Corul Madrigal: an impressive tour in Perú

❏ For 10 days, Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”, conducted by Anna Ungureanu and Cezar Verlan, was in the Republic of Perú on the first South American tour in the ensemble’s history.
❏ Corul Madrigal performed at the Romanian Embassy in Lima and at the Congress of the Republic of Perú, where it received an award for its contribution to international culture.
❏ The three special concerts in Lima, Cusco and Aguas Calientes attracted a record audience of over 2.500.
❏ Madrigal’s latest recording project, „Imnurile naționale ale țărilor din America de Sud”, was launched at a special event held at the Congress of the Republic of Perú.
❏ During the tour, Madrigal became the first choir in the world to record a media production at the renowned archaeological site of Machu Picchu.
 

At the invitation of the Romanian Embassy in the Republic of Perú and with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Institutul Cultural Român, Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”, conducted by Anna Ungureanu and Cezar Verlan, undertook a tour featuring 7 distinct events in the Republic of Perú between 10 and 20 March. The tour marked 85 years of Romanian – Peruvian diplomatic relations and the Romanian Embassy in Lima’s assumption of the presidency of Festivalul Francofoniei Perú 2024.

„Throughout my life  I have seen many cultural events, but few have moved me as much as tonight’s. It was not only the voices, costumes, magnificent musical leadership and  the conductor’s elegance that impressed me, but also their thoughtfulness in singing a splendid version of the national anthem and three songs emblematic of the Peruvian people. It truly was a fantastic night! Contigo Peru is a song that unites all Peruvians, a kind of anthem of unity, and the choir sang it beautifully and with depth. I watched them singing and saw that they conveyed  fantastic energy from their hearts. We could not have received a more wonderful gift this evening!", said H.E. Mr Javier González-Olaechea, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Perú, at the end of the Lima performance.

„Over 27.000 kilometres travelled, 10 days in Peru, a new repertoire, 7 events in Lima, Cusco, Aguas Calientes and Machu Picchu, an elevation difference of 3.700 metres, 12 anthems released, several thousand audience members won over to Romania and a wealth of emotion. Madrigal’s first experience in Latin America was one of discovery, opening a genuine cultural bridge between Romania and Perú! We thank the Romanian Embassy in Perú and Her Excellency Ms Camelia Ion-Radu for the invitation and organisation, and the Ministry of Culture and Institutul Cultural Român for their unconditional support.”, said Emil Pantelimon, Corul Madrigal’s manager.

Cultural diplomacy
The 85 years of Romanian – Peruvian diplomatic relations and the Romanian Embassy in Lima’s assumption of the presidency of Festivalul Francofoniei Perú 2024 were celebrated through cultural diplomacy at the highest level. Corul Madrigal gave a recital at the Romanian Embassy in the presence of the diplomatic corps accredited in Lima, premiering its version of the popular song „Contigo Perú” by Augusto Polo Campos, specially arranged by Romanian composer Grigore Cudalbu. Madrigal was also invited to the Congress of the Republic of Perú, where it gave a recital for national representatives of Peru’s highest political body – vice-presidents, members of Congress and ambassadors. On this occasion, Corul Madrigal launched the recording „Imnurile naționale ale țărilor Americii de Sud”, a South American first. The ensemble also received the Congress Award, accompanied by a trophy and a diplomatic declaration: „May this choir continue to inspire future generations, and may its music continue to resonate in the hearts of all who have the privilege of hearing it."
 
Three special concerts and 2.500 audience members
The tour included three Special Concerts „Música Mágica Del Madrigal” for Peruvian audiences: at Cusco’s magnificent cathedral – at an altitude of 3.400 metres, the highest at which the ensemble has performed to date; in Aguas Calientes, the town closest to Machu Picchu; and at Teatro Municipal de Lima, an architectural jewel of the Peruvian capital, where over 1.300 audience members greeted it with ovations. In Lima, Corul Madrigal, conducted by Anna Ungureanu, welcomed musicians from the popular KOTOSH ensemble as guests. Together they performed a remarkable contemporary South American work, „Misa Criolla”, composed by Ariel Ramírez and first performed by Madrigal, conducted by Marin Constantin, in Bucharest in 1975 at Festivalul Internațional George Enescu.

A world first for choral music
Madrigal’s tour in Peru also brought a world first for a national choir – a media production at the renowned UNESCO site Macchu Picchu. Corul Madrigal filmed the second episode of its project „Muzică contemporană românească în spații antice universale” / „Machu Picchu – Suita corală din Țara Oașului” in the „lost city of the Incas”, to music by Romanian composer Dariu Pop. The new video will be released at the end of April 2024 during „Festival Madrigal la Satu Mare".
The first episode of the series, „Sarmizegetusa Regia – Flăcări și roți” was released on National Culture Day, 15 January 2024, in partnership with Institutul Național al Patrimoniului. The video was filmed at the Dacian site Sarmizegetusa Regia, with the ensemble performing Corneliu Cezar’s work as its soundtrack.

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Institutional partners: Senatul României, Institutul Cultural Român, Institutul Național al Patrimoniului, Televiziunea română, Compania Națională Aeroporturi București, Opera Comică pentru Copii, Circul Metropolitan București, UNIMIR, USAMV Cluj-Napoca, Vinea Apoldia Maior, JTI România, Centrul de Cultură Arcuș, Federația Română de Fotbal, Clubul Sportiv Rapid București, Policolor, Carpatina, Casa Corpului Didactic
 

Media partners: AGERPRES, Agenția de cArte, Antena 3 CNN, Bookhub, Ediția de dimineață, Euronews Romania,  Europa FM, Itsy Bitsy, Kanal D, Kanal D2, Munteanu, Observator cultural, Prima TV, Radio București FM, Radio France Internationale România, Radio România Cultural, Radio România Muzical, Radio Trinitas, Revista Psychologies, spotmedia.ro, Trinitas TV, TVR Cultural, Zile și Nopți