The "Classic for Teens" Festival: 100 Artists from Nine Countries

The city of Focşani is the cultural host for over 100 artists from nine countries who are participating in the fourth edition of the "Classic for Teens" festival until September 28th. The festival's organizer, Mioara Moraru, stated: "We have reached the fourth edition of the 'Classic for Teens' festival, a festival that was born during the pandemic, and I believe it was one of the few major events that took place during that period. This year's edition will bring us great surprises. First and foremost, it brings us top artists. We will have over 100 artists from nine countries here in Focşani. (...) We will have important guests from Italy, and I hope to have as many participants and spectators with us, not only young people but also adults. Through this project, we aim to provide cultural education from a young age. We address young people primarily, but at the same time, we also address adults because what we offer is not exclusively for the youth; it caters to a diverse and wide audience. This project is about musical education, not only because these children have the opportunity to attend concerts of a higher artistic level and interact with top-notch artists, but we also have seven musical masterclasses and three conferences in our program." Representatives from the Vrancea County Council expressed their excitement about the scale of the event and reiterated their support for the "Classic for Teens" festival. The President of the Vrancea County Council, Cătălin Toma, said: "I believe that at this moment, Vrancea, and especially Focşani, is becoming the cultural capital of the country. Today, through the presence and efforts of the organizers, we will have prominent names in Focşani, which makes us happy and motivates us to think even bigger about this event in the future. Any investment in education is an investment in the future of this county. (...) I am glad to see young people using the term 'classic.' It is important to understand our history and traditions, but at the same time, we need to cultivate musical education. Because music provides us with harmony and shows us how to be in harmony." For nine days, musicians from Austria, France, Italy, Moldova, Ukraine, Korea, China, and Romania will offer the audience an exceptional musical feast. Renowned international musicians such as pianist Adela Liculescu (Austria), pianists Filippo Tenisci (Italy), Cătălin Răducanu (Romania), Daniele Terribile (Italy), Michele Chinellato (Italy), flutist Matei Ioachimescu (Austria), percussionist Irina Rădulescu - marimba (Romania), vibraphonist Andrei Duţă (Romania), accordionist Ghenadie Rotari (Republic of Moldova/Italy), violinist Gian Paolo Arena and pianist Chiara Di Francesco (Italy), soprano Da Hyun Kang (Korea), and tenor Wang Shijie (China) will perform on the stages of the "Maior Ghe. Pastia" Municipal Theater and the "Maior Ghe. Pastia" Popular Athenaeum. Additionally, musicians from the Violoncellissimo ensemble, led by Maestro Marin Cazacu, and the Chamber Orchestra of the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Italy, under the baton of conductor Biagio Micciula, will grace the stage. As part of the "Classic for Teens" festival, in collaboration with the George Enescu National Museum in Bucharest, an exhibition titled "George Enescu and the Wonder Children" curated by Adina Sibianu will be presented. This exhibition is dedicated to the violinist, composer, and conductor George Enescu, and the audience will learn interesting facts about the great musician, as well as about some of the extremely talented children he supported throughout their careers, helping them to shine. These children include Dinu Lipatti, Yehudi Menuhin, Mihai Constantinescu, Mândru Katz, Lola Bobescu, Radu Mihail, and Valentin Gheorghiu.