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Reportage from the annual MUSICRIT Awards Gala at the Romanian Athenaeum
On Tuesday, January 14th, 2025, the third edition of the Musique Awards Gala took place on the stage of the Romanian Athenaeum, the only initiative in the Romanian cultural landscape that rewards excellence both in the artistic field and in the fields of journalism and management in classical music. Attending the event was our colleague, Ioana Tintea, who gives us more details in a reportage.
In recent years, around the National Culture Day - January 14th, excellence in classical music is rewarded by awarding the MUSICRIT awards, an event initiated and organized by the Union of Critics, Editors and Music Producers in Romania (UCRRM).
This was the case yesterday evening at the third edition of the Musicrit Awards Gala, hosted again this year by the "George Enescu" Philharmonic. Elegant and glamorous in all respects, this gala has gained a special shine in the Romanian cultural space thanks to Mrs. Luminița Arvunescu - musicologist, PhD, creator of Radio Romania Muzical - who also holds the position of president of the union.
The awarding moments were impeccably intertwined with the musical sequences and they also illustrate excellence. The musical program was supported by the Romanian Youth Orchestra led by Cristian Mandeal, the sopranos Anita Hartig and Egyed Apollónia, the baritones Ionuț Pascu and Mihai Damian, the violinist Maria Marica, the Power Flute Ensemble led by Ion Bogdan Ștefănescu, the organist Steffen Schlandt and the RCO String Quartet.
The hosts of the event, Luminița Arvunescu and Marius Constantinescu - TVR producer, successfully managed to give each moment of the gala a very special presentation.
The evening at the Romanian Athenaeum opened with the awarding of the "Grigore Constantinescu" Prize, a distinction created in memory of the founding president of the Union of Critics, Editors and Music Producers in Romania. The prize was awarded to Valentina Sandu-Dediu, musicologist and prof.
Next, on the stage of the Romanian Athenaeum were awarded ten MUSICRIT awards and five awards of excellence for interpreters and institutions that stood out during 2024. Each of them was accompanied by words of praise spoken by important officials of the Romanian cultural space, including Natalia Intotero - Minister of Culture, Silviu Vexler - President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania, musicologist Costin Popa - Vice President of UCRRM, our colleagues Cristina Comandașu, Anca Ioana Andriescu, Ioana Marghita and Ștefan Costache and music critic Lena Vieru Conta.
Among the personalities awarded at the Musicrit Awards Gala are Marin Cazacu, manager of the "George Enescu" Philharmonic, who was rewarded in the "Best Manager" category, conductor Cristian Măcelaru - in the "Discography" section for the album "George Enescu", recorded with the National Orchestra of France. Violinist Maria Marica was named "Instrumentist of the Year", while the "Revelation of the Year" distinction was given to baritone Mihai Damian and to the "Flute Power" Ensemble coordinated by flutist Ion Bogdan Ștefănescu, and the title of "Lyrical Artist of the Year" went to baritone Ionuț Pascu. "The best symphonic season in the country" was declared that of the "George Enescu" Philharmonic, and "The best lyrical season in the country" - that of the Hungarian State Opera in Cluj-Napoca. On the Excellence Awards map are, among others, the soprano Anita Hartig - rewarded for 15 years of international career and the organist Steffen Schlandt - awarded for the 20 years of artistic activity dedicated to the organ. A long-awaited moment for the large audience present in the hall of the Romanian Athenaeum was the awarding of the MUSICRIT trophy to conductor Cristian Mandeal with the laudatio uttered by Natalia Intotero - Minister of Culture.
At the end of the event, we gathered opinions from those present:
"It was a wonderful evening, spent with wonderful people, dedicated to the good through music, people who, in my opinion, have written and continue to write history, true ambassadors of Romania, true ambassadors of our culture. I want to thank everyone for their involvement and for making the approach of the National Culture Day more beautiful, more attractive for the young generation. The National Youth Orchestra impressed me deeply. Young people who show everyone that there is desire and thirst for culture. Congrats to the organizers for this gala! It has become a tradition expected year after year." - Natalia Intotero, Minister of Culture
"I leave with positive thoughts, joyful because such important events in the field of music are happening in Bucharest. It's absolutely necessary! I am glad that musicians are appreciated, encouraged, they are shown - this was a kind of parade, if you want, besides the awards, to show our talents. I am older, but the younger ones also had the chance to shine, to be recognized and that made me very happy." - soprano Anita Hartig
"As usual, it was an extraordinary gala! We're excited to be back with you. It came out great. We enjoyed everything that was. This is the first time I have heard the organ at the Athenaeum, although both my husband and I come here. It is an event that must continue. We support him with all our strength, to create as many beautiful moments as possible. We miss beauty in life quite a lot, and for this any joy is welcome." - Andreea Șerbănescu, CFO of the company that was established as main sponsor of the MUSICRIT Awards Gala
"A great event! And I'm glad I was there last year, and here I am now. I have seen and heard many wonderful moments, which deserve their applause. It is with the greatest joy that I participate every time. I have always said and will always say that there are talents in abundance in Romania - whether it is sacred monsters or young people knocking on the door of this wonderful profession. So, it was a wonderful evening, it was the beginning of a wonderful Eminescu celebration and may God grant that we have only events of this kind, through which to celebrate peace, happiness, Romanian culture." - soprano Felicia Filip
"Absolutely fantastic! The level of talent is simply incredible - both young musicians and those who are already established. Congratulations to Cristian Mandeal and the Romanian Youth Orchestra." - soprano Melody Moore
Other impressions from the audience:
I liked very much It was a wonderful evening, disconnecting and with a lot of good people. I will come again with pleasure."
It was perfect I was very impressed with all the artists, with everything that was musical tonight. Fantastic! And congratulations to all of you!"
"From all points of view I liked it - both the speeches and the musical part."
Translated by Darius-Mihail Baciu,
University of Bucharest, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, MTTLC, year I
Corrected by Silvia Petrescu