Initiated in 2016 - as I believe it is widely known - out of my desire to bring the public closer to opera music and artists, the Opera FANtastica project reaches two significant milestones at the Gala on November 12th in Cluj. These are two dimensions we have long hoped for, both myself and the Association for Music, Art, and Culture, with whom I collaborate on this project. I am referring to the social dimension - the Opera FANtastica Gala in Cluj being a charitable event, with funds raised from ticket sales being directed to the Autism Transylvania Association; and the national dimension, as the project finally finds the opportunity to expand beyond Bucharest and reach audiences in other cultural centers across the country. So far, it has been associated with an older project of the Association for Music, Art, and Culture, which has supported the cause of children with autism. But I want us to continue in the same direction, with opera galas dedicated to noble causes, not only in Bucharest but also throughout the country. From our side as organizers, everything is pro bono.

However, returning to the gala on Tuesday evening, I must say that I found an exceptional openness in Cluj, both in terms of the organization from the "Transilvania" State Philharmonic, as well as in the promotion from the city hall, the airport, Iulius Mall, and not least, from the public radio and Romanian Television in Cluj, who will record the concert and broadcast it later.

In fact, without false modesty, what we are proposing is truly an event, bringing together two of the most representative lyric artists of the Romanian vocal school: soprano Laura Tătulescu and mezzo-soprano Roxana Constantinescu - artists whom I personally admire greatly, former soloists at the prestigious State Operas in Vienna and Munich, both with solid and beautiful international careers. We also have a foreign guest, tenor Kristofer Lundin from Sweden, who enthusiastically included our event in his agenda, and the young baritone from Cluj, Mihai Damian - a former soloist of the "Transilvania" Philharmonic, currently a soloist at the Romanian Opera in Cluj-Napoca, an artist who has truly emerged like a fountain in the last two years, and in whom I see exceptional potential. And if I also mention that the "Transilvania" Philharmonic Orchestra will be conducted by maestro Cristian Mandeal, I believe no further arguments are needed in favor of our gala... again, a charitable event organized in Cluj by myself and the Association for Music, Art, and Culture, with the goal of helping children with special needs.

Of course, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Laurel Tătulescu, Roxana Constantinescu, Kristofer Lundin, and Mihai Damian for their generosity and friendship, to Maestro Cristian Mandeal for his unique generosity and dedication to music, and to the orchestra and leadership of the "Transilvania" Philharmonic in Cluj-Napoca for their support. We have done everything we could to ensure this gala attracts as much public as possible, and we hope our artistic endeavor will be rewarded with a full hall in Cluj.