Poetry recitals, book launches and exhibitions, conferences, lectures, film screenings and special courses for the study of poems of Romanian national poet Mihai Eminescu (in picture) are just some of the cultural activities organized in the Romanian Cultural Institutes (ICR) abroad, within the program to commemorate 124 years since the death of Romania’s national poet. The events are on between June 3 and June 29, 2013.

The program kicked off in Tel Aviv, where ICR commemorated Mihai Eminescu between June 3 and June 10, during its Romanian language courses.

On June 13, the program will continue in the U.S., where ICR New York will organize the Eminescu – An American Perspective (A Tribute to Mihai Eminescu – the Last Great Romantic Poet) event. The institute’s director in New York, Doina Uricariu, will give a short lecture on the life and work of the Romanian poet, while Adrian G. Sahlean - one of the best known translators of Eminescu's writings to English - will recite some of the artist’s poems. Moreover, pictures of the Romanian poet, of his manuscripts and covers of volumes in different Romanian and American editions will be screened during the event.

Between June 14 and June 29, ICR Chisinau will organize the Mihai Eminescu - 124 years after passing to eternity exhibition in the city’s public gardens. The exhibition will feature manuscripts and pictures of the Romanian poet.

On June 14, a recital by Romanian actor Dorel Visan will be organized by ICR Paris at Palace Behague’s Byzantine Hall. From Paris, Dorel Visan will go to Madrid - where he will hold his recital at Círculo de Bellas Artes, Antonio Palacios hall on June 16, and to Lisbon - where his recital is scheduled for June 20. In Lisbon, the Romanian artists’ performance will be accompanied by an exhibition of photographs and poems translated into Portuguese.

In Stockholm, ICR will screen the Eminescu – calatorie virtuala in absolut (Eminescu - a virtual journey to the absolute) documentary, directed by Anca Damian. The film will be screened on June 15 at Victoria Cinema, during the Romanian Film Festival.

Several cultural activities will also be organized by ICR in Istanbul, while on June 17, ICR Budapest will host a recital by the Romanian actor Emil Boroghina and a book exhibition - which will stay open to the public until August 17. Emil Boroghina will then go to Venice where he will give his recital on June 20, and to Rome - where his recital is scheduled for June 25.

The Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu will also be commemorated in Brussels, where ICR will organize a poetry recital by Ilie Gheorghe and a book exhibition on June 18. In London, Ilie Gheorghe will give a recital on June 20, while in Warsaw, his recital is scheduled for June 21.

The Romanian Cultural Institute in Prague will organize the Eminescu Day  on June 24, 2013, while ICR Vienne will celebrate the Romanian poet on June 28.

Mihai Eminescu – 1850 – 1889 was one of the most important Romanian poets and writers and is considered the national poet.

Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com