Corul Madrigal launches MADRIGAL 60

On Monday, 16 January, in the presence of Culture Minister Lucian Romașcanu, Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin” launched its anniversary programme „MADRIGAL 60”.
The press conference at the choir’s headquarters on Dealul Mitropoliei was attended by Emil Pantelimon, manager of Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”, and members of Corul Madrigal together with Principal Conductor Anna Ungureanu and Assistant Conductor Cezar Verlan. The occasion launched an extensive anniversary calendar marking 6 decades of uninterrupted artistic activity and cultural diplomacy. 

 „This year we will celebrate 60 years of Madrigal, so today is a special day for us, following another special day: National Culture Day. I would like to convey my congratulations and those of the government to Corul Madrigal, and assure them of the Ministry of Culture’s full support in delivering this programme. Madrigal is one of Romania’s strongest cultural ambassadors. Congratulations on these 6 decades of activity and on last year’s important achievements, with events at home and abroad. I wish the whole team continued success!” – said Lucian Romașcanu, Minister of Culture.

„The MADRIGAL 60 programme is very important to us, and we are happy to announce it now, at the beginning of the year, when we also celebrate our national culture. Our slogan is „Since 1963, Madrigal has been changing Romania through music”, and through this anniversary programme we continue a 6-decade tradition of transforming Romania through culture. There are so many reasons why this anniversary matters to Romania: Madrigal brought carols back to Romanians in the ’60s, during the communist era, and internationally it greatly enhanced our country’s image. The MADRIGAL 60 programme will showcase this immense legacy through a series of 6 major national and international programmes” – Emil Pantelimon, manager of Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”

In 2023, Corul Madrigal celebrates 60 years of uninterrupted activity, an anniversary to be marked by an extensive series of cultural, publishing and educational programmes throughout the year. 
The „MADRIGAL 60” anniversary programme has six main sections: 

1.    EXCELENȚĂ ÎN MUZICĂ – CONCERTS, RECITALS AND PERFORMANCES
2.    UNIM ROMÂNIA PRIN MUZICĂ – NATIONAL TOURS 
3.    DIPLOMAȚIA MADRIGAL – INTERNATIONAL TOURS
4.    SOCIAL INTEGRATION AND CULTURAL EDUCATION – CANTUS MUNDI NATIONAL PROGRAMME
5.    TEZAURUL MADRIGAL – EXHIBITIONS AND OTHER EVENTS 
6.    ÎN CASELE ROMÂNILOR DE PRETUTINDENI – BOOK, MULTIMEDIA, RECORDING AND VINYL RELEASES

Excelența în muzică: Corul Madrigal has planned 6 concerts, recitals and performances throughout the year, beginning on 21 January with the special concert „Despre Cultură” at Ateneul Român, followed by the „MADRIGAL 60” Gala on 28 February at TNB, the „Primăvara începe cu Madrigal” recital on 1 March in Studioul LIVE Europa FM, participation in Festivalul Internațional „George Enescu” in September, and a special Christmas concert for the diplomatic corps in Bucharest in December.

Unim România prin muzică: Madrigal will visit 9 cities across Romania on 4 national tours featuring its 3 major traditional special performances, „Săptămâna Patimilor”, „Ave Maria” and „Pe drumul Crăciunului”, as well as a special project dedicated to Timișoara, European Capital of Culture.

Diplomația Madrigal: With the support of Institutul Cultural Român and Romania’s diplomatic missions, the ensemble will undertake 4 international tours: the „Imnurile Uniunii Europene” concert in Brussels; the Istanbul – Bucharest – Berlin triptych „Cantemir 350”; the „Antic și contemporan” tour in South America, in Peru (Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu); and the Romanian National Day and Christmas tour in the United States (New York, Washington, California).

Cantus Mundi National Programme – Social integration and cultural education: During 2023, alongside the participation of more than 5.000 children from the programme’s choirs in Corul Madrigal’s major national performances, Cantus Mundi will run its established events: „Earth Hour cu Cantus Mundi”, „OPEN HOUSE Madrigal – Cantus Mundi” for Museum Night, and the Summer School, extended nationwide. The music therapy project „Madrigal cântă copiilor” for newborns and expectant mothers will also be developed, as will the research programme „Cât de tare e prea tare?”, a study of the frequency and volume of sounds children hear. Special attention will also be given to Cantus Mundi’s well-known educational programmes: music workshops for children and choral conducting workshops for 1500 teachers, as well as developing the publishing department through new books and manuals. Finally, children’s choirs will be involved in new musical productions in partnership with Opera Comică pentru Copii, Christmas markets and other partner events.

Tezaurul Madrigal: The „MADRIGAL 60” programme will also be marked by 3 series of art and photography exhibitions and multimedia programmes: „Galeria Madrigal”, an exhibition of paintings by contemporary artists at the ensemble’s headquarters; Madrigal – Cantus Mundi exhibition pavilions at the XIII edition of Art Safari; Sala „Madrigal 60” at Aeroportul Henri Coandă București; the „60 de ani în 60 de secunde” series of audiovisual materials about landmark events in Madrigal’s history; and a „MADRIGAL 60” treasure hunt in Bucharest.

În casele românilor de pretutindeni: „MADRIGAL 60” also brings no fewer than 8 national and international publishing, recording and multimedia releases: the books „Biografie MADRIGAL 60” and „Madrigal, ambasador cultural”; the CDs „Imnurile Uniunii Europene” and „Imnurile Americii Latine”; the vinyl records „MADRIGAL 60” and Madrigal for Christmas / Madrigal de Crăciun”; the special performance „Pe drumul Crăciunului” on VINYL, DVD and BLU-RAY; and a new video production by the ensemble entitled „Antic și contemporan – Madrigal la Machu Picchu”.

Corul Madrigal carries forward an immense legacy: six decades of excellence in music, cultural diplomacy and belief in changing Romania through music and culture.

Media partners: AGERPRES, Agenția de cArte, Bookhub, Ediția de dimineață, Gala Societății Civile, Leviathan.ro, Munteanu, PlayU.ro, Radio BUCUREȘTI, Radio France International România, Radio România Cultural, Radio România Muzical, RADOR, Revista Psychologies, spotmedia.ro, Ziarul Metropolis, Zile și Nopți

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Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin” is an emblem of Romanian and international musical life. Since its founding in 1963 by conductor Marin Constantin (1925–2011), Corul Madrigal has established itself as a true national brand. It is one of the world’s benchmarks for chamber choral music, with a repertoire focused on the European Renaissance, Byzantine music, and contemporary Romanian and international works. In November 2016, Corul Naţional de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin” was officially recognised as an Ambassador of Freedom, Hope and Peace, receiving the „Jean Nussbaum and Eleanor Roosevelt” Award at the United Nations Palace in Geneva during the Global Summit on Religion, Peace and Security. After 60 years of uninterrupted activity, Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”, a public concert institution of national importance under Romania’s Ministry of Culture, continues its journey in cultural diplomacy as one of Europe’s longest-established and most highly regarded choirs.

Since 2011, Corul Madrigal has run the Cantus Mundi National Programme, Romania’s largest programme of social integration through music for children, initiated by maestro Ion Marin, which currently brings together more than 1.800 choirs and more than 63.000 children in Romania and the diaspora.