Tomorrow evening, in Paris, at the Auditorium de Radio France, the Romanian Youth Orchestra will perform together with the National Orchestra of France, thus celebrating 145 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and France. The concert will be conducted by Cristian Măcelaru - Music Director of the Orchestre National de France and Artistic Director of the George Enescu International Festival and Competition. In this interview, Cristina Uruc, the manager of Artexim, speaks to us about this new project.

The Romanian Youth Orchestra will perform tomorrow together with the National Orchestra of France at the Auditorium de Radio France, under the baton of Cristian Măcelaru. The event marks 145 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and France. Could you tell us more about this new side-by-side project?

It is an extraordinary project that we conceived together with the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to celebrate 145 years of bilateral relations between Romania and France. And what better way to do that than through the collaboration of two institutions with major cultural influence - Radio France and the National Orchestra of France on the French side, and Artexim, the organizer of the George Enescu International Festival, on the Romanian side.

We have an organic connection with the National Orchestra of France thanks to the fact that we share the same Music Director, Maestro Cristian Măcelaru.

This is not the first time such a project has taken place between the two ensembles. A few years ago - in fact, during the 2023 edition of the Enescu Festival - this side-by-side project took place on the stage of the Sala Palatului, where the Youth Orchestra performed together with the National Orchestra of France as part of the festival.

So it is, in a way, a natural continuation, a normal way in which these diplomatic relations can be celebrated from a cultural standpoint. We are very glad that we could contribute to making this project happen - not without some effort!

How does the musical programme to be presented by the two combined orchestras illustrate the ties between the two cultures?

The programme reflects the connection between Romania and France starting with the choice of composers to be presented. We are speaking, of course, about George Enescu - with Romanian Rhapsody No. 1 and Ballade, the latter to be performed by violinist Maria Marica, winner of the 2022 George Enescu International Competition.

We also have Gabriel Fauré's Pavane in F-sharp minor. Gabriel Fauré was George Enescu's teacher. Then Maurice Ravel - Le Jardin féerique from Ma mère l'Oye. The programme also includes one of the most prominent French women composers of that period, Cécile Chaminade, with two movements from her Suite Op. 37: Scherzettino and Pas des écharpes. We also feature works by Jules Massenet and by Vladimir Cosma - who will honour us with his presence at tomorrow night's concert - with the performance of his Augustine's Waltz.

It is a programme designed, clearly, in relation to George Enescu, reflecting the connection he forged between Romanian and French culture.

As I mentioned, being a side-by-side project, the orchestra's members are half French, half Romanian, and the programme reflects this balance as well. The first chair will be shared by Maria Marica and Luc Héry. Luc Héry will also appear as soloist in Saint-Saëns's Danse macabre (Macabre Dance).

As you mentioned, the Romanian Youth Orchestra has already performed with the National Orchestra of France in 2023, in Bucharest. This year, they have also performed with the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra during the festival. What impact do you believe such collaborations have on young Romanian musicians?

Such collaborations can only bring growing confidence, broader context, and an increased desire for artistic development among young musicians. It is extremely important for them to have an opportunity like this-one that takes them out of certain routines that the Romanian environment typically follows-allowing them to interact with more experienced colleagues who ultimately become their peers in the National Orchestra of France. It also offers them the chance to experience performing in a fully established orchestra with a well-defined sound and to adapt to the style and expectations of the principal conductor, Maestro Cristian Măcelaru.

This opens up many possibilities and opportunities for young musicians and helps them grow both personally and professionally.

Artexim has also been involved in organizing the international tour "Way to Kölner Philharmonie" carried out by the Romanian Symphony Orchestra. Are these two events part of a broader series of cultural diplomacy initiatives or efforts to promote Romania's image on the international stage? Will there be other such events in the future?

Exactly. Artexim, through the Ministry of Culture, was involved in the "Way to Kölner Philharmonie" project developed by the Romanian Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Gabriel Bebeșelea. This project marked 145 years of bilateral relations between Romania and Germany. It was part of this series of concerts-the four concerts performed by the Romanian Symphony Orchestra, as well as the concert performed by the Romanian Youth Orchestra and the National Orchestra of France-organized in a special diplomatic context this year.

We very much hope that these types of projects can continue steadily and consistently, truly marking the collaboration between countries and cultures and bringing intercultural experiences to the lives of both Romanian musicians and the musicians of the orchestras we work with. We hope that this path-towards the Kölner Philharmonie and towards the Auditorium de Radio France-will continue in the future.