The Romanian Embassy in Italy organized an evening of Romanian music in Rome on December 1.  The Embassy held the special concert at Rome’s Parco della Musica Auditorium to celebrate the country’s 98th National Day.  On December 1, Romanians worldwide commemorate Great Union Day to mark the unification of Transylvania with Romanian in 1918.

One of the wings of the Parco della Musica was reserved for the special concert, while floral arrangements in Romania’s national colors draped the stage.

In his speech, Romanian Ambassador George Bologan noted his countries close economic ties to Italy and expressed the need for European Union solidarity to face emerging challenges.  He also expressed hope that the evening’s program would serve as a gift of music to evoke deep emotions and a sense of harmony among the gathered friends of Romania.

Evening of Romanian Music in Rome

The Oradea State Philharmonic Orchestra delighted the audience with a range of classical pieces such as Rhapsody Number 2 and Verdi’s La Forza del Destino (The Power of Fate).  Oradae, located near the Northwestern border with Hungary, began to gain prominence as a cultural hub in the 18th century after liberation from the Ottoman Empire.

The concert also included popular Transylvanian folk music with interactive videos displaying folk dances such as Hora.

Transylvania was already on my travel bucket list for 2017, but I will have to add Oradea to the list after the lovely concert and the opportunity to learn more about its cultural history.  The exquisite landscape photography displayed at the event certainly make a strong case for a visit.