The centennial of Romanian conductor and composer Sergiu Celibidache will be celebrated this year through the first edition of the festival bearing his name. The festival "Sergiu Celibidache 100", which marks 100 years since his birth, will be organized between May 3 and July 7 in Romania. It will include a series of masterclasses, movie screenings, photo exhibitions and concerts. Celibidache's composition 'Haz de necaz' (roughly translated as 'Making fun out of difficulties') will also be launched in a worldwide premiere during the event.

The eight-concert series will start on June 30 and end on July 7. All concerts will be held at the Romanian Athenaeum. Tickets for the event are priced at RON 65 and RON 75, depending on category. Buy tickets online here.

Masterclasses will be held for different instruments by Ida Haendel and Rony Rogoff – violin, Helmut Nicolai – chamber music, Dorin Marc- double bass, Michael Martin Kofler- flute, Wolfgang Gaag- brass, Enrique Garcia Asensio- conducting.

A photo exhibition showing fragments Celibidache's life, as well as a movie screening about his life, a documentary by his son, Serge Ioan Celibidache, are also included in the program. Screenings will take place at the Grand Cinema Digiplex in Băneasa. Serge Ioan Celibidache is the president of the Sergiu Celibidache foundation. The full festival program available here. 

Celibidache, who studied in Berlin, started his career at 33 as conductor at the Berlin Philarmonica after the Second World War. In 1979, he replaced the main conductor at the Munich Philarmonica. He was one of the most appreciated orchestra conductors of all time. He died in Paris, in 1996, aged 84. We wrote about him in our Famous Romanians article here.

editor@romania-insider.com