The "Moldova" Philharmonic Orchestra in Iași opened the 2022-2023 season with a festive air. The vocal-symphony concert from the evening of October 7^th 2022 crowned the 80 years since it was founded and from its first season.

On the 9^th of October 1942, George Enescu stepped on the stage of the Grand Hall of "Vasile Alecsandri" National Theatre in Iași to conduct the opening concert of the Philharmonic Orchestra. In the Golden Book of the institution, his words have been kept until now: "I wish for the Moldova Philharmonic to go on for centuries so that it may accomplish its beautiful mission."

Wanting to recreate the atmosphere from eight decades ago, Friday, October 7^th, on the same stage of the "Vasile Alecsandri" National Theatre, the Philharmonic Orchestra in Iași and the "Gavriil Musicescu" Choir performed, led by conductor Cristian Mandeal. The musicians were preceded bymayor Mihai Chirică's speech, followed by that of the general manager of the Philharmonic, university professor Bujor Prelipcean.

The programme for the evening included works by Ludwig van Beethoven. In the opening act, the orchestra performed the Prometheus Overture, followed by the Violin and Orchestra Concerto in D Major. The solo performer was violinist Liviu Prunaru, presently concert maestro of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. About his presence in Iași he stated:

"I have fond memories of Iași, especially from high school, when I entered not one, but two professional competitions -national contests in the old days. That happened to be in 9^th grade, and again, in 12^th grade, winning first prize in both; I am very happy and proud. The city of Iași always brings me good luck. There was a time when I was away and disappeared from its stage, but I am very glad that I was not forgotten and that I was invited again. I will come back each time with great pleasure."

The last piece of the programme was the well-known "Symphony No. 9". The solo performers were the soprano Diana Țugui, mezzo Antonela Bârnat, tenor Florin Guzgă and bass Șandor Balla.

The artistic manager, violinist Șerban Mereuță, spoke about the audience reactions at the end of the anniversary concert on October 7^th in his statement:

"The standing ovations have just come to an end after a concert that impressed us all because we are celebrating 80 years since the first one performed by the "Moldova" Philharmonic Orchestra in Iași, a concert conducted, as everyone already knows, by maestro George Enescu.

A performance that filled our hearts with joy. We had maestro Mandeal as conductor and Liviu Prunaru as a solo performer in the Violin Concerto by Beethoven.

It is difficult to say more just seconds after the performance finished, but we will meet again for sure and we will be able to expand the joy of this evening."

The 80th anniversary marked not only the opening concert but will show in the whole season, a subject on which the artistic manager, Șerban Mereuță, added:

"This being an anniversary season, for sure it will be full of interesting concerts, with varied programmes, as we usually do every time. Of course, we have a few guiding ideas. We have the main performances of the season, but there are a few more concertsthat we called Music for all, which will take place in Palas Mall on the occasion of each holiday across the year.

Maybe the audience would be interested to know which are the highlights of the season. This month, in October, Friday the 14^th, there will be a Romanian music concert opening the Romanian Music Festival, with conductor Adrian Morar and solo performer - Aurelian Băcan on the clarinet. And during the same festival, on the 20^th, the Ad Libitum Quartet will perform; on the 21^st - Nicolo Foron, a conductor from Germany, and soloist Valentin Șerban.

In the last week of the month, on the 28^th, we will have Cristian Oroșanu as a conductor and solo performer Roman Patocka on the violin."

On the evening of October 7^th, by its presence, the Moldova Philharmonic Orchestra solidified the role and importance of the institution it represents in the Romanian music area.