Corul Madrigal – resounding success in ROME

❒ For 3 days, between 30 September and 2 October 2024, Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”, conducted by Anna Ungureanu, was in Rome, Italy, on a cultural diplomacy tour at the highest level: recitals and special concerts at Museo Nazionale Romano – the Baths of Diocletian and at the Pantheon, with over 1.500 audience members.
❒ For the first time, Corul Madrigal filmed at the Pantheon for the third episode of its multimedia programme „Muzică contemporană românească în spații antice universale”.
❒ Presentation of the „Marin Constantin” Award brought an emotional reunion after 30 years with Monsignor Pablo Colino, former artistic director of the Vatican and a longstanding collaborator of Corul Madrigal.

At the invitation of the Romanian Embassy in Italy and with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin” undertook a tour in Rome between 30 September and  2 October 2024, with concerts and filming. The tour marked the celebration of 145 years of Romanian – Italian diplomatic relations.

„I am very happy and honoured to begin celebrating 145 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and Italy with one of Romania’s best-known cultural institutions, Corul Madrigal. It was an extremely moving occasion. All our guests, the Italian Minister of Culture and representatives of all Italy’s important institutions, offered us sincere congratulations on the quality of the music and the professionalism of Corul Madrigal’s members.” – H.E. Gabriela Dancău, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to the Italian Republic, the Republic of Malta and the Republic of San Marino

„Madrigal is a true ambassador, and wherever it goes in the world it is a symbol of national pride. Madrigal unites hearts, unites nations and succeeds in building connections that diplomacy often cannot achieve. Every time Madrigal performs, the reactions are entirely positive: people are moved, and many gain a new perception of Romania. We are a wonderful and extraordinarily gifted nation, and Madrigal does us proud.” – Raluca Turcan, Romania’s Minister of Culture

„We are here, together with Corul Madrigal, to celebrate almost a century and a half of friendship, which is in fact a millennia-old bond between Italy and Romania. The Pantheon is a special place, and we are very fortunate to be here beneath this heavenly vault” – said Alessandro Giuli, Italy’s Minister of Culture, in his speech.

The Baths of Diocletian – a special concert and an emotional reunion with Monsignor Pablo Colino after 30 years

On 1 October, Corul Madrigal, conducted by Anna Ungureanu, gave a special concert in an iconic setting of ancient Rome, the Baths of Diocletian at Museo Nazionale Romano, attended by over 200 people.
In a moment of intense emotion for audiences and performers alike, the „Marin Constantin” Award was presented to Monsignor Pablo Colino, a close pupil and collaborator of Madrigal’s founder, as a token of deep appreciation and gratitude. 30 years after their last meeting, Monsignor Colino, now aged 90, once again conducted Corul Madrigal in the carol „Floricica” by composer Francisc Hubic.

„Marin Constantin was the most wonderful conductor in the world and my most important mentor, whom I admired enormously. Although only 9 years separated us, I always looked upon him as a father. He was beyond ordinary people, an absolutely  exceptional person with a unique way of feeling music. I very much wish to take part in the celebration of Marin Constantin’s centenary next year” – said Monsignor Pablo Colino, conductor emeritus at Cappella Giulia and the Vatican’s artistic director for 30 years.
Monsignor Colino was accompanied at Corul Madrigal’s events by Monsignor Jafet Ramon Ortega Trillo O.S.A, the Vatican’s current conductor.

2 October – a cultural diplomacy concert at the highest level at the Pantheon

The Special Concert „Madrigal a Roma”, conducted by Anna Ungureanu, officially opened at the Pantheon the series of cultural events organised by the Romanian Embassy in Italy this autumn to mark 145 years of diplomatic relations between Romania and Italy.
The event was attended by H.E. Gabriela Dancău, Romania’s Ambassador to Italy, the two countries’ culture ministers – Raluca Turcanu and Alessandro Giuli – Federico Mollicone, Chair of the Culture Committee in the Chamber of Deputies, Stephane Verger, Director of Museo Nazionale Romano, representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Rome and a further 600 guests.
Before the official event, Corul Madrigal also held a public rehearsal, to the surprise and delight of over 800 visitors and tourists at the Pantheon, including many Romanians, who applauded the ensemble for minutes on end.

A new Corul Madrigal video filmed at the Pantheon in Rome

Corul Madrigal’s team filmed a new video from its multimedia programme „Muzică contemporană românească în spații antice universale” on 30 September and 1 October. Filming took place at the Pantheon in Rome, the celebrated „temple of all the gods”, built in 125 AD and converted in 609 into the Church of „St Mary and the Martyrs”.
Directed by Emil Pantelimon, the video of „Festum Hibernum”, composed by Alexandru Pașcanu, will be released in December this year. „Panteon – Festum Hibernum” follows the programme’s two previous episodes promoting contemporary Romanian music and world heritage: „Sarmizegetusa – Flăcări și roți” and „Machu Picchu – Suită corală din Oaș”, both released in 2024.

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Partners: Ambasada României în Republica Italiană, Pantheon – Roma, Museo Nazionale Romano, Institutul Cultural Român

Institutional partners: Senatul României, Institutul Național al Patrimoniului, Televiziunea română, Compania Națională Aeroporturi București, Opera Comică pentru Copii, Circul Metropolitan București, UNIMIR, USAMV Cluj-Napoca, JTI România, Centrul de Cultură Arcuș, Federația Română de Fotbal, Clubul Sportiv Rapid București, Policolor, Regia Națională a Pădurilor Romsilva, 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, Leviathan, 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