Simply Holograf) is the conclusion of this actual state. Composed , arranged , recorded and produced by Holograf , this album is the first fully independent achievement of the band, at a time when they believe that their long experience entitles them to decide for themselves.Ten new songs won the audience both through radio and tv stations , and the 50 days tour brought an enormous success in the promotion of this album.Thereby making 2003 one of the most important years in the career of Holograf.
2003 was simply a … Holograf year and meant 50 Holograf concerts , performed during three tours under the brand name Simply Holograf , as follows :20 cities in spring , 10 concerts in summer at the sea side and other 20 cities starting with 31st of October.And every time Holograf were at their best , because this is what they promissed their audience, their friends and their team..

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