Violinist Valentin Șerban, winner of the 2021 George Enescu International Competition, returns to the stage of the Romanian Athenaeum on March 27th and 28th.Together with the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Dmitry Liss, he will perform Alexander Glazunov's Violin Concerto in A minor.

Cristina Cîrjan interviewed the artist about his current and future projects.

This week, at the Romanian Athenaeum, you will be performing Glazunov's Violin Concerto in A minor, a piece you also played last week with the "Paul Constantinescu" Philharmonic Orchestra in Ploiești. What does this piece mean to you, and what do you consider essential in its interpretation?

First of all, I must say that Glazunov's concerto is underrated. In my opinion, it deserves a place in the great international violin repertoire. It is an extremely lyrical and special piece of music, even with a somewhat controversial structure. Some consider it to have three movements, while others say four. Formally, it has four, but I personally believe it has three. This concerto holds a special place for me-it was one of the first I performed with an orchestra, and I'm very happy to play it alongside my friends and colleagues from the George Enescu Philharmonic.

On March 12th, you performed at the Romanian Athenaeum as a member of Trio Alpha, alongside cellist Ștefan Cazacu and pianist Ioan Dragoș Dimitriu. Now, you are returning as a soloist with the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra. What challenges and satisfactions do these two artistic roles bring?

I believe that an artist's journey should be as diverse and complex as possible for long-term development. I enjoy performing in different settings. Playing in an orchestra is a completely different experience, and I love it. I also love performing in a trio, especially in a piano trio with my friends Ioan Dragoș Dimitriu and Ștefan Cazacu. It's both a solo and a chamber music experience-a very interesting combination. At the same time, being a soloist has been a dream of mine since childhood, and I hope to continue doing it for as long as possible.

Throughout your career, you have performed on prestigious stages across Europe, but also in unconventional venues such as hospitals, mines, art galleries, and even in complete darkness. Have these experiences influenced the way you approach music?

Absolutely. Curiosity is one of the reasons I have taken on such diverse projects. In these situations, you find yourself reacting differently and spontaneously. As an artist, these moments contribute to your growth.

At the end of last year, you released the album Violin in Love with pianist Daria Tudor, produced by Casa Radio publishing house. How was this album received by the Romanian audience?

I really enjoyed collaborating with Daria. We are very lucky when it comes to this album-we are friends, we've performed together before, and we certainly will again. I believe this CD can be considered a success. The music is incredibly profound. We managed to combine well-known works with lesser-known ones, but all of high artistic value. During the concert at the Athenaeum, there will also be an autograph session, which we are very excited about.

In what direction do you want to take your musical research, and how do you think this decision will influence your artistic journey?

I am currently a doctoral student at the National Academy of Music in Cluj-Napoca. I chose this path because I also want to pursue a teaching career. I really enjoy teaching and knowing that I can help others with what I have learned. I was supported by many people throughout my own journey, and I want to continue this tradition.

In September, you will return to the Romanian Athenaeum as part of the George Enescu International Festival, performing with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert for which tickets are already sold out. As a winner of the Enescu Competition, how do you feel about this collaboration?

First and foremost, it is a great honor. I am fully aware of how fortunate I am. Winning the competition was a huge milestone, but it does not guarantee a long-term career or exposure. The fact that it has led to such opportunities for me is something I deeply appreciate. It is always an honor to perform at the Enescu Festival, especially at the Athenaeum, with such an outstanding orchestra and conductor. The fact that the concert has been so well received by the public and sold out over a month in advance makes me incredibly happy.

What other projects do you have planned? Are there any upcoming concerts or recordings you can share details about?

Yes, I have several events in May, where I will be performing Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor and Violin Concerto in D minor. I will also be going on tour with pianist Mihai Diaconescu and cellist Octavian Lup, and I will have a recital in Zăbala, Covasna County. Like any instrumentalist, I am constantly learning new things and striving to grow.