The Tuesday evening season at the George Enescu Philharmonic begins tomorrow, October 14th, 2025, at 7 p.m. with a recital given by Paul Florescu in the Small Hall of the Romanian Athenaeum. Mihai Cojocaru, artistic consultant of The Bucharest Philharmonic, talked with Cristina Cirjan about this series of events dedicated to promoting young Romanian artists.

The Tuesday evening season at the George Enescu Philharmonic has a tradition that began in 2008. What made this type of event special in the Romanian musical landscape?

This season, as you said, already has seniority; it has a tradition at the Romanian Athenaeum. It was created by the musicologist and the producer Cristina Sarbu, who made a name for herself, among other things, through the organization of educational contests at the Romanian Athenaeum. Since the beginning, its purpose was to promote young Romanian music talents, whether they are trained in Romania or they studied abroad.

As you said before, the main purpose of the events is to promote young artists. Which musicians will the audience hear this year?

We begin the Tuesday Evening Season tomorrow, on October 14th, with the young pianist Paul Florescu, and afterwards we will have string recitals-first, violinist Ștefania Turcu, and on October 28th, guitarist Valentin Gheorghe, with an instrument less often present in concert seasons, but a concert no less interesting. I would also highlight the recital that will take place on November 18th, a special recital performed by Shwan Sebastian. It is special since it is a program for piano on the left hand.

Radio România Muzical has been participating from the very beginning in the organization of these concerts, recording them and later broadcasting them on air. This makes participation even more attractive for talented young Romanian musicians, giving them the chance to be seen on a much wider stage than just the appearance at the Romanian Athenaeum, even if in the Small Hall.

The series of events debuts tomorrow with pianist Paul Florescu's recital. Why did you choose this artist for the opening?

The criteria are always well pondered, but they also depend on the schedule and the artists' availability to participate in the season. Some of them are studying abroad, so they have to organize their trip to the Romanian Atheneum in advance.

In conclusion, what is your message for the public who have not yet discovered the Tuesday Evening Season but who might be drawn to it this autumn?

The quality of musicians invited to the season is the main topic, their youth as well as the variety of the programs. We have the most popular recitals for violin, for piano, but also for wind instruments, for guitar, and for other more or less unusual instruments-things that they will discover in this season.