The International Festival "Timișoara Muzicală" will take place between April 26th - May 29th, 2026, reaching this year the edition number 50. Being considered the most important genre manifestation for the people of the city, the festival is organised by the Timișoara Opera and the "Banat" Philharmonic from the city. Ovidiu Andriș, the manager of the Philharmonic from Timișoara, gives us more details about the symphonic section of the festival in a conversation with Ioana Țintea.

Ovidiu Andriș, for five decades the International Festival "Timișoara Muzicală" (Musical Timișoara) has represented a symbol of the cultural life in the city. What does this continuity mean for the "Banat" Philharmonic?

The 50th edition, of course, marks first and foremost its continuity, its construction, but also that of the cultural identity of Timișoara city, the festival being an institution of its own, a landmark that has modeled generations of artists and audiences.

Starting with the season 1968-1969, the two great directors - Nicolae Boboc, of the Romanian National Opera from Timișoara, and Ion Românu, director of "Banat" Philharmonic at the time - have laid the foundation for this festival project with a clear dimension and mission. To take classical music to the highest level and transform Timișoara into a referential cultural pole.

What can you reveal to us about the program for the festival's jubilee edition?

The festival itself, of course, brings together the two musical lungs - the Timișoara National Opera and the Banat Philharmonic, but the festival extends its borders outside the county, namely to Arad, where we have a cooperation partnership with the Arad Philharmonic and we are very happy to be able to hold a concert there and at the Banat Philharmonic, together with maestro Gabriel Bebeșelea - Brahms' Requiem, a German requiem opus 45, on May 14th, 7:00 PM, at the Arad Philharmonic, Palace of Culture, and on May 15th, 7:00 PM, Capitol Hall, Banat Philharmonic.

Of course, I should also mention the opening of the festival, which has front and center Stefan Geiger, together with a monumental work by Gustav Mahler, Symphony No. IX in D minor. And also, the closing of the festival, on May 29th, together with Leo Hussain, conductor of George Enescu Philharmonic from Bucharest, and the resident soloists Alexandra Conunova and Valentin Răduțiu, performing Brahms Double concert for violin, cello and orchestra in A minor, respectively, in the second part, the concert program, Richard Strauss - the symphonic poem Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

What faces from the musical world will step on the festival's stage during this edition?

In addition to the aforementioned, Lawrence Foster, Alexei Volodin, Vlad Popescu, Suyeon Kang and many other impressive artists will also perform on stage. Liviu Holender will give a recital with Lukas Rommelspacher on piano, on May 7th.

But the stage is also open to the younger generation. The faculty of music will organise a concert on May 21st and the Music HIghschool "Ion Vidu" from Timișoara will have two concerts which will take place on May 23rd together with the high school's orchestra and on May 28th together with the the equal voices choir of the "Ion Vidu" Art High School.

As you mentioned, the symphonic section of the festival opens Friday, May 1st, with a concert titled Final Journey, conducted by Stefan Geiger. Why did you choose Symphony No. 9 by Mahler for this inaugural moment?

As you well know, most composers have written nine symphonies. This symphony captures the essence of Mahler's orchestration and music and we are very happy to be able to open with one of the most complex of Mahler's works.