The Medieval Sighisoara Festival - the 2009 edition - takes place between the 24th and the 26th of July. Contests, dance and theatre recitals, stories, interactive workshops and music - all these are on the agenda of the event.

Eugen Banulescu, the director of the shows for the current edition of the Medieval Sighisoara Festival talked to us about the music at the Festival.

From the musical point to view we have prepared a few surprises and even a preview -the band Trooper and the rock opera "The Life of Vlad the Impaler - Poems of Walachia". We have some foreign guests -the soprano Sofia Kallgren from Sweden, Dizzi Dulcimer, a band from Great Britain that plays electronic medieval instruments and Briganthya, a Spanish band that plays electronic Celtic music.


What are the musical events planned for today at the opening of the Medieval Sighisoara Festival?

There are two concerts planned. The first -performed by Pontice, a band from Bucharest that plays medieval traditional European music and the second -the preview I was telling you about, the rock opera "The Life of Vlad the Impaler -Poems of Walachia"performed by Trooper, a band from Bucharest.


Are there any musical shows for children?

Yes, we have numerous theatre acts for children who also include musical bits - in fact, it is a kind of music hall for children: Thalia from Sighisoara, Valiza cu teatru (A Suitcase Full of Theatre) from Bistrita Nasaud, some entertainers who, during interactive shows, will play their instruments for the children.


Do you consider music to be a defining part of the Medieval Sighisoara Festival?

Surely, it is utterly important because music played a very important role in medieval times.