The State Philharmonic Orchestra of Târgu-Mureș will hold a special concert in Berlin, on Thursday, November 6th, 2025, thus marking the 145th year anniversary of the Romanian-German diplomatic relations. György Levente, manager of the State Philharmonic of Târgu-Mureș, offered details about this event in an interview given to Ana Sireteanu.

The State Philharmonic Orchestra of Târgu-Mureș will hold a special concert in Berlin, on Thursday, November 6th, 2025, thus marking the 145th year anniversary of the Romanian-German diplomatic relations. What significance does this event have for the institution you lead?

To us, this concert means a lot, because we are also in an anniversary season. The State Philharmonic Orchestra of Târgu-Mureș is celebrating 75 years of existence and I think that the concert in Berlin, on November 6th, at the great hall of the Berlin Philharmonic, will somehow be the pay-off for the effort made in the last 75 years and I think it will be an extraordinary motivation for the next 75 years!

We chose the program in such a way that we would have works by Enescu and Bartok, who had had connections with Târgu-Mureș. Enescu had performed nine times in our city, and Bela Bartok had come in Târgu-Mureș even as early as 1918, right before the finalization of the Culture Palace's construction. So, this was why we included "Romanian Rhapsody No.1" by Enescu and "Concert for Orchestra" by Bartok in our program. And thanks to the presence of the Argentinian Conductor, Pablo Boggiano, we added a few Argentinian tangos. Last but not least, since we will be in Berlin, we will also play the overture of the opera "The Mastersingers of Nürnberg" by Richard Wagner.

I would like to also point out the fact that we wish to pay a tribute to two other composers, who are less known in Romania, but who have their roots here, one in Reghin and the other one in Târnăveni. We are talking about Rudolf Wagner-Regeny, who was born in Reghin, in 1903, and his work, "The Citizens of Calais", which was performed for the first time in 1939, at the State Opera of Berlin, under the baton of Herbert von Karajan. And the second one is the composer from Târnăveni, Gyorgi Ligeti, who was a composition professor at the Hans Eisler Music Academy in Berlin from 1970 to 1980, and who performed several works in concerts held in Berlin. So, on this occasion, we pay tribute to two composers who have a direct connection to the Mureș County and who built a career in Berlin.

The concert in Berlin comes as a continuation of the international tour by The Philharmonic Orchestra of Târgu-Mureș after its last year's appearance on the Musikverein stage in Vienna. What are some of the strengths and characteristics of the ensemble that you want to highlight in particular on this occasion?

We set out to do these tours-last year in Vienna, now in Berlin. I can tell you that we already have plans for next year as well, but it will be a surprise. The idea would be to have the orchestra reach the biggest stages in Europe, because it is an orchestra of great value, as maestro David Crescenzi has said as well. According to him, Târgu-Mureș is the third best orchestra in the country.

When it comes to the orchestra's particularities, it is a large ensemble, with 84 members. Moreover, the philharmonic also has a choir of 43 members. A mixed choir with which the orchestra performs vocal-symphonic concerts and opera concerts. So, we are a large philharmonic and we are very glad to have the opportunity to travel to Europe's capitals through the "Iunona" Community Development Association.

As you said, the State Philharmonic of Târgu-Mureș is celebrating its 75^th season this year. I would ask you, what have you planned for this occasion?

We will have another concert in November, after we return from Berlin, with "Carmina Burana", with maestro Crescenzi and the laureate of the "Operalia" Competition, baritone Mihai Damian. On December 4th, we will perform "Tosca" in concert, after which, on December 11, we will have a baroque concert with maestro Nicolae Moldoveanu from Switzerland, where we will perform a cantata and "Star Songs II" by contemporary composer, Adrian Pop.

The last concert in December will be the release of the album by the band "Byron", the conductor being Remus Grama, a musician from Târgu-Mureș, who conducts film music and symphonic rock all over the country.