World premiere in Constanța

Bucharest, 17 August 2022

Over 2500 people reserved, in record time (30 hours), the free tickets made available to Constanța audiences and tourists, and applauded the live performances given by the Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin” on 16 August 2022 on the promenade of Constanța’s Cazino. More than 10.000 people enjoyed these live events, with the concert also projected onto the building of the Comandamentul Marinei Militare, where passers-by stopped to enjoy the performance’s sonic and visual magic. The magnificent fireworks display at the end of the event lasted almost 10 minutes and was one of the few projects of its kind in the world synchronised with live music.
 
The „Ave Maria” event was created in partnership with the Primăria Municipiului Constanța and was a first in classical music, combining direction, set design, lighting design, scent and pyrotechnic effects, all integrated into the spectacular backdrop of the Black Sea. Positioning the stage ensemble on the Cazino Constanța promenade was spectacular, but also brought numerous challenges.
 
„120 years after the first Romanian Navy celebration, we wanted to „dock” in Constanța with „Ave Maria”. The Black Sea was not easily tamed: we went through an orange-warning storm that forced us to reschedule the concert from 15 August, followed by a major failure in the city’s electricity supply, resolved at the last moment with support from our partners at the Primăria Constanța. All our teams’ efforts were rewarded by the reception from Constanța audiences: endless applause, tears and ovations, emotion and tremendous energy. The Madrigal – Cantus Mundi team knows how to make MAGIC. I believe and hope that „Ave Maria” has docked in Constanța for good!” –  said Emil Pantelimon, Manager of the Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin” and director of „Ave Maria”.
 
„First of all, we are honoured that you were here and could offer an exceptional performance to audiences from Constanța and beyond. This evening, all our senses were rewarded through music and poetry, light and, of course, perfect synchronisation with the fireworks. Our only regret is that not everyone who came here was able to attend, but we hope this event will be the first in a long series of Madrigal Choir performances here by the sea. From now on, Constanța is your home!”, said Ionuț Rusu, Deputy Mayor of Constanța, addressing the Madrigal Choir.

„It was a magical evening, both for the people of Constanța and for this whole area. I could even say it was a historic moment, because our national treasure – the Madrigal Choir – came to delight us. We are very happy, we congratulate the organisers and we hope these cultural events will continue. We therefore hope the Madrigal Choir will also honour us with its presence in Constanța at Christmas. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts: the Madrigal Choir challenges us to raise the bar” – said Mihai Lupu, President of the Consiliul Județean Constanța
 
„Ave Maria” was directed by Emil Pantelimon, with musical direction by Anna Ungureanu. Lighting design – Alin Popa, video mapping  – Dorin Popovici, sound direction  – Gabriel Scîrlet, fireworks show direction – Mihai Bondria.
 
„Ave Maria” will be broadcast by Televiziunea Română on 8 September, the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, on TVR 2.

Partners: Primăria Municipiului Constanța, Compania Națională Administrația Porturilor Maritime S.A. Constanța, Statul Major al Forțelor Navale Române, Șantierul Naval Constanța S.A., Universitatea „Ovidius” din Constanța, City Park Mall Constanța, Circul Metropolitan București, Televiziunea Română,  Opera Comică pentru Copii, Teatrul Excelsior.

Further information is available at www.madrigal.ro, http://www.primaria-constanta.ro/ and on the two institutions’ social media pages.

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 the conductor Marin Constantin (1925–2011), the Madrigal Choir has given hundreds of 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 focused on the European Renaissance, Byzantine music and contemporary Romanian and international works. 
In November 2016, the Corul Naţional 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, the Corul Național de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”, a public concert institution of national importance under Romania’s Ministerul Culturii, continues its work in cultural diplomacy as one of Europe’s longest-established and most highly regarded choral ensembles.
Since 2011, the Madrigal Choir has run the Programul Național Cantus Mundi, Romania’s largest programme for children’s social integration through music, initiated by maestro Ion Marin, which currently brings together over 1.750 choirs and over 60.000 children from Romania and the diaspora.

Marius Manole is one of Romania’s best-loved actors, an artist who transforms with equal authenticity into roles in different emotional worlds, from fragility to strength and from the classical to the experimental. With a prolific career in theatre, film and television, Marius Manole graduated in 2001 from the acting section of the Universitatea de Arte „George Enescu” in Iași, studying with professors Emil Coșeriu and Cornelia Gheorghe. In the period 2002 – 2003, he attended courses in the choreography section of the Universitatea Națională de Artă Teatrală și Cinematografică „Ion Luca Caragiale” in Bucharest. On 5 May 2016, President Klaus Iohannis decorated him with the „Meritul Cultural” Order at the rank of Knight, category D – ”Performing Arts”, for his „outstanding involvement in promoting Romanian theatre and cinema both at home and abroad”. He is currently a permanent member of the Teatrul Național „Ion Luca Caragiale” and works with theatrical institutions in Bucharest and around the country, as well as on independent artistic projects.

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Corul Naţional de Cameră „Madrigal – Marin Constantin”
Programul Național Cantus Mundi