This evening, we have two guests! Composer and pianist Andrei Petrache and Liliana Staicu, the well-known voice of Radio România Muzical and the Director of the Center for Cultural Projects and Events at Radio România, which, obviously, also encompasses the Radio România orchestras and choirs.Welcome!

Liliana Staicu: Good evening, thank you for having us!

Andrei Petrache: Good evening! It’s great to be here!

A young composer and pianist, and a manager with extensive experience in cultural projects. Given that today is National Culture Day, I must ask: How do you perceive the current cultural scene in Romania? From your perspectives.

Andrei Petrache: I might be speaking from a fortunate position, but I am truly grateful for everything happening in Romania, especially in Bucharest, where the majority of the country’s cultural projects are concentrated. As a student, then as a recent graduate, and now as a freelancer – even though I’m still pursuing my doctorate – I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in many significant collaborations for a young artist. So, from this perspective, I have no reason to complain. And today’s event, which is very important to me, is essentially a testament to the opportunities that come my way.

You’re a young pianist and composer active in various musical projects – from fusion pop-rock to jazz and world music… do you feel you have the artistic freedom you need in Romania?

Andrei Petrache: It depends on the scene. For instance, if we talk about the jazz scene – of course, compared to the American scene or those in major European capitals – there probably are differences. However, speaking of jazz, there has been a very strong trend in recent years. Numerous jazz festivals are growing year by year, and high-caliber artists are being invited to perform in Romania. So, I believe this genre is receiving increasing attention. I’m glad to have caught this wave. Regarding other areas, like alternative music, I can’t really say much because I haven’t been very active in those spaces recently.

Do you feel supported in your artistic endeavors in today’s Romania?

Andrei Petrache: That’s a tough question. I think it depends on the project and what you’re doing.

For example, tonight you’re here at Radio România Muzical, and something is happening at the Radio Hall – a composition of yours is being performed. From this perspective, do you feel supported?

Andrei Petrache: From this perspective, I am extremely grateful. Yes, it’s a significant support for young contemporary creation. But of course, there are many factors to consider – ranging from various projects and initiatives that we as artists can propose to the Romanian state for support, to each artist’s individual artistic level, which must be as high as possible, and also managerial aspects... there’s a lot to consider. But I believe that if you put in the effort, work hard, and persevere, you can indeed find support in Romania.

Liliana Staicu, I believe that from the perspective of Radio România, as a public radio, and of the Center for Cultural Projects, there’s tangible and evident support for young talents, be they performers or composers.

Liliana Staicu: Absolutely, that’s one of our roles and goals: to support young musicians, whether they are composers or performers, and we do this through various projects. And I’m not just referring to what happens on the stage of the Radio Hall, where, for example, tonight Andrei’s piece will be performed as a world premiere. I’m also talking about the support our radio stations – particularly Radio România Muzical, because we are in the musical field – provide to the younger generation of performers through countless projects. For example, for the “Heirs of Musical Romania” project, I myself found a nursery full of young talents whom we’ve been able to promote within our seasons, alongside the Chamber Orchestra or the National Orchestra… there are many factors to consider, but as long as this is our public mission – supporting young talents, fostering education, and nurturing culture – we are doing it now and will continue to do so in the future, to the best of our abilities, in order to shape a new generation of Romanian artists.

You oversee the Radio România choirs and orchestras. What feedback have you received from the audience about all the efforts made by these ensembles – and, of course, the management – to present a season grounded in cultural values?

Liliana Staicu: I think I can confidently say that in the past two years, after the pandemic period when a decline was somewhat inevitable, all the efforts we made to bring audiences back into the concert halls have paid off. For several months now – almost a year – the halls have been full or even packed week after week. I can give a specific example: throughout December, there wasn’t a single concert that wasn’t sold out. And we’ve started 2025 on a high note, as evidenced by the fact that tonight, tomorrow, and Friday, we have three concerts with three different ensembles, and tickets are already scarce or completely sold out.

Let’s talk specifically about tonight’s concert, which is taking place at the Radio Hall. It’s the first concert of 2025 – The Radio Chamber Orchestra conducted by Cristian Mandeal. Three iconic composers – Mozart, Schubert, and Brahms – will be featured, along with the evening’s surprise: a world premiere composition by Andrei Petrache. Andrei, can you tell us about this piece, so that listeners tuning into Radio România Muzical in a few moments to listen to the concert will be prepared for your music?

Andrei Petrache: This project began last year, a piece I started composing last year, inspired by the fact that it was the Puccini centenary. I based it on a well-known motif – I’m not sure whether to reveal it to the audience just yet or let it unfold during the performance. It’s from Turandot, a very famous fragment that I used to translate into a contemporary language in a way that’s more accessible to today’s listeners. There’s still a certain reluctance toward contemporary music, both in Romania and elsewhere, and I’m trying to break down that barrier. I hope this piece serves as an enjoyable gateway for the audience.

Have you attended rehearsals?

Andrei Petrache: Every single one of them.

How are rehearsals going? How are you working with maestro Mandeal and the orchestra?

