On November 30^th, RCI Brussels organizes, at the initiative of Radio RomâniaMuzical, under the auspices of the three Romanian diplomatic missions in the capital of Belgium, a chamber concert-event, on the occasion of Romania's National Day. At the Musical Instruments Museum in Brussels, violinist Ioana Cristina Goicea, cellist Andrei Ioniță and pianist Daria Tudor will perform pieces by George Enescu and Ludwig van Beethoven. The concert can be watched live on the Facebook page of Radio România Muzical, starting from 3 p.m. according to Romania's local time. The same event is planned for Bucharest too, at the Radio Hall, on December 18^th.

First of all, I would like to ask, what do you think is the importance of organizing this concert in the heart of Europe, in Brussels, and in collaboration with Radio RomâniaMuzical, on the occasion of Romania's National Day?

It is a delight to talk about this event that the RCI Brussels team together with the diplomatic missions of Romania in Belgium, is organizing, as you said, in the heart of Europe, and I would dare say that in the context of the European Year of Youth, this event is more than timely. As you already know, the European Commission declared 2022 the European Year of Youth and, in this context, several events were organized in Brussels, in Strasbourg, in the capitals of the EU member countries. One of these events is, for example, Level Up! Accelerating Change and was organized on November 28^th-29^th, right here in Brussels. Why am I mentioning this event? It's because it brought together over 1200 young people from all EU members and provided a space for them to contribute to the acceleration of change. To answer the question briefly, Europe needs the visions, the creativity, but also the commitment and participation of young people to build a future, including a greener and certainly digital one. This is why, among the many, I would say, possibilities to promote Romanian creativity and Romanian culture on the occasion of the National Day of Romania, the RCI Brussels team chose an extraordinary chamber recital in which three young Romanian musicians will participate, namely violinist Ioana Cristina Goicea, cellist Andrei Ioniță and pianist Daria Tudor.

I would also like to ask, does classical music have a special role in this European dialogue? Are you feeling this in Brussels?

Definitely, and I would like to take advantage of this opportunity and point out the collaborations with Radio România and Radio România Muzical, for example this project that, by no coincidence, bears the name The Heirs of Romania's Music. It is a project proposed by this remarkable institution, many times invited to European festivals. Why? Because it is appreciated not only in our collaborations, but also in great festivals here in the heart of Europe or in Luxembourg, and I would especially mention the Klarafestival, which this year was opened by the Belgian National Orchestra under the baton of the Romanian conductor Cristian Măcelaru, in Brussels. Thus, there are events of cultural diplomacy at the highest level and, obviously, the voice of Romanian creators, the voice of cultural institutions in Romania is certainly not only heard, but highly appreciated here, in the heart of Europe. Not only the Romanian appearances, as I mentioned, with great pleasure, the appearance of Cristian Măcelaru, but also the prizes recently obtained by Romanian composers within these classical music festivals.

You have chosen the Musical Instruments Museum in Brussels as the venue for this exceptional event. Tell us more about this.

I must tell you with great joy that this is the second event proposed by RCI Brussels that was accepted on the board of this prestigious institution, an emblematic institution for Brussels and for the whole of Belgium. Why with great joy, because it is quite difficult, it is a complex process to approve the organization of such a musical event, in the beautiful concert hall that this Museum of Musical Instruments in Brussels has. I am very happy that together with the partners from Romania and the partners from the reference area here in Belgium, but also in the Netherlands and Luxembourg, several of our partners from the Benelux area have announced their presence. Some of them with the purpose to discover, on the occasion of this concert, not only the extraordinary talent of these young musicians, but also, as you have said, the Musical Instruments Museum in Brussels. Not only is it located in the heart of Brussels, a stone's throw from the Bozar Centre for Fine Arts, not only is it an iconic heritage building. We are honoured by the fact that it is also a partner of RCI Brussels, one which, by way of an exception I think, especially due to the prestige of the names of the young Romanian musicians, has accepted a second collaboration in 2022, on the occasion of Romania's National Day. I am convinced that it will be a remarkable event and that it will remain in the memory and the souls of those who will participate at this event, and I thank you for the opportunity to promote, together with you as partners, this event that we await with great joy.