Corul Madrigal – Shakespeare Festival

Bucharest – Craiova, 23 May 2022
On Thursday, 26 May, at 20:00, Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin” will present „Shakespeare – Sunet și Cuvânt” at the Philharmonic in Craiova, as part of the XIII edition of the International Shakespeare Festival. 

Conducted by Anna Ungureanu, Corul Madrigal will make its first appearance at the Craiova cultural event with a performance devoted to the art of the Elizabethan era. Its special guest will be actor Emil Boroghină, who founded the festival in 1994.

„At the organisers’ invitation, we have prepared a concept performance for this festival edition, centred on William Shakespeare’s artistic personality and life. We have also explored the influence of Shakespeare’s work on artists throughout the ages. The exuberant atmosphere of the Renaissance in music is an important part of Madrigal’s signature sound, so, alongside the sonnets performed by actor Emil Boroghină, we invite you to discover Shakespeare a little differently, through music and light” – said Emil Pantelimon, Manager of Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin” and the performance’s stage director.

Musical direction for „Shakespeare – Sunet și Cuvânt” is by Anna Ungureanu, who has chosen a programme in two parts. In the first, the Elizabethan era will be illustrated by madrigals composed by Thomas Morley, Orlando di Lasso, Hans Leo Hassler, Thomas Weelkes and Francis Pilkington. In the second, Corul Madrigal will present works based on Shakespeare’s celebrated sonnets, with music by contemporary composers such as Emma Lou Diemer and Daniel Hellden.

„Shakespeare’s entire body of work is more than relevant in any cultural or human context. We are therefore delighted to have the opportunity to honour him through a symbolic musical journey that creates a bridge in sound between two utterly wonderful periods: the European Renaissance and Modernism” – Anna Ungureanu, Principal Conductor of Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”.

In homage to Shakespeare’s era, Corul Madrigal will sing in its famous Renaissance costumes in the first part of the event. In the second, it will appear in the period costumes designed for the ensemble by Doina Levintza.

Tickets are available on the online platform of Teatrul Național „Marin Sorescu” in Craiova.

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.

Emil Boroghină graduated from Institutul de Artă Cinematografică in Bucharest in 1963, in Professor Dinu Negreanu’s class. From 1963 to 1988, he was an actor at Teatrul Național Craiova, then its General Director for 12 years (1988-2000), a period considered the most flourishing in the theatre’s history through its collaboration with director Silviu Purcărete. He is the founder (since 1994) and Director of the International Shakespeare Festival, President of Fundația Shakespeare (Craiova), Vice-President of the European Shakespeare Festivals Network, an Honorary Company Member of Teatrul Național „Marin Sorescu” Craiova and a member of the UNITER Senate. Alongside his many national distinctions, Emil Boroghină received the American Biographical Institute’s Man of the Year 1995 distinction and the International Biographical Centre Cambridge’s Man of the 21st Century distinction for outstanding achievements in 2001. He is an Honorary Citizen of Craiova and Corabia.