The Transylvania State Philharmonic Orchestra () or Cluj-Napoca Philharmonic, based in
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca ( ; ), or simply Cluj ( , ), is a city in northwestern Romania. It is the second-most populous city in the country and the seat of Cluj County. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest (), Budapest () and Belgrade ( ...
, has grown to a valuable institution of music, having a sustained presence in the Romanian and European cultural space.
History
As an artistic institution dedicated exclusively to concert activities, The Cluj-Napoca Philharmonic was founded through an official decree of Romania’s Council of Ministers, in the autumn of 1955, carrying the name ''"The Transylvania State Philharmonic Cluj-Napoca"''. At that time, the symphonic orchestra had 75 musicians and the ensemble of traditional music had 20 members. Under the supervision of Maestro Wilhelm Demian, the members of the new institution were selected. Maestro Antonin Ciolan was appointed
principal conductor
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance, such as an orchestral or choral concert. It has been defined as "the art of directing the simultaneous performance of several players or singers by the use of gesture." The primary duties o ...
of the symphonic ensemble. The first concert took place on December 4, 1955.
Nonetheless, the tradition of symphonic activity in Cluj-Napoca has its history since the beginning of the 19th century, maintained by associations like The Orchestra of the
Cluj-Napoca National Theatre
The Lucian Blaga National Theatre ( Romanian: Teatrul Național ''Lucian Blaga'') is in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, sharing its building with the Romanian Opera.
Building
The theatre was built between 1904 and 1906 by the Austrian architects Ferdinan ...
, Music Society and Music Circle. During the inter-war period, there ware series of symphonic events, sustained by the orchestras of the
Cluj-Napoca Romanian Opera
The Romanian National Opera, Cluj-Napoca () is one of the national opera and ballet companies of Romania. The Opera shares the same building with the National Theatre in Cluj-Napoca.
History
The Romanian Opera was officially opened on 18 Sep ...
, Hungarian Theatre and by an orchestra belonging to the city’s Jewish community, called ''"Goldmark Orchestra"''. In 1947, there was the first attempt to found a concert institution – The ''"Ardealul" Philharmonic'', which had a short existence of two seasons, but which set the basis for what the cultural life in Cluj-Napoca was to become.
Due to Maestro Ciolan’s experience and the training of the young musicians from the Music Academy in Cluj-Napoca (called the Music Conservatory at that time), the Philharmonic’s progress was extremely fast. It soon became an important name among the national artistic values.
In 1966, the Chamber Orchestra was founded, under the baton of the well-known Mircea Cristescu. In 1965, the Philharmonic organized the first edition of its own yearly festival, Cluj Musical Autumn. In 1972, under the composer
Sigismund Toduță
Sigismund Toduță (17 May 1908 in Simeria – 3 July 1991 in Cluj-Napoca) was a Romanian composer, musicologist, and professor.
Biography
Toduță graduated from the Conservatory of Music and Dramatic Art in Cluj in 1936. His instructors inclu ...
’s directorship, the Philharmonic’s Choir was founded and trained by Maestro Dorin Pop, followed by Florentin Mihăescu and Cornel Groza.
The choir as a whole provided voices to the soundtrack of the 2004
film
A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...
''
The Passion of The Christ
''The Passion of the Christ'' is a 2004 American epic biblical drama film co-produced and directed by Mel Gibson from a screenplay he wrote with Benedict Fitzgerald. It stars Jim Caviezel as Jesus of Nazareth, Maia Morgenstern as the Bl ...
''.
See also
*
Academic College
Notes
*
*
References
External links
www.filarmonicatransilvania.ro- Official site
{{authority control
Romanian orchestras
Culture of Transylvania
Musical groups established in 1955
1955 establishments in Romania