On the 29th of February, the two children's choirs of the Romanian and Bulgarian Radio will perform in a concert on the stage of the Radio Hall. More details about the event are available from Răzvan Rădos, conductor of the Radio Children's Choir:

Răzvan Rădos, the Radio Children's Choir celebrates Spring with a concert-event with members of the Bulgarian Radio Children's Choir. How did this collaboration between the two ensembles come about?

Through a partnership between Radio România and the Bulgarian Broadcasting Corporation. We are all very enthusiastic because these ensembles do not meet often, so it will certainly be a remarkable event at the Radio Hall.

The Bulgarian Radio Children's Choir conducted by Ms Venecia Karamanova is a very, very good ensemble, from which we sometimes draw inspiration. We each prepare a recital, but the children of the Radio Children's Choir also go into the hall to applaud and admire their colleagues.

We'll be the ones kicking off the concert, the first 45 minutes, and then they'll be the ones to end it.

Please tell us about the programme that the two choirs will present to the audience at the Radio Hall.

The Bulgarian Children's Choir is preparing for the concert many works composed by Bulgarian masters, but also, for example, an arrangement of Bohemian Rhapsody and some other very valuable international works.

We, the Radio Children's Choir, will bring the splash of colour from many other cultures, because we are preparing for April at the Radio Hall, a concert inspired by tribal music from all over the world, and we have sprinkled a few of the titles of our present work in this programme as a preview, if you like.

In the long term, what do you think will be the echoes of this first collaboration between the children's choirs of Romanian and Bulgarian radio stations?

Sometimes, choirs take the stage and perform real acts of cooperation - this time, even diplomatic - through the voices of these wonderful children and we hope in the future to see as many collaborations as possible between all radio ensembles in Europe.

We know that in the past there was even an idea about joint activities and we look forward to any such project that helps children see how to play in other venues, to enjoy and get to know their colleagues from other venues. Of course, this is also the central idea of choral music - cooperation.

You're in the final stages of rehearsals for the concert on the 29th of February. How do the youngsters feel this intense process of preparing for a concert and how do you manage to motivate them?

They are already motivated, because when they join the Radio Children's Choir, they know what to expect. A large number of them come in the concert formula from the "Choir School" workshop where we are already laying the foundations of a scenic mindset. For example, Thursday night's recital combines music, movement, other stage elements, costume changes and so on. There's a lot to do on stage, but it's all done in this special musical context and it ties together like a story, as we like to say.

So, we're creating a story for Thursday night at the Radio Hall.

After Thursday's concert, what's on the agenda for the Radio Children's Choir? You mentioned April already.

On the 3rd of March, there is a pre-selection for the "Choir School" workshop. We are expectingchildren from 7 to 13 years old with beautiful voices and a passion for singing.

We also have several projects related to religious repertoire in March. And, of course, April, with our big concert at the Radio Hall.