The Romanian Cultural Institute presents a free concert of new music featuring young Romanian composers and musicians. Pianists Matei Varga, Bogdan Dulu, Andrei Licareţ, and cellist Laura Buruiană will premiere a series of works from composers of their own generation. Mezzo-soprano Annie Rosen and violinist Vlad Maistorovici one of the featured composers, will also perform in this overview of emerging Romanian new music.
The works to be performed include pieces for piano solo; violin and piano; cello and piano; and art songs for mezzo-soprano & piano, by nine composers, most in their twenties: Ciprian Costin, Vlad Maistorovici, Şerban Marcu, Mihai Măniceanu, Diana Rotaru, Diana Iulia Simon, Ana Szilágyi, Ioana Tiberian, Sabina Ulubeanu. All the works presented will be receiving their American premieres, with one receiving its world premiere. While virtually unknown in the U.S., these composers have well-established careers in Europe, having been awarded commissions and a wide range of prizes at national and international competitions during the past several years. The composers have lived, studied and worked in Romania, the U.K., Austria, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Poland and other European countries, and their works have been performed there, as well farther afield, in such countries as Australia and Japan.
About the Concept of the Project and the Works Selected In May 2008, 24 young Romanian-born composers answered a call launched by the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York, and submitted their works in order to be considered for this concert. Four of the participating musicians - pianists Matei Varga, Bogdan Dulu, Andrei Licareţ, and cellist Laura Buruiană (all of whom have studied or performed in the U.S. and are considered among the most promising young Romanian musicians) - undertook the selection process, choosing ten works by their colleagues which reflect the rich variety of Romanian compositional genres and styles. The next generation of Romanian composers utilize a varied stylistic palette, incorporating traditional Romanian folk themes and liturgical music, innovative techniques, new takes on counterpoint, modal expression and timbre, and establishing dialogues with works of George Enescu, Olivier Messiaen, Iannis Xenakis and György Ligeti, as well as the great masters of the past.
CONCERT PROGRAM
Ciprian Costin: Romanian Fairy Tales. Suite for Piano Solo in Romanian Folk Style (Doina, Jingles, Folk Dance, Dreaming, Finale) Piano: Bogdan Dulu
Sabina Ulubeanu: Sonata for Cello and Piano Cello: Laura Buruiană; Piano: Matei Varga
Diana Rotaru: Prélude Parisien no 1. Debumessquisse Piano: Andrei Licareţ
Mihai Măniceanu: The Living Piano: Matei Varga
Ioana Tiberian: Sonata for Violin and Piano Violin: Vlad Maistorovici; Piano: Bogdan Dulu
(intermission)
Şerban Marcu: Art songs for mezzo-soprano & piano Lyrics by Lucian Blaga
Piano: Andrei Licareţ; Mezzo-soprano: Annie Rosen
Ana Szilágyi: Sonorities Piano: Bogdan Dulu
Diana Iulia Simon: Mosaic Piano: Andrei Licareţ
Mihai Măniceanu: Cadenza for Cello and Piano Cello: Laura Buruiană; Piano: Matei Varga
Vlad Maistorovici: Monument. Prélude à L'unison Violin: Vlad Maistorovici; Piano: Matei Varga
RCINY pays special thanks to the following composers that have also submitted their works but are not included in the program: Cristian Bence-Muk, Iulia Cibişescu, Victor Alexandru Colţea, Sebastian Dănilă, Ana Giurgiu-Bondue, Cristian Lolea, Gabriel Mălăncioiu, Victor Cristian Nicoară, Matei Pop, Dan Popescu, Ana Teodora Popa, Vitalie Rotaru, Anca Tiberian, Alexandru Timofeev, Cristina Uruc.
Special thanks to Doina Rotaru & Dan Dediu for their assistance in promoting this initiative.
MERKIN CONCERT HALL at Kaufman Center 129 West 67th Street, New York, NY 10023
www.merkinconcerthall.org
FREE ADMISSION. Reservation suggested at the Merkin Hall box office: 212-501-3330