Andrei Petrache: For me, having maestro Mandeal conduct this concertand my own pieceis something truly special. It also ties into a mentor-disciple relationship since he was my conducting professor during my undergraduate studies, which I recently completed. I’m thrilled about this collaboration, of course. I was eager to observe how he works with the orchestra and addresses various challenges.

Are you satisfied with what you’ve heard so far?

Andrei Petrache: Very satisfied.

Liliana, I’d like to come back to you. You mentioned two other events are happening at the Radio Hall this week. Could you give us more details?

Liliana Staicu: After tonight’s concert, which we’ve already discussed, tomorrow evening, the Big Band Radio and, again, the Radio Chamber Orchestra will take the stage at the Radio Hall under the baton of Simona Strungaru, presenting a program dedicated to National Culture Day: Story from Past Bucharest. This project brings together our ensembles with a group of musicians who promote a specific musical genre, including Miruna Ionescu and violinist Valentin Albeșteanu, alongside the Taraful de Oraș ensemble.They champion interwar music and even organized the first edition of an interwar music festival here at the Radio Hall last year. Over three consecutive evenings, the stage was filled with music from different countries, all performed during the interwar period, and it garnered significant public interest, which is also the case for tomorrow’s concert. This concert will embody the story of the taraf bands from luxury restaurants in Bucharest during the interwar years and the post-World War II era. It’s a tribute to the composers, lyricists, and performers of those times, with a program that features a classical-jazz interpretation of pieces such as waltzes, foxtrots, swing, café-concert music, and more. It promises to be a fascinating concert. For those who couldn’t get ticketsbecause it’s sold out, I encourage them to listen to the broadcast on Radio România Muzical and Radio România Cultural. Friday night’s concert, the first of 2025 by the National Radio Orchestra, will also be broadcast, performance conducted by Matthias Foremny with Luiza Borac as the soloist. The program focuses on American or American-influenced music.I’d also like to emphasize the importance of Luiza Borac’s participation, who has returned on the Radio Hall stage after 2 or 3 years.In this context of National Culture Day, I would also like to add that she’s the only Romanian pianist who has recorded the complete piano works of Romania’s most significant composers: George Enescu, Dinu Lipatti, and Constantin Silvestri. These recordings, produced over several years, have been highly acclaimed internationally, even receiving 5-star reviews from BBC Music Magazine. Luiza is a dedicated musician who consistently promotes Romanian music in her performances abroad.

Tell us, please, what other interesting concerts are planned for the first three months of the year.

Liliana Staicu: I think there are quite a lot of exciting events, given the wide array of musical genres and ensembles – The National Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra, the Big Band Radio, two choirs – the Academic Choir and the Children’s Choir – as well as the Traditional Music Orchestra.I’d like to mention that 2025 is an anniversary year for both the Radio Academic Choir, celebrating 85 years of activity, and the Children’s Choir, which will mark its 80th anniversary. Both ensembles will have anniversary concerts this spring, in March for the Academic Choir and in May for the Children’s Choir.Of course, we couldn’t let January pass without paying tribute to Mozart. Around Mozart’s birthday, we’ll present a concert version of the opera Così fan tutte with the Chamber Orchestra and the Academic Choir, conducted by Toufic Maatouk, featuring a stellar lineup of Romanian and Italian soloists, including Andreea Soare, Lilia Istrati, Caterina Di Tonno, and Marco Ciaponi.Additionally, we have an opera gala with Adela Zaharia. Roxana Constantinescu will also return to the Radio Hall stage, performing Wesendonck Lieder.During the Orthodox Easter season, we’ll host two significant concerts. On Maundy Thursday, the National Orchestra will perform Brahms’ German Requiem, featuring soprano Aida Pascu. She is one of the artists promoted through the “Heirs of Musical Romania” project, who is now building a major national and international career. So, Aida Pascu and Liviu Holender performing Brahms.After Easter, in late April, we’ll present Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with the Chamber Orchestra, conducted by the renowned Italian conductor Giulio Prandi, leader of the Ghislieri ensemble. This concert will be a treat, featuring a young contralto, Alexandru Costea. At just 23, he recently graduated from the University of Music and is now studying baroque music in Parma, Italy. We discovered him during an audition for the “Heirs of Musical Romania” scholarship. Back then, he was only in his first year, but he has since made remarkable progress. We felt he’s ready to take the Radio Hall stage for this Stabat Mater performance.

Andrei, what are your plans for the coming months?

Andrei Petrache: I have an upcoming concert in the new jazz season at the Romanian Athenaeum. I’ll be performing with the Răzvan Florescu Quartet, showcasing compositions by Răzvan Florescu, a vibraphonist and a very close friend. In February, there are several concerts scheduled. With my trio, Amphitrio, we’re also planning another tour abroad this summer and fall. We’re still in the early stages of organizing, but we hope to replicate last year’s success with another international tour. Other than that, I’ll be involved in various collaborations.

Thank you both for joining us! And since it’s National Culture Day, I wish you many exciting projects that will bring joy to us all!

Liliana Staicu: Thank you for the invitation!