300 Years of Romanian Music
The Romanian Cultural Institute, the BERGA-MOND Association, and the INNOVARTE Cultural Association present «ROMANIA UNIVERSALIS» – the most esteemed cultural concept created in recent years to promote classical music and the cultural diversity of Romania. Conceived and supported by two of Romania’s most active and valuable young musicians, violinist Diana Jipa and pianist Ștefan Doniga, this cultural program was awarded the Excellence Prize by the Union of Critics, Writers, and Music Producers of Romania in January 2023 for its promotion of Romanian chamber music on a global scale. The project was initiated in 2019 and, since then, it has been presented with various repertoire variations in over 40 cities in Romania and more than 20 countries across all five continents.
The 2023 edition of the ROMANIA UNIVERSALIS project celebrates one of the most significant figures in Romanian and European culture, on the 300th anniversary of his death: Prince DIMITRIE CANTEMIR. A true universal personality, he was a politician, diplomat, mathematician, philosopher, writer, historian, biologist, and also the first known composer of cultivated music in Romanian music. From this perspective, the project celebrates three centuries of cultivated Romanian music, following the Byzantine-inspired line from Cantemir’s creations to contemporary works, including those of Romania’s most important composers such as Enescu or Porumbescu, and even featuring compositions written just a few years ago by today’s most prominent composers for the two musicians leading the project.
In 2023, the project is planned to take place in two geographically opposite points on the planet, symbolizing the universality and inclusion of Romanian culture. The tour will start at the end of September in three cities in the Kingdom of Spain and continue in the early days of October in New Zealand and Australia, in the cities of Auckland, Hamilton, and Sydney. For this original and bold proposal, the Romanian Cultural Institute chose to support this initiative, selecting it from over 100 proposals, with the aim of officially representing the CANTEMIR Year on the international stage. Violinist Diana Jipa and pianist Ștefan Doniga form one of the most active and appreciated chamber music ensembles in Romania, having performed over 350 recitals and concerts in their more than 5 years of collaboration, spanning over 20 countries in North America, South America, Africa, Asia, and Europe. They have released two compact discs of Romanian music and have published more than 50 documentary films and music videos online and on television, with over 3.5 million views. Their work has been rewarded with numerous awards, and several of Romania’s most prestigious composers have chosen to write a series of scores for them.
Concerto Auditorio RafelBunyol Valencia
The venue was superb, with exceptional acoustics, and a large audience! Images of the artists were projected during the performance. Diana wore a magnificent dress !
Concert Casa de Cultura El Verger, Alicante
An extraordinary performance, a source of joy through everything it offered: a wonderful venue with top-notch acoustics, a numerous, generous, and warm audience, and the unparalleled feeling of a successful event!
Concert Conservatorio de la Val d’Uixó, Castellón
A unique event, full of wonderful young talents, fresh and aspiring towards a musical profession. Diana and Stefan conducted an energizing masterclass. The music school students filled the halls with emotion, enthusiasm, and thousands of applause!
Concert El Teatre Més Petit del Món, Barcelona
A superb hub of the arts, equipped with a concert hall reminiscent of a cosy music salon, where both the audience and the artists exchanged warmth and enthusiasm closely.
Concert El Forn de les Arts Barcelona
An atmosphere charged with emotion in this space like no other, in which ingredients such as lighting, acoustics, excellent and finely tuned piano, equipment, and charming decor have baked an atmosphere worthy of the finale of a European tour!
