Moldova Philharmonic Iasi
History
Concert life in Iasi has its beginnings in the 19th century. In 1847, Franz Liszt's concerts took place in the current Balş House. In 1860, the School of Music and Declamation was established, transformed four years later into the Conservatory of Music and Dramatic Art, and in 1868 - the Romanian Philharmonic Society in Iasi, considered to be the first step towards the establishment of professional musical ensembles with permanent activity. In 1905-1906 there was the first symphonic season of Iasi, which included five concerts, performed by the Conservatory Orchestra, conductor Enrico Mezzetti, continued until 1917 by Athanasie Theodorini, Ion Vlăduţă and then by Antonin Ciolan.
Between 1917-1918 the symphonic period of the Orchestra made up of Bucharest and Iasi instrumentists was initiated and led by George Enescu, followed by the founding of George Enescu Philharmonic Society (1918), which functioned until 1923, then between 1930-1932.
Moldova Philharmonic, a permanent concert activity institution, was inaugurated on 9 October 1942 in the National Theater Hall in Iasi, with a concert led by Master George Enescu.
After 1946, the rehearsals were held in the Armenian Hall (from the court of the Armenian Church), and the concerts - in the Sidoli cinema hall and at the National Theater.
Between September 22-29, 1951, the Philharmonic hosts a Romanian Music Week.
In the spring of 1953 there is an event that will open new and happy perspectives of artistic development: the establishment of the Choir under the leadership of the teacher, musicologist and conductor George Pascu. In the autumn of the same year he will get the title of Choir Gavriil Musicescu of the Iasi State Philharmonic.
On November 17, 1957, the concert hall and the current headquarters of the Philharmonic at Cuza Voda Street are inaugurated. 29.
In 1962, the young conductor Ion Baciu arrives at the symphonic orchestra of the Philharmonic, which will turn this ensemble into a national and internationally short class. This is, after the creation of the Chorus, the second moment of crossroads in the life of the Philharmonic.
The unmistakable string of the string orchestra, cultivated by Ion Baciu, will attract the musicalologist Iosif Sava the characterization that has become the emblematic of "Stradivarius of Baciu".
The orchestra had already become an ensemble of artistic personality, and in 1971 the first tour abroad took place in Germany. Stimulated by the artistic rise of the Philharmonic Orchestra, the first edition of the Romanian Music Week will be organized in 1973, which will later become the Romanian Music Festival. Also in 1973, the Orchestra of the Iasi Philharmonic is invited for the first time to participate in the George Enescu International Festival.
In 1980, the Voces Quartet became the permanent ensemble of the Iasi Philharmonic.
Between 1980 and 1989 the law on the self-financing of the activity of state institutions, especially those of culture, is the law theorized in decree no.151 of December 12, 1975. Besides the general revenues and the minuscule subsidy from the budget, each artistic ensemble And the lead singer supported as many performances as possible, thus obtaining additional funds. Between 1984-1989, the lead of the Iasi Philharmonic is named violinist Bujor Prelipcean who managed to find funds and financially support the continuity of the Philharmonic.
Despite all the impediments, the Iasi Philharmonic has become a remarkable and not once appreciated artistic presence on concert stages in the country - primarily Bucharest - and abroad: the Beethoven Hall in Bonn, the Ancient Theater in Macerata (Italy) Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Meistersingersaal in Nurnberg, Edvard Grieg Hall in Bergen (Norway), Salle Gaveau in Paris, Auditorium in Madrid, Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Tonhalle in Zurich, Gasteig of the Munich Philharmonic ... Also in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Boston and Los Angeles times in Vancouver, Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal ...
Parallel to the scenic presence, the ensembles of the Iasi Philharmonic have recorded scores of hours of music, from different genres and periods, Romanian and foreign, on disc, on radio and on television.
In 1986, conductor Ion Baciu left the Philharmonic Orchestra and Iasi, and was followed by Gheorghe Costin (1988-2001) at the orchestra's desk for 13 years.
Since 1990, the conductor and mentor of the Academic Choir Gavriil Musicescu of the Philharmonic has become Doru Morariu.
Between 1995-2001, alongside Gheorghe Costin, the young and talented Camil Marinescu activated at the stage of the Iasi opera orchestra; And from 1998 to 2009, a third was added to them - Alexandru Lăscae, a remarkable musician, master concert for over two decades at the Hague Symphony Orchestra (The Netherlands), also an experienced conductor.
On February 17, 1999, violinist Bujor Prelipcean returns to the post of general manager of the Moldovan Philharmonic for the second time, having the longest directorate in the history of the institution.
