Grand tour in America

At the invitation of the Embassy of Romania in the United States of America, the National Chamber Choir „Madrigal – Marin Constantin” gave seven concerts and recitals in four major American cities: New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago and Seattle, in venues too small to accommodate all those eager to hear it.

Record audience numbers
With a spectacular repertoire of carols, Renaissance music and works from around the world, the Madrigal Choir, conducted by Anna Ungureanu and Cezar Verlan, sang for more than 6.000 people on both American coasts – Romanians living in the United States, American audiences, tourists and officials from both countries. Many venues added extra seats on concert days, and in Chicago, at the request of the sizeable Romanian community in Illinois, the Madrigal Choir gave an additional concert.

Concerts in America’s most prestigious cathedrals and historic buildings
The concerts and recitals took place in packed, prestigious concert halls and several emblematic American venues: the „Speaker Nancy Pelosi Room” in the U.S. Congress – a first-ever appearance; Saint John the Divine Cathedral – the world’s largest Episcopal cathedral; and the monumental National Cathedral in Washington, described as „a sacred space where America gathers at moments of national significance”, where more than 1.000 people attended.

Surprises for the public
The concerts announced in the tour programme were complemented by surprise recitals created by Madrigal’s own members. In New York’s famous Times Square, the Madrigal Choir surprised tourists with a flashmob of traditional Romanian music and carols. On Romania’s National Day, at an altitude of more than 10.000 metres, the choir members also created a special moment. „Deșteaptă-te, române!” and the American national anthem were heard on board the aircraft taking them to Chicago, to the delight of passengers and crew. The Madrigal Choir’s tour also included a publishing first within the MADRIGAL 60 anniversary programme: the international launch in New York of the book „Corul Madrigal în arhivele securității – Turneele în S.U.A: între libertatea muzicii și limitele sistemului comunist”, by journalist Monica Lup.

Madrigal invited to perform again in the USA and Canada
„We can say that, after 35 years, Madrigal has conquered America once again. You cannot imagine how much applause Romania received, and how many tears of joy this absolutely phenomenal choir brought. After the 7 exceptional events Madrigal gave in just 10 days, another 15 invitations arrived to perform in the USA and Canada the following year. Once again, we understood that what the world needs, and what Madrigal can offer, is EMOTION. Genuine emotion, supported by undeniable talent and the desire to bring good everywhere. The entire Madrigal team represented the country with the highest level of professionalism, and I thank them for that. I must also pay tribute to those who understood how important it is for the whole world to hear Madrigal: the Minister of Culture, the Embassy of Romania in the United States and the Romanian Cultural Institute” – said Emil Pantelimon, manager of the National Chamber Choir „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”.

Organised by the Embassy of Romania in the United States of America and the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York, with significant support from the Ministry of Culture of Romania and sponsors Banca Transilvania, Vodafone, ING, UiPath and Fan Courier, the Madrigal Choir’s anniversary tour marked Romania’s National Day and looked ahead to the winter holidays.

The Madrigal Choir’s U.S. tour is part of the MADRIGAL 60 anniversary programme, which includes an extensive series of cultural events throughout 2023. The programme marks 60 years of uninterrupted activity, musical excellence and cultural diplomacy by the Madrigal Choir, which has become a symbol of national artistic achievement and Romania’s image around the world.