This year’s Early Music Festival, dedicated to the works of Johann Sebastian Bach and taking place between October 31 and November 1, is set to consecrate the event even further on the likes of cultural entertainment.
Laurentiu Constatin, manager of the agency organizing the event, has stated that it is the second most important classical music festival on a national level, along with SoNoRo and after the George Enescu International Festival. However, concerning the festival’s focus on early music, it appears that it is the most important event of this manner in South-East Europe and people from beyond the border of Romania have previously tickets for the event, stated Constantin.
The 2010 edition of Early Music Festival is set to attract at least the previous editions’ attendance of 500 spectators per day, added Constantin. The festival’s music director, the Norwegian hapsichordist and conductor, Ketil Haugsand (in picture), stated that the festival is dedicated to early music since people of all ages appreciate it, considering that “this is not easy listening, this is honest music”.
According to studies in the area, since baroque music has a tempo of 60 beats per minute, it is considered to be very relaxing and increase learning abilities. And compared to contemporary music, as Haugsand added, Bach’s music has “no wrong notes” and “in four hundred years, many of nowadays’ hits will be forgotten, while Bach’s music won’t”, since it already withstood the test of the 325 years that have passed since the composer’s birth.
Early Music Festival will take place at Ateneul Roman. On October 30, the spectacle “Magnificat anima mea Dominum” will take place, on October 31, “At the Court of the Noble Harpsichord” will hold center stage, while on November 1, “Angel Voices” will be the day’s show, all starting at 19.00. Tickets cost RON 20, 40 or 65 and are available for purchase in the Eventim chain.
Corina Dumitrescu