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Interview with Simona Strungaru, Miruna Ionescu și Valentin Albeșteanu, protagonists of Thursday’s concert at Radio Hall
"Stories from Old Bucharest"("Povești din Bucureștiul de odinioară") is the first concert of the Big Band Radio in 2025. Dedicated to National Culture Day, the event will take place on Thursday, January 16, at 7:00 PM. The stage will also feature guests Miruna Ionescu, Valentin Albeșteanu, and members of the Radio Chamber Orchestra and the Taraful de Oraș ensemble.
Here to provide more details are three of the concert's protagonists-conductor Simona Strungaru, vocalist Miruna Ionescu, and violinist Valentin Albeșteanu-interviewed by Viorel Grecu.
You seem to represent two different musical worlds. How did this collaboration come about?
Simona Strungaru:The collaboration with Miruna Ionescu, Valentin Albeșteanu, and the Taraful de Oraș is both a challenge and a joy for us. This idea came to life after we met during the Interwar Music Festival that they led, which held its first edition in July last year. We thought it would be wonderful to bring together these two rich spiritual worlds, which, fortunately, are supported by arrangements that form the foundation of Romanian light music history.
Why do you think interwar music still resonates with people today, even those born long after that period?
Miruna Ionescu:Because, just like back then, it speaks to everyone. The lyrics are written in a poetic way that conveys universal feelings we all experience regardless of age-love, nostalgia, joy. These songs directly touch people's souls through their lyrics. It's accessible music, entertainment music-as musicologist George Sbârcea described it-and it cannot leave listeners indifferent.
I'd like to ask about the affinities between this music and jazz, given the interwar period's noticeable jazz influence, whether direct or indirect.
Simona Strungaru:Absolutely. Both harmonically and rhythmically, the arrangements performed by the Big Band show the influence of international trends of the time. This can only delight us. At the same time, the influences aren't just jazz-related but also include classical music.
Valentin Albeșteanu:That might be one reason why this music appeals to young people and not just them. It's valuable from both a compositional and performance perspective. It was created by composers with solid academic training, which is very important. You can hear and feel that depth in these works.
Finally, can you reveal anything about Thursday evening's repertoire? What pieces will we hear?
Miruna Ionescu: We'll hear a composition by master Nicolae Kirculescu, Licuricii(The Fireflies). It was composed in 1954, recorded in 1955, and, as the master's wife, Marieta Bratu Kirculescu, told me, it hasn't been performed on stage since then. While it was broadcast on Radio Romania, it hasn't been played live at Sala Radio in 70 years.
Valentin Albeșteanu:A great deal of credit for rediscovering this piece goes to conductor Simona Strungaru. She found and revived it in the radio archives. Although the score was in terrible condition, thanks to her, we managed to transcribe and reinterpret it.
So, the concert will also feature cultural restorations!
Miruna Ionescu: Yes. We'll also hear În vals ne-am întâlnit (We Met in a Waltz), which Simona restored, as well as Așa începe dragostea (This is How Love Begins), in a new version…
Simona Strungaru: …orchestrated by Cornel Meraru, which I adapted for us.
Valentin Albeșteanu: We'll also enjoy the famous songs of Maria Tănase, beautifully interpreted by Miruna Ionescu, and music by Grigoraș Dinicu and Georges Boulanger.
Translated by Bianca Penaru,
University of Bucharest, Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures, MTTLC, year II
Corrected by Silvia Petrescu