The Romanian Cultural Institute in Beijing, in collaboration with the Embassy of Romania in the People’s Republic of China, celebrated Romania’s National Day and 70 years since the passing of the great composer George Enescu (1881–1955) through a distinguished recital performed by violinist Diana Jipa and pianist Toma Popovici. The event took place on Monday, 1 December 2025, at 6:00 PM, in the Grand Ballroom of the St. Regis Hotel.
The reception brought together over 200 guests, including members of the diplomatic corps from numerous countries, university professors, Chinese and Romanian students, representatives of the Romanian diaspora, journalists, institutional partners, and members of the business community.
The evening programme opened with a welcome address delivered by H.E. Dan Horia-Maxim, Ambassador of Romania to Beijing, followed by the performance of the Romanian national anthem by pianist Toma Popovici and the national anthem of the People’s Republic of China by the renowned pianist Claudia Yang.
The recital was performed by violinist Diana Jipa and pianist Toma Popovici, who presented a repertoire featuring works by George Enescu, alongside compositions by modern and contemporary composers, including Ciprian Porumbescu, Paul Constantinescu, Alfonso Castaldi, Jules Massenet, He Zhanhao & Chen Gang, Pablo de Sarasate, and Béla Bartók. The evening concluded with a social gathering during the official reception.
Violinist Diana Jipa is regarded as one of the most accomplished representatives of Romania’s younger generation of performers, widely praised for her interpretative rigor and refined expressiveness. A graduate of the National University of Music in Bucharest, she further completed her artistic training in France and Switzerland. Her repertoire spans a broad stylistic range, from Baroque to contemporary music. Through projects such as “Ladies of Romanian Music” and “Romania Universalis,” she actively contributes to the promotion of Romanian musical creation within the European cultural space.
Pianist Toma Popovici is a landmark figure in Romanian musical life, unanimously admired for the depth and elegance of his interpretations. A faculty member at the National University of Music in Bucharest, he has trained generations of young pianists and has performed in recitals and concerts throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas. His collaborations with renowned artists, combined with his constant dedication to promoting Romanian repertoire, have established him as one of the most important cultural ambassadors of the Romanian piano school.
The event formed part of ICR Beijing’s strategic mission to promote the core values of Romanian culture and art among Chinese audiences, through high-quality projects dedicated to cultural dialogue and the strengthening of bilateral cooperation.
