What to do this weekend

At a loose end? BR brings you the best of Bucharest’s cultural highlights for the weekend ahead.

GEORGE ENESCU FESTIVAL

Friday, September 13, 19.30

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LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

Palace Grand Hall

Conductor : VLADIMIR JUROWSKY

Soloist : ANIKA VAVIC – piano

Programme :

N. Rimsky-Korsakov – Russian Easter Festival Overture op. 36

S. Prokofiev – Concerto no. 3 for piano and orchestra in C Major op. 26

A. Bruckner – Symphony no. 1 in c minor WAB 101

Friday, September 13, 22.30

ORCHESTRE de CHAMBRE de LAUSANNE

Romanian Atheneum

Conductor and soloist : CHRISTIAN ZACHARIAS

Soloists : FRANÇOIS SOCHARD – vioară

ELI KARANFILOVA – violă

Programme :

W.A. Mozart – Symphonie concertante for violin, viola and orchestra in E flat Major K 364

W.A. Mozart – Concerto no. 15 for piano and orchestra in B flat Major K 450

W.A. Mozart – Symphony no. 40 in g minor K 550

Saturday, September 14, 23.00

ORCHESTRE de CHAMBRE de LAUSANNE

Romanian Atheneum

Conductor and soloist: CHRISTIAN ZACHARIAS

Programme :

W.A. Mozart – Serenade no. 9 in D Major K 320 “Posthorn” (first four movements)

W.A. Mozart – Concerto no. 23 for piano and orchestra in A Major K 488

W.A. Mozart – Fantasy no. 3 for piano in d minor K 397

W.A. Mozart – Rondo for piano in D Major K 485

W.A. Mozart – Serenade no. 9 in D Major K 320 ”Posthorn” (last three movements)

Sunday, September 15

Business Review recommends: Wagner series

RUNDFUNK – SINFONIEORCHESTER BERLIN

Palace Grand Hall

Conductor : MAREK JANOWSKI

Programme :

R. Wagner – Das Rheingold  WWV 86A

Soloists :

Wotan – EGILS SILINS

Donner – VALENTIN VASILIU  (Bucharest National Opera)

Froh – MARIUS VLAD BUDOIU

Loge – CHRISTIAN ELSNER

Alberich – MARTIN WINKLER

Mime – ARNOLD BEZUYEN

Fasolt – GÜNTHER GROISSBÖCK

Fafner – SORIN COLIBAN

Fricka – ELISABETH KULMAN

Freia – ALEXANDRA REINPRECHT

Erda – DANIELA DENSCHLAG

Woglinde – JULIA BORCHERT

Wellgunde – ALINA BOTTEZ

Flosshilde – SORANA NEGREA

Performance subtitled in Romanian 

OUTDOOR  

Caragiale’s Bucharest Festival

Until September 15

Old City, Children’s World Park, Conu’ Iancu’s restaurant

Until September 15, the State Jewish Theater, Tandarica Theater, Comedy Theater, Metropolis Theater, Masca Theater, Nottara Theater, National University of Theater and Film and Hyperion University  presents the second edition of Caragiale’s Bucharest Festival. The event will include comedy, classical, modern theater and music hall performances, but also various-genre music, which can be seen in Old City, Children’s World Park and Conu’ Iancu’s restaurant at  Hala Traian.

In terms of music, the festival’s organizers prepared fanfare music, Romanian traditional folk music sung by the famous Maria Tanase, operreta and opera music.

The admission is free of charge. The entire program of the festival can be seen here, in Romanian language only.

FestItalia (in picture)

Herastrau Park

September 12-18, from 18.00

A miniature Italy will be brought to Bucharest in FestItalia event, by recreating typical Italian celebrations. The festival will take place in Herastrau park between September 12 and September 18.

On September 14, 17.00, Parada association will stage the Paradise show, while at 20.30 the band Gruppo Musicale Artegiovane (in picture) will present the Europe past present and future event.

September 15 brings a circus show presented by Parada Romania foundation, affiliated to Parada Italia, followed by a classical music concert and “improvised” performances of anonymous musicians.

More about this event, here.

Balkanik Festival

September 13-15

Gradina Uranus

A celebration of the new Balkan spirit, tradition and authenticity through music, dance and much joy will start on September 13 in the Uranus Garden (144 Uranus Street, between George Cosbuc Flower Market and The Ark), this year celebrating the great Romanian singer Maria Tanase. The Balkanik Festival is the first event showcasing Balkan music and culture in Romania, and at its center is humanity, multiculturalism and expression in its purest form.

Like the previous one, this third run of the event will last three days and three nights, with the chief draw being musicians of international stature from Serbia, Hungary, Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania.

More about this event, here.

EXHIBITION

Visual Power: 21st Century Native American Artists/ Intellectuals

America 24/7

The National Library

The American Bucharest Corner was inaugurated on June 20 at the National Library and two exhibitions take place: “Visual Power: 21st Century Native American Artists/ Intellectuals.” which shows Native American contributions as scholars, professors, museum curators, and writers as well as makers of traditional fine arts, video and photography to document their cultural heritage and their struggle for sovereignty and a second poster exhibit, “America 24/7”, accompanied by a book, the result of a project by American author and publisher, David Elliot Cohen, and American photographer, Rick Smolan.  More than 25,000 digital photographers across the U.S. – including 36 Pulitzer Prize winners – responded to the invitation to take pictures of their towns, families, neighbors and friends for 24 hours a day for seven days.  The best photos capturing the diverse authentic America were included in the exhibit. More details, here.

Q.E.D. by Mircea Cantor

The National Museum of Contemporary Art

Until April 2014

More than 1,200 people have attended the opening of the first local solo exhibition of one of the most important young artists to emerge on the international scene over the last decade: Mircea Cantor, winner of the Prix Marcel Duchamp Award 2011. The QED exhibition, the largest survey of the artist’s works to date, comprises 30 pieces. More details here.

Oana Vasiliu