The concert op. 77 in D major by Johannes Brahms and the symphonic poem "From Italy" by Richard Strauss are the works included in the Friday program, 17 january 2020, presented by The National Radio Orchestra. The violinist Gabriel Croitoru will be the soloist of the ansamble conducted by Tianyi Lu, head of the orchestra who was for the first time on the Radio Hall stage.

It's a really great honor to be in front of these musicians again. Last year, in March, I performed the Symphony 9 by Dvorak and I felt a special connection with them and with the public as well. I think we had a very good dialogue that night and I consider it one of my important concerts of mine from the last season. I'm glad I'm back, this time with Richard Strauss' work, one of the most important composers of the last century. The National Radio Orchestra performs for the first time this song. I think it is performed for the first time in Romania. A score with many colors, with Strauss' impressions about Sorrento, the beach over there, the experients from Rome… a young musician in contact with art and Italian culture. I consider it a fantastic work and I can't wait for us to present it.

It's a work which appeared after Brahms had urged young Strauss to visit Italy. We also find Strauss' music in tonight's program, performed together with the violinist Gabriel Croitoru- The Concert op,77 in D major. How was the encounter with the Romanian artist?

It was a pleasure. It is nice that the soloist with whom you work has a very good instinct. We have the same view over Brahms' work, the orchestra knows it very well and I am also looking for performing it for the Radio Hall public.

For me a concert is an unique experience. I feel honored that the public choses to spend their time with us. We are getting more busy, everything happens very fast, the technique surrounds us and I think it is very important to come to the concert hall, to have peace and listen. This evening program helps us to meditate and to figure out what the beautiful things in our life are. In this time I think we need music. It can heal us and transform us.