MADRIGAL IN ITALY | Pompeii – Florence – Bologna

From 19 to 26 April 2026, Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”, conducted by Anna Ungureanu, is in Italy with a series of productions in Pompeii, Florence and Bologna, as part of the official programme of Anul Cultural România – Italia 2026.

The Madrigal Choir reunites with Italian audiences and the Romanian community in Italy for two extraordinary concerts of sacred music, hosted in some of Europe’s most prestigious cultural venues: Bazilica Santa Croce in Florence and Bazilica San Petronio in Bologna. For the very first time, the site of the ancient city of Pompeii becomes the setting for a new Madrigal music video.

The Madrigal tour of Italy is organised by Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”, with significant support from Ambasada României în Republica Italiană, Ministerul Culturii and Ministerul Afacerilor Externe.

MADRIGAL ITALY TOUR PROGRAMME 2026

❑ 20 April | POMPEII

Filming the music video „Arhaisme” in the ancient city of Pompeii. Preserved almost intact after being covered by ash from Mount Vesuvius at the beginning of our era, the site hosts the filming of a new Madrigal media production, set to music by Sigismund Toduță, a contemporary composer who draws on elements of early Romanian music, reinterpreting them in a modern idiom. The video continues the Madrigal Choir’s multimedia series, „Muzică contemporană românească în spații antice universale”, which brings contemporary Romanian creativity into dialogue with world heritage.

❑ 22 April, 21:00 | FLORENCE

Extraordinary Madrigal concert at Bazilica Santa Croce in Florence, an emblematic monument of the Italian Renaissance and part of UNESCO World Heritage, a true pantheon of Italy’s cultural greats and the resting place of figures such as Michelangelo, Galileo Galilei and Niccolò Machiavelli. Its harmonious architecture and exceptional acoustics provide a distinguished setting for a programme bringing together Romanian and international sacred works. Admission by RESERVATION.

❑ 25 April, 19:30 | BOLOGNA

Extraordinary Madrigal concert at Bazilica San Petronio in Bologna, one of Europe’s largest places of worship. The Madrigal Choir presents Romanian and Italian sacred works in an impressive venue with capacity for over 1.000 audience members. Admission by RESERVATION.

Throughout its history, the Madrigal Choir has undertaken a total of 23 tours in Italy, becoming a symbol of Romanian–Italian cultural diplomacy. The first tour, in 1967, was considered a genuine artistic revelation and was followed by the ensemble’s regular presence on Italian stages. In 2026, the Madrigal tour of Italy continues the ensemble’s tradition of international excellence. Under conductor Anna Ungureanu, the Madrigal Choir reaffirms its vocation as Romania’s cultural ambassador and a messenger of peace and harmony around the world.

Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin” | Conductor ANNA UNGUREANU | Direction EMIL PANTELIMON | Sound: GABRIEL SCÎRLET, ALEXANDRU ZAHARENCU | Multimedia: MIRCEA CONSTANTINESCU, DANIEL FERARU, ZSOLT PORTIK, ANDREI ȚONEȘ, TEODORA UNGUREANU | International Programmes Coordinator IRINA CRISTINA VASILESCU 

The Madrigal tour of Italy is organised by Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”, with significant support from Ministerul Culturii, Ministerul Afacerilor Externe, Ambasada României în Republica Italiană, Consulatul General Onorific al României pentru Toscana, Consulatul General al României la Bologna and the partners Parco Archeologico di Pompei, Fondo Edifici di Culto, Comune di Firenze, Opera di Santa Croce, Comunità dei Frati Minori Conventuali della Basilica di Santa Croce, Basilica di San Petronio Bologna. 

Media partners: AGERPRES, Agenția de cArte, Amos News, Bookhub, București Business, B1 TV, B365, București FM, Digi24, Euronews România, Europa FM, Itsy Bitsy, Leviathan, Munteanu recomandă, Prima News, Radio France Internationale România, Radio România Cultural, Radio România Muzical, Radio Trinitas, Revista Biz, Romania Journal, spotmedia.ro, TVR Cultural, Zile și Nopți

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THE MADRIGAL CHOIR

Founded in 1963 by the legendary musician and conductor Marin Constantin (1925 – 2011), Corul Naţional de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin” has become a landmark of musical life and cultural diplomacy. 

The Madrigal Choir is defined by its distinctive sound, non-vibrato technique, stereophonic stage placement and imposing costumes. Its repertoire encompasses the Renaissance, pre-Classical and Classical music, Romanticism, Byzantine music, and contemporary Romanian and international works. The ensemble’s stage presence and membership have been continually refined, with critics comparing its performances to „a Stradivarius violin in Paganini’s hands”. 

The recipient of numerous international awards, the Madrigal Choir has appeared on the world’s most important stages in thousands of concerts and performances. In November 2016, Madrigal was officially recognised as an Ambassador of Freedom, Hope and Peace, receiving the „Jean Nussbaum și Eleanor Roosevelt” award at Palatul Naţiunilor Unite in Geneva, during Summit-ul Global de Religie, Pace şi Securitate. 

The international tours undertaken in recent years by the Madrigal Choir, conducted by Anna Ungureanu, have enriched Romania’s spiritual and cultural presence across the world, from the West Coast of the United States of America to the Japanese archipelago.