Corul Madrigal on tour in Zagreb

At the invitation of Ambasada României în Republica Croația, on Thursday, 9 June, Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”, conducted by Cezar Verlan, will present the special performance „Muzica Renașterii Europene” at the grand Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall in Zagreb.

The event celebrates 15 years since Romania joined the European Union and 30 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and the Republic of Croatia, and takes place under the patronage of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture, Institutul Cultural Român and Ambasada României în Republica Croaţia.

„We are honoured by the invitation from Ambasada României în Republica Croația and His Excellency Constantin-Mihail Grigorie, Head of Romania’s diplomatic mission in Zagreb. Corul Madrigal thus continues its series of events promoting cultural diplomacy, a direction it has embraced since its foundation almost 6 decades ago. Together with conductor Cezar Verlan, we will bring the sound of the European musical Renaissance, music from the fifteenth (XV) and sixteenth (XVI) centuries, and the music and art of modern Europe to Croatia’s largest and most beautiful concert hall.” – said Emil Pantelimon, Manager of Corul Național „Madrigal – Marin Constantin” and the performance’s stage director.

Corul Madrigal’s „Muzica Renașterii Europene” follows the approach of the concept performances the renowned choir has explored in recent years, bringing together the ensemble’s unique sound with related elements of theatre, literature, set design and video art. The Zagreb project will present the European Renaissance as a symbol, with staging supported by video mapping and lighting design. Its conceptual and musical thread will illustrate both the cultural flowering of the Renaissance era and the contemporary European musical renaissance.

The first part of the programme devised by conductor Cezar Verlan will include madrigals and motets by Thomas Morley, Orlando di Lasso, Hans Leo Hassler, Giovanni Gastoldi, Josquin des Prés and Johann Hermann Schein. In the second part, Corul Madrigal will present works by contemporary European composers such as Vytautas Miškinis, Knut Nystedt and Branko Stark, alongside Romanian composers Cornelia Tăutu, Alexandru Pașcanu and Grigore Cudalbu.

Stage direction for „Muzica Renașterii Europene” is by Emil Pantelimon, with musical direction by conductor Cezar Verlan. Lighting design will be coordinated by Alin Popa, video mapping by Dorin Popovici and sound by Gabriel Scîrlet.

Further information is available through Corul Madrigal’s communication channels and on the website of Vatroslav Lisinski Concert Hall in Zagreb.

Partners: Ambasada României în Republica Croaţia, Ministerul Afacerilor Externe, Ministerul Culturii, Institutul Cultural Român

Media partners: AGERPRES, Agenția de cArte, Bookhub, Itsy Bitsy, Radio BUCUREȘTI, Radio France International România, Radio România Cultural, Radio România Muzical, RADOR, Revista Psychologies, spotmedia.ro, 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 foundation in 1963 by conductor Marin Constantin (1925–2011), Corul Madrigal has given more than 4.600 concerts acclaimed around the world, establishing itself as a true „national brand”. It is one of the world’s benchmarks for chamber choral music, with a repertoire centred on the European Renaissance, Byzantine music and contemporary Romanian and international works.

In November 2016, Corul Național 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 59 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 cultural diplomacy as one of Europe’s longest-established and most highly regarded choral ensembles.

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Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”
Cantus Mundi National Programme