The fourth edition of the CellEAST Festival begins on Saturday, May 10th. This year, the events will take place in Bucharest, Sibiu, and Dumbrăveni. Among the internationally renowned cellists invited is Ella Bokor, who joined me in the Radio România Muzical studio.

Good evening! I'd like to begin by asking how you envisioned this edition of the festival. What new elements distinguish it from previous years?

This year's edition is special precisely because we are collaborating with new cities. Sibiu and Dumbrăveni have not previously hosted our concerts. CellEAST continues to be supported by the Ministry of Culture, and it is organized in partnership with the PlaCello Cultural Association, UCIMR, the "George Enescu" Philharmonic, and Echit Art, all of whom have been with us since the very first edition.

Of course, our guests are also spectacular. For the first time, we are joined by Armenian cellist Sevak Avanesyan. Fenyő László will also perform, as will Bruno Cocset, who is returning for a second time to CellEAST. He previously participated two years ago, when we hosted a concert for him at the Italian Church on Magheru. We realized then that the venue was too small, so this year we have moved to Saint Joseph Cathedral, where his concert will take place on May 14th.

That suggests a considerable audience for this type of event.

Indeed, it was a very pleasant surprise. We couldn't even find a place to sit - many of us stood or sat on the floor. The children attending the masterclass also came, along with many students and members of the Italian community, given the venue.

This year, Bruno will also participate at the National University of Music, where we are organizing the cello masterclass in collaboration with the institution. He will hold a seminar on May 12th, in the "George Enescu" Hall, starting at 11:30 a.m. The event is open to the public and welcomes anyone interested in early music or curious about the baroque cello and its history. Bruno is truly the ideal person to speak on these topics.

Could you tell us more about these masterclasses? What do they mean for young cellists in particular?

They are truly unique experiences. This year, we held a pre-selection and were delighted to see 70 applicants. We selected 40 participants, each of whom will work in two to three lessons with different professors. At the end, there is also a concert, which will take place at the University in the "George Enescu" Hall on May 16th at 4:00 p.m.

What should a young cellist take away from such a masterclass?

In the end, a family is formed, a community, because it is not just about the teacher-student interaction, but also the interactions among the students. We also organize chamber music lessons, which help them grow in other ways. Meeting multiple professors in one setting allows them to gain various perspectives and learn to approach music in a richer, more diverse way.

You mentioned that the event is open to anyone who enjoys music. What might an amateur music lover gain from attending a masterclass?

Even if one is not a musician, attending such a class out of curiosity can be incredibly rewarding. One can certainly learn new things. Music not only makes us better, but it also sharpens attention, improves memory, and cultivates patience. Sitting for hours with a cello in hand is no easy task; it requires a certain talent and special dedication.

Returning to this year's edition, I noticed a very diverse program, including modern compositions, classical, and baroque pieces. Is there a guiding theme or approach behind the selection, or was variety the primary goal?

We aimed for diversity. A special event will take place on May 17th at the Romanian Athenaeum, where we will present a "concert of concertos." Denis will perform a Boccherini concerto, Octavian Lup and I will perform Vivaldi's Double Concerto, Fenyő László will present a Hungarian Rhapsody, and the program will conclude with contemporary music by Dan Dediu, interpreted by Ștefan Cazacu and Mircea Marian.

Is this designed primarily for musicians, or does it target a general audience? For specialists or for broadening the appeal of classical music?

The central idea was to attract young audiences. That's why we include music that they can relate to or connect with their daily lives. For example, many will have heard of Vivaldi, of The Four Seasons…, so they may find something familiar in the repertoire we are presenting at the festival.

Speaking of this year's edition, I understand there is a special figure being honored.

Yes, this year's theme is CelloFAME, and the featured person is Mr. Marin Cazacu, whose support has been invaluable to CellEAST. In his honor, we have also organized, in partnership with the French Cultural Institute, a film screening of Violoncellissimo on May 12th, at 2:00 p.m., at Cinema Elvira Popescu.

An ensemble founded by Marin Cazacu - a significant name in Romanian cello music. I also understand Dumbrăveni plays an important role in this year's edition.

Yes. In Dumbrăveni, Sevak Avanesyan and Răzvan Suma will perform a recital at the Armenian-Catholic Church. The event is organized in collaboration with the Union of Armenians in Romania. The church is one of the most beautiful and possibly the second-largest Armenian cathedral. We are happy to have met the local community and organized this event with them. I am confident it will be a success, as Dumbrăveni already hosts classical music concerts, and the audience is somewhat familiar with this type of repertoire.

It is encouraging to know there are people and institutions supporting classical music and cellists in particular.

Indeed.

Let us take a step back now. What lessons have you learned from previous editions? What key moments stand out? If we were to make a film, what would the highlights be?

In fact, we already have two short films on YouTube from past editions. There are daily challenges - the unexpected can happen at any time. Fortunately, we have a strong team, and every situation has a solution. Our motto is: "We don't have problems, only solutions."

That's an excellent motto. I imagine you have already started planning next year's edition, at least logistically?

Next year will be a larger project, as we will organize the second edition of the CellEAST International Competition. Last year's first edition attracted about 80 participants, across four age categories, with 23 special prizes, and a total of €11,000 in cash awards. It is, I believe, the only international cello competition in Romania, and it has gained traction. We had participants from America and from all continents. I am confident that next year it will grow even more.

I'm sure you do this out of passion, but I imagine it must be difficult to persuade people, sponsors, and even young cellists to support the project.

We are fortunate to see a growing interest from people who want to join our initiative, both as supporters and as organizers. This gives us great joy. We are being sought out more and more. That is how we can grow and carry this project forward.

Ella Bokor, thank you for joining us at Radio România Muzical! Is there a final message or invitation you would like to share with music lovers?

I warmly invite everyone to discover the cello in all its forms! And before I say goodbye, I would like to thank our main sponsor, Vestra, for their unwavering support. Without them, we could not have reached this point.

Thank you very much for your time!