The International Chamber Music Festival will take place in Brașov, between the 5^th and 13^th of April. Sebastian Tegzeșiu, the interim manager of the Brașov Philharmonic, offers us more details about the 43^rd edition in an interview with Ioana Țintea.

Mr. Sebastian Tegzeșiu, as every year, chamber music gets closer to the music lovers in Brașovthrough the International Chamber Music Festival - an event with a history of over four decades. What impact does the organization of this festival have on Brașov's cultural life?

The International Chamber Music Festival has a rich history. It was initiated in 1970 by maestro Ilarion Ionescu-Galați. For many years, it has brought and enriched the cultural life of Brașov. Unfortunately, in 2019, the last edition of this festival took place; the pandemic came upon us, and we were no longer allowed in concert halls. Now, in 2024, Brașov's cultural life reclaims this wonderful festival, which comes as a complement to our city's cultural life. I hope the audience will feel the excitement we are currently experiencing.

What does this year's edition of the festival include? Who are the artists invited?

We have invited many artists, most of them being already well-known in Romania. But our main focus was to invite artists who have left but still have a strong connection to Brașov: Valentin Șerban, Ioan Dragoș Dimitriu, Horia Mihail, the second violin from the Arcadia Quartet -Răsvan Dumitru. As someone adopted by Brașov himself, I have the pleasure of performing in this festival, along with many other international guests. We present to the audience as much culture as we can. Culture doesn't only mean classical music; it includes theater, film screenings, poetry... And here we have poetry combined with music, as well as projections and even jazz. We hope the audience will enjoy its true value.

What strategies are needed to bring the audience closer to chamber music?

Chamber music has always been considered elitist. Classical music is considered elitist. I have always argued that classical music is nothing but nourishment for the soul. And chamber music... we can listen to it and experience a much more intimate moment compared to a full orchestra in its true size, power, and value. I noticed Brașov's audiencehas gradually begun to open up to this genre. You know, in general, the large symphonic concerts are always sold out at the Brașov Philharmonic, and we are grateful for that and thank the audience for being with us. But, look, this year the audience has started to come to chamber music concerts as well. That's why, when we created this festival, we thought about how to offer a much wider range and to discover that even if we listen to jazz, it's still chamber music; it's still four people playing together without a conductor, making music and harmony together. That's what chamber music is all about.

Do you think that over time, the International Chamber Music Festival has become a cultural brand of Brașov?