Lots of people, emotion, flowers - all these at the event that took place at Humanitas Kretzulescu Bookshop in Bucharest, on Wednesday, 20^th March, 2013. In the limelight there were the pianist Valentin Gheorghiu who turns 85 on 21^st March and his latest CD, released by the Casa Radio Publishing House: Duo - Roxana and Valentin Gheorghiu, including recent live recordings, made by the pianists together with the National Radio Orchestra, conducted by Alain Paris and Mihail Agafiţa.

The host was Liliana Staicu - editor-in-chief at Radio Romania Music:

'Valentin Gheorghiu is an artist possessing a rare integrity, with an exemplary modesty and discretion, always dedicated to his audience and who - I believe and I hope - also felt in his turn the love of his listeners.'

On 23^rd March, Valentin Gheorghiu will be playing at the Romanian Athenaeum, accompanied by the cellist Marin Cazacu and the violinist Gabriel Croitoru.

Marin Cazacu was also at his side on Wednesday evening:

'I actually developed professionally through what Valentin Gheorghiu stood for at that time. I and my entire generation owe to him the extraordinary level reached by the Romanian music and, more than that, the human quality he proved throughout his life. I remember a joke he made about a year ago, when we had to play together. He told me, with his typical humour: "You know, when I was a child, everybody called me a child-prodigy. Now, as I still play at this age, they all say I'm an old prodigy." And I tell him: "Dear Valentin, you are a prodigy every day!"

The musicologist Grigore Constantinescu is a close friend of the pianist Valentin Gheorghiu and he talked about the CD that was launched yesterday:

'My preferences on the musical love scale are Schubert - when that wonderful motif begins at Schubert, we all start to cry - and Mozart - especially the second part, which is impressive, it's a multiplied Mozart.'

The conductor Horia Andreescu emphasized the importance Valentin Gheorghiu has for the Romanian musical world:

'Generations before us had the privilege of being able to listen to George Enescu or Dinu Lipatti, George Georgescu or Silvestri - both conducting. And now we have the joy of listening to Valentin Gheorghiu.'

Two of the editors at Radio Romania Music - Monica Cengher and Anca Andriescu - also talked at the launching of the CD Duo - Roxana and Valentin Gheorghiu.

Monica Cengher: 'Listening to the CD we gain access to a noble and profound universe. I got to know him personally in the recording studios, as he was invited to interpret his own works. I was amazed at his behaviour. His natural and modest manner made some barriers disappear as if by magic - the barriers between the great pianist dominating the interpretative art for decades and the editor starting on a new path.'

Anca Andriescu: 'Every time he is on the stage, he proves that when it comes to music, he is a jeune homme, who also has that special wisdom and remarkable noblesse put to the service of music; he never just uses music, but transforms it into a sort of faith.'

Valentin Gheorghiu also said a few words at the end of the event:

'I'm really moved by this familial gathering, as I could call it. It's like being in the midst of the family of music lovers. Not to mention my dear friends, the manager of the station that I listen to from morning to night when I can and who practically saves the Romanian culture and music.'

The CD Duo - Roxana and Valentin Gheorghiu, launched yesterday, can be listened to and voted within the campaign Vote for the Classical Music CD of 2013, on the website of Radio Romania Music; it can be purchased in the specialized stores or on the website of the Casa Radio Publishing House.

Today, on Thursday, 21^st March, starting with 13:20, I invite you to listen to the special programme marking Valentin Gheorghiu's birthday, a programme made by Anca Andriescu. Happy birthday, Valentin Gheorghiu!