On Saturday January 27th, violinist Alexandru Tomescu, recently returned from the US, will perform in a gala entitled "Pe-un picior de plai, pe-o gura de rai" hosted by the Brașov Philharmonic. More details from the artist in an interview with Ioana Țintea.

Alexandru Tomescu, first of all I would like to talk about the two recitals you recently performed in America with pianist Sînziana Mircea. The two events were presented under the title "Remember Enescu - Musical Jewels". How did the overseas audience relate to the music of Enescu and other composers?

Indeed, I have just returned from the United States. I was very happy to be able to present to the public a musical programme centred not only on the music of George Enescu, but also on his personality. We played three works by George Enescu plus many other works by Romanian composers or composers who were friends or whose works were among George Enescu's favourites.

It's not always very easy to put together a programme of musical miniatures because, basically, each of the works is a world in itself that has to be outlined and set in motion in just a few minutes. But it's a programme that I have already performed in many other European cultural centres - I have also been to Beijing in Asia with this programme - and I am very happy to see the success that Romanian music can enjoy in the world.

The two concerts were organized in partnership with the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York and I would like to congratulate the extraordinary team we have there. The saying "Man sanctifies the place!" really comes across.

Next, I would ask you to turn your attention to the recital you will perform on Saturday, January 27, on the stage of the Philharmonic in Brasov. It is an event dedicated to the visit to Romania of the International Classical Music Awards jury, one of the most prestigious European juries in the field of record production, of which our colleague Cristina Comandașu, manager of Radio România Muzical, is a member. How would you describe the importance of this event in the Romanian cultural space?

I think it is very significant and very nice that this jury comes to visit Romania, to see exactly how things are here. I am very happy about this invitation, all the more so as it will also mean a reunion with an artist, a good friend with whom I have made no less than two Stradivarius tours - pianist Eduard Kunz, also a laureate of the George Enescu Competition. We will present one of his emblematic works, the Sonata III "In Romanian Folk Character", which will soon be available on compact disc.

Why did you choose this work?

First of all, it is representative of George Enescu, it is his mature work and one of his densest, most consistent and successful. It's a piece I love, I've been playing it since I was a student, so I know it very well. And, I think it represents us as Romanians, as spirituality, as emotion, as energy... it's not easy to put it all together in one musical work. And I think that George Enescu's Sonata III gives a very credible image of Romania.