Romanian Poetry and Music

With all the life events and social medial platforms, I’ve left my blog somewhere in a corner of my existence and didn’t post something in such long time, is a wonder I still get followers and appreciations for which I thank you with all my heart, your kindness leaving me humbled and deeply moved.

Last Wednesday left me with a deep nostalgy and yearning for my beloved homeland, Romania, and its mysterious beauty.  HE Mrs. Manuela Breazu, Ambassador of Romania in Republic of Ireland, and her team, organized an evening of Romanian poetry and music at the National Library of Ireland, as part of a programme celebrating Romania’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

When we arrived we’ve been welcomed and invited to try some amuse bouche, non alcoholic beverages and taste some Romanian wine. The wine, Umbrele, was from Cramele Recas winery, Chardonnay and Merlot, and because I drink almost only red wine, I’ve had some Umbrele Merlot and a sip, more of a little kiss of Umbrele Chardonnay from hubby’s glass. Umbrele wine is made exclusively for export. The Merlot has a smooth and juicy round taste with hints of plum and dark forest fruits, the tannins are subtle and not overpowering the fruity round taste. Even if I didn’t quite grasped the signification of the name of the wine, because depending on the accent when you say the word can mean umbrellas, which I doubt, or shadows, which I’m more inclined to believe is the name translated from Romanian, the wine was very tasty and I’ll keep and eye on the off licences to try to buy it.

As always when is about cultural events with Romanian music and any other type of art, I’m sold. HE Mrs. Breazu made the introductory remarks and presented the programme and the artists invited.

Barry McGovern, one of Ireland’s most experienced and skilled actors, with a long theatre, film, television and radio career, considered one of the greatest Beckett interpreters in the world, recited translated poems belonging to Mihai Eminescu, Gelu Naum, Marin Sorescu, Nichita Stanescu and Ion Minulescu. I was mesmerised by this great artist and was very happy to see that he dressed in the colours of Romanian flag, a very thoughtful touch.

Shannon Kuta Kelly, poet and music composer, native of Lincoln, Nebraska, based in Galway, Ireland, read from her poems and travel writings fondly remembering her travels in Romania. We love to see people surprised by the wonderfulness of Romania.

All this regal was interspersed with works of Romanian composers George Enescu, Constantin Dimitrescu, Bela Bartok, Vasile Jianu, Diamandi Gheciu, Stan Golestan, beautifully interpreted by Andreea Banciu, violonist, Adrian Mantu, cellist, of RTE ConTempo Quartet and Dubliner Dermot Dunne, accordionist. First time I saw the musicians during the first edition of Enescu International Chamber Music Festival 2017, in The Chapel Royal at Dublin Castle, and I was very impressed with their art.

I leave you here with my best wishes and with a great hope of many more wonderful events like this one.

RTÉ’s event Road to the Rising

On 6th of April 2015, Easter Monday, RTÉ in collaboration with Dublin City Council, An Post and the Ireland 2016 initiative, organized and conducted a wonderful event on Sackville Street, errrr sorry, O’Connel Street, Dublin 2, and in the vicinity, in which we explored the life as it was in 1915 in Ireland.

O’Connell Street, Dublin, Easter Monday 2015

Dubliners

The name of the event was Road to the Rising and with this occasion the former Sackville Street, was pedestrianised and with the help of volunteers dressed in costumes, vintage cars, vintage bicycles, carousel, mobile cinematograph, mobile library, transformed to look like an early 20th century cityscape.

  

It was great fun to explore the Irish national identity, the culture and the beauty of our nation. One large scene was placed near the corner of Cathal Brugha Street, and there I made a bit of fun of Irish people inability of pronouncing foreign names and words when the name of Gioc(hi)amo – giochiamo (it.) = we play 😛 Puccini (Giacomo Puccini). There, I found another great passion of mine, the band named Beoga, and heard an Irish song about a goat which went astray.

Another smaller scene was set on top of a restored open-front tram. A scene of a period wedding was recreated, and also a funeral with a horse-drawn hearse with two beautiful black horses.

What I like most about Ireland is the community spirit all around us and the way that for good and for worst, like in a perfect marriage, the officials, businesses and arts, support each other and make us value and pay attention of what is around us.

Congratulations to all, but especially to RTÉ, they went all the length and made sure we had a wonderful sunny day, I think that was special ordered for the day.

PS A vintage Nokia900 (my precious, what will I do when this one will break???) took all pics and filming, so please be kind.