The “Madrigal – Marin Constantin” galleries at the Senate

On Wednesday, 1 March, the Romanian Senate and the National Chamber Choir „Madrigal – Marin Constantin” officially opened „Galeriile Madrigal – Marin Constantin”.
The event was attended by the Acting President of the Senate, Ms Alina Gorghiu; the Minister of Culture, Mr Lucian Romașcanu; the Madrigal Choir’s Honorary director, conductor Ion Marin; Emil Pantelimon, manager of the Madrigal Choir; members of the Senate’s Standing Bureau; senators; members of the Chamber of Deputies; other official guests; and the public.

„Today’s historic moment is an important sign of normality in Romanian society, where culture of the highest calibre is being honoured with a gallery in Romania’s most important institution. I thank the senators for this honour, and I am grateful to President Alina Gorghiu for this initiative” –  said Emil Pantelimon, manager of the National Chamber Choir „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”, at the opening of the event.

„It is an honour to have Madrigal with us today at the Romanian Senate. The partnership between the Romanian Parliament and the Madrigal Choir goes back some time, with many successful events organised together, and all my fellow senators agreed to name this beautiful gallery after the Madrigal – Marin Constantin Choir. It is an honour for us to be in a place that, from today, will have a musical resonance. I want you to think about how long this ensemble’s 60-year history is, but also how short it is compared with what Madrigal will go on to do for Romania and for everyone who loves culture.” – Alina Gorghiu, Acting President of the Romanian Senate.

„The Senate has done so many good things for culture, and I am proud to be a senator as well. I congratulate those behind this initiative, because we must match our statements with actions. We always say that culture is a nation’s most important driving force. Some things happen on a practical level and others on the level of public image, and this is one of the important things in terms of public image, because we are showing our respect for one of the greatest ambassadors of Romanian culture, the Madrigal Choir, which has now reached 60 years of existence, 60 years of success” – said the Minister of Culture, Lucian Romașcanu.

„It is truly spectacular to see, in the way Romania presents itself, politics and culture working in synergy, with an energy that creates a very special image of Romania. Since 1963, the Madrigal Choir has been Europe’s first professional chamber choir. Madrigal is not only an ambassador of Romanian musical culture abroad. From 1963 to 1989, Madrigal was also Europe’s ambassador in Romania, singing madrigals and motets from the European Renaissance in five languages. From General Charles de Gaulle to Richard Nixon and the Shah of Iran, Romania’s important guests were welcomed not only with bread and salt, but also with the international repertoire and the proud sound of the Madrigal Choir. I believe that today, musically, culturally, politically and emotionally, we are fully part of Europe.” – conductor Ion Marin, Honorary director of the Madrigal Choir and Founding President of the Cantus Mundi National Programme.

The official opening of „Galeriile Madrigal – Marin Constantin” was followed by a recital by the Madrigal Choir, conducted by Anna Ungureanu.
„Galeriile Madrigal – Marin Constantin” will host cultural events as well as temporary and permanent exhibitions of objects and archival materials from the heritage of the National Chamber Choir „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”, and will become part of the public visitor route and guided tours of the Palace of Parliament.

The official opening of „Galeriile Madrigal – Marin Constantin” follows the National Chamber Choir „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”’s gift to audiences across the country on 28 February: the special performance „Madrigal 60”, conducted by Anna Ungureanu. Dedicated to the memory of the choir’s legendary founder, conductor Marin Constantin, the anniversary performance brought together Madrigal’s rich history and several world premieres, and was received by audiences with joy and emotion.
The event took place on the stage of Teatrul Național „I. L. Caragiale” București (TNB) and was broadcast live on TVR Cultural and Radio România Muzical, allowing as many viewers and listeners as possible in Romania and around the world to join the Madrigal Choir on its day of celebration.
The second part of the event featured „Gala Madrigal 60”, presented by theatre critic Marina Constantinescu, during which the Marin Constantin Awards were presented. The awards are given annually to individuals who have made a significant contribution to Romania’s cultural life, as well as to the development and promotion of the Madrigal Choir. „Premiile Marin Constantin” 2023 celebrated the work of the late actor and manager of Teatrul Național București, Ion Caramitru, and the well-known cultural figure Andrei Pleșu.

„Marin Constantin prompted me to reflect on the following: in our country, and not only here, people talk about the parallel state, by which they mean a hidden structure pulling the strings without our knowledge, in the interests of obscure groups. But I have gradually discovered that there is also a good parallel state. This means a state made up of values and people who are not given the recognition they deserve. This is the parallel state that keeps us alive. People of great stature, people of exceptional quality who sustain our survival but are not honoured as they should be. I have several names on this list, and Marin Constantin is an essential one, because he enabled Romania to circulate in Europe and Europe to circulate in Romania, although he was not seen in terms as glorious as he deserved. I am glad that, even after his death, his halo continues to grow. I am glad to be in the hall named after Ion Caramitru; we were very close, and suddenly I feel that I am experiencing a moment of destiny, and I thank you for sharing in it” – said Andrei Pleșu on receiving the „Premiul Marin Constantin”

The „Madrigal 60” performance was directed by Emil Pantelimon, with stage design and sets by Vladimir Turturica and costumes by stage designer Iulia Gherghescu. Lighting design was coordinated by Alin Popa, video mapping by Dorin Popovici, and sound direction by Gabriel Scîrlet.

The events on 28 February and 1 March form part of the „MADRIGAL 60” programme, which includes an extensive series of anniversary projects taking place throughout 2023. The programme marks 60 years of uninterrupted activity, musical excellence and diplomacy through culture for the Madrigal Choir, which has become a symbol of national artistic continuity, as well as of Romania’s cultural relevance and image around the world.

Partner: Senatul României