The Romanian Radio National Orchestra (Romanian: Orchestra Națională Radio România; AKA: National Radio Orchestra of Romania, Radio Symphony Orchestra Bucharest, Bucharest National Radio Orchestra) is the symphony orchestra part of the Romanian Radio Orchestras and Choirs. Concerts are held during all season at the "Mihail Jora" Concert Studio, well known as Sala Radio (Radio Concert Hall), located in Bucharest (Romania), 60-64 General Berthelot Street.
The specificity, repertoire and history of the Romanian Radio National Orchestra have defined for almost a century the national culture, in the field of music performance and broadcasting in Romania. Back in 1928 when the national radiostation started to broadcast, the Romanian Radio Symphonic Orchestra was founded at the initiative and under the directorship of composer Mihail Jora. Over decades, great Romanian conductors have directed the ensemble's performances: Ionel Perlea, Alfred Alessandrescu, Theodor Rogalski, Constantin Silvestri, Iosif Conta, Emanuel Elenescu, Horia Andreescu, as well asprestigious guests such as George Enescu, Sergiu Comissiona, Ion Baciu, Christian Badea, Cristian Mandeal. Currently, Tiberiu Soare is the principal conductor of the Romanian Radio Orchestras and Choirs.
Recently, important Romanian artists or international prestigious guests have given exquisite performances together with the Romanian Radio National Orchestra: conductors - Igor Markevitch, Ion Marin, Michel Plasson, Valentin Radu, Maxim Şostakovici, Neil Thomson, Julien Salemkour, Carlo Zecchi; famous vocal soloists such as Montserrat Caballé, Eliane Coelho, Ileana Cotrubas, Ruxandra Donose, Angela Gheorghiu, Teodora Gheorghiu, Cynthia Laurence, Elena Moşuc, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti; great pianists - Radu Lupu, Martha Argerich, Valentin Gheorghiu, Dan Grigore, Sviatoslav Richter, Mihaela Ursuleasa, Horia Mihail; violinists - Ivry Gitlis, Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern, David Oistrakh, Maxim Vengerov, Vadim Repin, Alexandru Tomescu, Gabriel Croitoru; cellists - Natalia Gutman, Mstislav Rostropovich, Franz Helmerson, Alexandr Rudinand many others.
The most important aspect of the Romanian Radio National Orchestra’s activity is the complex repertoire which includes representative musical genres of all periods - from Baroque to contemporary music. And, more than any other symphonic ensemble, the Romanian Radio National Orchestra's most honourable mission is to present creations of Romanian composers. In this respect, the Orchestra is the Romania’s leading ensemble in terms of Romanian composers premieres. It promotes the national music creations from all periods up to the very latest contemporary works, in performances for concert halls, radio transmissions and in special recordings on compact disc or for the Romanian Radio Archive Collection. Quite often concerts are broadcast also internationally through the European Broadcasting Union.
The Romanian Radio National Orchestra’s performing at high standards has been many times awarded prestigious national and international prizes, including the Charles Cros - France, Puerta del Sol - Uruguay and Koussevitzky - USA. Concert tours in France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, Russia, Hungary, Turkey, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, Japan and China, as well as participation in prestigious international festivals have also increased renown of the Romanian Radio National Orchestra. |