We are in the midst of the magical evenings in Piatra-Neamț dedicated to classical, traditional, jazz, blues, fiddler music, and pop music, which, as always, include chamber music recitals.

These artistic moments are designed to satisfy even the most demanding and varied tastes of a refined and educated music-loving audience who is looking forward to the “Musical Holidays” each year.

Here is the atmosphere of the first evenings at the Royal Court of Piatra-Neamț:

“Serghei Lunchevici” Chișinău Philharmonic Orchestra, first evening, July 7, at 9:00 PM, Royal Court:

Bluezz BIG BAND BOOM, second evening, July 8, at 9:00 PM, Royal Court:

Chamber evening TRIO BUCUREȘTI, July 9, at 7:00 PM, Calistrat Hogaș Hall, Neamț County Council:

Traditional fiddler music evening with IANCU JIANU band, July 9, at 9:00 PM

Tonight: Portrait of Neamț artist Emil DUMITRU (accordion) at 7:00 PM, Calistrat Hogaș Hall, Neamț County Council, followed by a jazz evening with THE GREAT AMERICAN SONGBOOK at 9:00 PM

The program for the upcoming evenings until the end of the week is below:

– 11.07, 3:00 PM – Chamber recital DUO SUSPIRATIO

– 11.07, 9:00 PM – Pop-Rock evening THE MOTANS

– 12.07, 9:00 PM – Romanian music evening TARAFUL DE ORAȘ

– 13.07, 9:00 PM – Opera gala ORCHESTRA IONEL PERLEA

* Admission is free.

**Seats are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

**Description of this year’s edition of the “Musical Holidays“**

The opening and closing of the festival will feature classical music concerts. The opening will be by the “Serghei Lunchevici” Chișinău Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Mihail Agafița.

Jazz music lovers will be delighted by the “Big Band Boom” concert, featuring Berti Barbera and the Radio Big Band (conductor: Simona Strungaru).

Pop music will be present on the Musical Holidays stage with the band “The Motans.” Denis Roabeș, the band’s lead singer, composer, and lyricist, along with guitarist Damian Rusu, drummer Ali Said, bassist Matei Căpitanu, promises an unforgettable evening. The program for the evening of July 11 will include the band’s most famous and appreciated songs.

A musical event of this edition, which will delight the Musical Holidays audience, will be the concert of the Iancu Jianu taraf. Constantin Gaciu, one of Romania’s greatest cobza players, who founded the Oltenian group six years ago, brings traditional and fiddler music to the festival.

As with every edition, chamber recitals will not be missing. This year, they will feature established musicians – Mircea Lazăr (violin), Anton Niculescu (cello), Andrei Licareț (piano) – as well as young artists like accordionist Emmy Dumitru, a former student of the “Victor Brauner” Art High School in Piatra-Neamț.

Another highlight of chamber music is the recital by the “Suspiratio” duo, consisting of Magda-Eliza Maftei (mezzo-soprano) and Carles Dorador i Jové (theorbo). “From Italy to France – a Baroque Musical Journey” explores the theme of travel, both as an exploration of two countries and their distinctive stylistic features, and as a journey through various forms of vocal musical expression from the 17th century. Italian cantatas and arias will blend with typical French court arias, offering a wide range of emotions, from the joy of first love to disappointment, despair, and lamentation, designed as a deep wandering through the labyrinth of the human soul. The only means of expression are the voice and the theorbo (lute).

Not to be missed by music lovers is the concert titled “The Great American Songbook,” brought to the Musical Holidays stage by musicians Sorin Zlat (piano), Mihaela Alexa (voice), Sorin Zlat Sr. (saxophone), Adrian Flautistu (double bass), and Iulian Nicolau (drums).

“Story from Old Bucharest” is Friday night’s concert, featuring soloist Miruna Ionescu and members of the “City Band” – Valentin Albeșteanu (violin), Valentin Cucu (piano), Daniel Mustățea (accordion), Nicolae Petrea (double bass) – performing famous old and new songs, tunes hummed by many of us: “Let’s show you Bucharest at night,” “Candriu soul of a parrot,” “The chimney sweep,” “Por una cabeza,” “Heart, don’t be stone,” “I put basil in my hair,” “You have no idea,” “Ciuleandra,” “The March Hora,” “The postman’s cart.”

At the end of the 49th edition, on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at the Royal Court Plateau, the Opera Gala will take place. Under the musical direction of conductor Cătălin Toropoc, the “Ionel Perlea” Orchestra and soloists Alexandra Grigoraș, Claudia Caia, Relu Proca will perform.