15 January: Romanian National Culture Day

Romania celebrates, on 15 January, its National Culture Day, and the main Romanian cultural institutions have scheduled special events across the country and abroad. Performances, symposiums, book launches and vernissages will take place on Monday all over the country, but also in the Romanian diaspora communities, on the National Culture Day, marked every year with the celebration of the birth of famous Romanian poet and novelist Mihai Eminescu.

Romanian National Culture Day is celebrated in the context in which the year 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the Great Union of the Romanians, of 1918, and identity and national unity that have been a constant concern in Mihai Eminescu's publicistic work.

Message of Romanian Prime Minister Mihai Tudose on National Cultural Day:“Throughout centuries, culture has brought people together and has shaped national identity. It has helped us tear down the barriers of prejudices and, during hardship, it has brought out spirituality. Culture empowers citizens with feelings of pride and dignity and grants the state with an aura of uniqueness (...) We have the duty to pass on culture to future generations, the culture borrowed from all those who have strengthened it. The Centenary Year represents the best occasion to show culture the due respect and to carry on the Romanian identity””, Prime Minister Tudose wrote on Facebook.

Vice President of the Romanian Cultural Institute (RCI), Mirel Taloş, talked to RRA Reporter Mihaela Helmis about the mission "to export Romanian culture in all its forms": “January 15th, Eminescu's birthday, National Culture Day, is celebrated through special events, musical events, events in the field of plastic arts, theatricals, or even multidisciplinary events.

Romanian Cultural Institute in London is conducting "Imago Mundi 100" concert, a multidisciplinary project placing contemporary Romanian music into both contemporary music and traditional Romanian folklore. It takes place on the National Culture Day and is also part of the RCI’s "Great Union Centenary" program.

Romanian Cultural Institute in Rome organizes the "100 Years of Romanian Music" at the Conservatory of Music "Santa Cecilia", another event included in the "Centenary", a concert of flutist Matei Ioachimescu and pianist Mara Dobrescu, performing works of all of the Romanian composers from this 100 year-period”.

Embassy of Romania in Paris also organizes an event dedicated to Clare Haskil, a pianist who at the time was known all over Europe for her performances, especially Mozart, but also romantic music: "Prelude and Fugue" by Serge Kribus". There is also a recital of classic and contemporary Romanian poetry - Steps of the Union – interpreted by Romanian actor Emil Boroghină.

Romanian Cultural Institute Lisbon and Romanian Cultural Institute Berlin organize events where Romanian well-known actor Ion Caramitru will perform a Mihai Eminescu poetry recital, accompanied by Aurelian Octav Popa.

Romanian Cultural Institute Vienna, together with the “Mihai Eminescu” Association in Vienna, organize, at the Theatermuseum, a recital of Romanian poetry, in both German and Romanian. We highly appreciate this event, for the use of local actors, both of whom are Austrian, who will recite Eminescu in German and in Romanian".

Romanian Cultural Institute Stockholm and the Embassy of Romania in the Kingdom of Sweden: 18;00 - pan-flute player Dana Dragomir, of Romanian origin, accompanied by Swedish pianist Mathias Hellberg, will perform a concert with Romanian folklore inspirational pieces. Readings from the works of Romanian writers, translated into Swedish, will be performed in Swedish by actor Christian Fex.

Embassy of Romania to Azerbaijan and Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts - photo exhibition of the works of famous Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncuși, also known as the father of the modern sculpture. The exhibition is portraying a selection of some of the most well-known works of the artist, exhibited today by some of the greatest art museums of the world, such as The Museum of Modern Art, New York (MOMA), Musée National d’Art Moderne in Paris, Guggenheim Museum in New York, as well as the Romanian National Art Museum in Bucharest. The Rector of Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, Prof. O. Eldarov, and the Ambassador of Romania to Azerbaijan, Dan Iancu, will deliver opening speeches.

British Ambassador to Bucharest, Paul Brummell, will attend the events organized on Monday at Botosani on the occasion of 168 years since the birth of Mihai Eminescu.The British diplomat will lay a flower wreath to the poet's statue and will attend the Gala of the award of the "Mihai Eminescu" National Poetry Prize, which will take place at 17.00, in the showroom of the Botoşani Youth Culture House. Also, the British Ambassador will take part in the show held by Nicu Alifantis.

At the 168th anniversary of the birth of the national poet Mihai Eminescu, a memorial service will be held on Monday at the Bellu Cemetery in Bucharest. At the end of the religious service, at the tomb of the poet Mihai Eminescu will be brought a wreath of flowers will be deposited by the Romanian Orthodox Church. A solemn service to honor the poet's memory took place this morning at the Patriarchal Cathedral, after the Divine Liturgy.

Concerts scheduled in Bucharest for January 15, on the occasion of Romanian National Culture Day:

- Romanian Athenaeum: 19:30 – an extraordinary concert performed by Choir and Orchestra of the “George Enescu” Philarmonic, conducted by Horia Andreescu;

- National Theater “I.L.Caragiale” – 10:30-18:30 - International Salon of Naïve Art, in the Rotunda of the Small Hall foyer (access from Carol Blvd.), where famous naïve artists from Finland, Germany, Italy, Israel, Serbia and Romania shall exhibit;

- Bucharest National Opera: 18:30: extraordinary concert of sopranos Irina Iordachescu and Cristina Marta Sandu, mezzo-sopranos Maria Jinga and Sorana Negrea, tenor Lucian Corchis, baritones Stefan Ignat and Iordache Basalic, the Bucharest National Opera Choir led by Daniel Jinga, and All’s Choir.

January 15 was declared the Romanian National Culture Day in 2010.

Source:RRA. Translated by Miruna Matei