The Iasi Philharmonic awarded the title of Principal Guest Conductor to the well-respected orchestra conductors and also publishes remarkable musical personalities: Michele Santorsola (Italy) receives this title in 2003, Paul Nadler (USA) in 2004, Mark Mast (Germany) Petrescu in 2013.
Since April 2008, the Ad libitum String Quartet has joined the artistic ensembles of the Moldovan Filamonics ensemble in Iasi.
Demonstrating a deep and respectful commitment to the efforts of the founding musicians, the Iasi Philharmonic has created an extraordinary history in over 75 seasons that have passed to this day. Among other things, on the stage of Iasi concerts, there were performers at the beginning of their career, who became then world famous artists (Valeri Gheorghiev[1], Ion Marin[2], Ștefan Ruha[3], Viorica Cortez[4], Daniil Safran[5], Mstislav Rostropovici[6], Radu Lupu[7], Lawrence Foster[8], etc), dar și personalități deja consacrate (Sviatoslav Richter[9], Dmitri Bașkirov[10], Rudolf Kerer[11], Nikolai Demidenko[12], Erich Bergel[13], Serge Baudo[14], Frank Peter Zimmermann[15], José Carreras[16], Ivry Gitlis[17], Sergiu Comissiona[18] Aldo Ciccolini[19]).
[1] Concertul dirijat de Valeri Gheorghiev la Iași a avut loc la 9 noiembrie 1984 (la vârsta de 31 ani).
[2] Primul concert la Filarmonica din Iași al dirijorului Ion Marin - 19 aprilie 1985 (la 25 ani).
[3] Debutul solistic (la 22 ani) al violonistului Ștefan Ruha s-a petrecut la 13 noiembrie 1953, tot la Iași.
[4] Viorica Cortez – 4 iunie 1954 (19 ani)
[5] Daniil Safran – 26 mai 1957 (34 ani)
[6] Mstislav Rostropovici – 13 noiembrie 1950 (23 ani)
[7] Radu Lupu – 12 februarie 1966 (21 ani)
[8] Lawrence Foster - 6,8 martie 1970 (29 ani)
[9] Sviatoslav Richter – 15 iunie 1963 (48 ani)
[10] Dmitri Bașkirov - 14 aprilie 1966 (35 ani)
[11] Rudolf Kerer – 25 aprilie 1989 (66 ani)
[12] Nikolai Demidenko – 20 martie 1981 (26 ani)
[13] Erich Bergel – 25 iunie 1993 (63 ani)
[14] Serge Baudo - 11 septembrie 1998 (Festivalul G. Enescu)
[15] Frank Peter Zimmermann - 11 septembrie 1998 (Festivalul G. Enescu)
[16] José Carreras – 3 septembrie 1999 (concert în Spania)
[17] Ivry Gitlis – 11 ianuarie 1970, 25 aprilie 2004
[18] Sergiu Comissiona – 2 februarie 1951 (23 ani), 14 septembrie 2003
[19] Aldo Ciccolini – 1,2 octombrie 1970 (45 ani).
Due to the existence of the two artistic ensembles of the Iasi Philharmonic - the Symphonic Orchestra and the Academic Choir Gavriil Musicescu - it was possible to present some works from the vocal-symphonic and opera repertoire, as well as an impressive number of a cappella - Romanian and universal masterpieces. At present, the repertoire availability of Iasi Philharmonic artists is virtually limitless: from classical to contemporary; Symphonic, vocal-symphonic, opera, chamber music; Cult music and entertainment, symphonic jazz, film music, etc.
Despite the current conditions, we try to maintain a high level of artistic quality, creating musical experiences with a strong impact on auditors. In 2009, the Music for All project is launched, including programs of great popularity supported by the Symphonic Orchestra and the Academic Choir G. Musicescu, initially in the Copou Park, later in Palas Iasi - in the park or in the mall.
On June 22, 2013, the Moldovan Philharmonic is invited to perform in the first edition of the International Festival of Education, having a great success.
Between 11-13 November 2014, the first edition of the Quartet Festival in Iasi takes place.
During a ceremony held on March 25, 2015, at the Peles Castle, the State Philharmonic of Moldova Iasi was decorated with the Order of the Cross of the Royal House of Romania, a distinction awarded to the professor. Dr. Bujor Prelipcean, the general manager of the institution, by Princess Margaret, on behalf of His Majesty, King Michael I.
The high distinction was given for the entire concert and cultural activity that has been carried out for over seven decades to promote the invaluable values of Romanian musical culture and to preserve the national spirit in music, to promote cult music among younger generations and to recognize Romanian music abroad.
