Situated in the centre of the country, just north of the Southern Carpathians, surrounded by mountains and medieval fortresses and not far from the famous Bran castle, Brasov, this jewel of Romania and my hometown, has been enjoying for over 500 years a rich and important cultural and musical tradition. It is here that lived and created many important musicians starting with Barkfark in the 16th century, the legendary Anton Pann, Ciprian Porumbescu or the Muresianu brothers.

In this city, where the Romanian, Hungarian and German cultures interacted over the centuries contributing to an environment of high spiritual and artistic tradition, concertised famous musicians such as Brahms, Liszt, Joachim, Kreisler or Enescu.

The “Musical Citadel of Brasov” International Festival which takes place in the middle of the tourist season and which has reached its 8th edition, combines concerts of classical music with folklore, jazz, dance, poetry and opera evenings, thus creating a multicultural environment addressing both our young audience and the wide public alike.

In the preceding editions we enjoyed the presence of world-wide known artists, such as Ian Hobson (England), Ko Iwasaki (Japan), Parry Karp (USA), Stefan Ignat, Ilinca Dumitrescu, Gabriel Croitoru, the Transylvan Quartet, Johnny Raducanu, Anca Parghel, Marius Popp, Mirel Iancovici (Holland), Csaba Erdely(Hungary), Jerrold Rubenstein (Belgium), Dalia Ouziel (Belgium) or Lory Wallfisch. Among well known solo and chamber music works, during the festival were also performed numerous premieres, thus promoting a very wide and original repertoire.

The 2010 edition is dedicated to the great virtuosos of the XIXth century. The musical world is celebrating two great anniversaries: Robert Schumann (1810 – 1860) and Frederic Chopin (1810 – 1849).

We are very fortunate to have with us the wonderful pianists Cordelia Hoefer (Austria), Ilinca Dumitrescu, Lilian Akopova (Ukraine) and Henri Bonamy (France) who will be performing works by these composers and their contemporaries. They will be joined by artists such as Jennifer Curtis (USA), Daniel Rubenstein (Belgium), Goetz Teutsch (Germany).The violin virtuosity will be featured in works by H.W.Ernst, G.Tartini or E.Ysaye. As always the program includes celebrated chamber works.

We are delighted to have again with the soprano Georgeta Stoleriu in a special concert on the 15th of August. Keeping up with the tradition of presenting new works to the Brasov audience, I will be performing with the composer the Poem for violin and piano by Andrei Tănăsescu.

The last day of the festival, August 12, which coincides with George Enescu’s birthday, we have prepared a special program which includes the world premiere of the newly discovered “Nocturne d’Avrayen”.

I invite the public of Brasov and especially the music loving tourists who are coming in August to our beautiful musical citadel from all over the country and the world, to join us in this exciting musical and cultural venture.

SHERBAN LUPU

Artistic Director

Professor at the University of Illinois