Royal Charitable Concert at the Romanian Athenaeum on October 25th, supporting Romania’s Young Talents

Exceptional musicians will perform at the Romanian Athenaeum on October 25th to support the new generation of talented young people in Romania. The Royal Charitable Concert, organized by the Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation, will bring prominent figures from the European opera stage to the Romanian Athenaeum, including tenor Ioan Hotea, conductor Gabriel Bebeșelea, and mezzo-soprano Martiniana Antonie. In the presence of members of the Royal Family of Romania, they will deliver a special performance of generosity and authentic values.

The proceeds from the Royal Concert tickets and sponsors will provide the necessary funding for young musicians and visual artists from financially challenged families to receive scholarships and support through the Young Talents national program. Details are available at www.frmr.ro/concert-regal.

As every year, this remarkable event represents a gathering point for many supporters of art and culture, including diplomatic representatives, cultural personalities, business leaders, as well as donors, sponsors, and sympathizers of Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation. Thanks to the support for a noble cause, the Foundation aims to fund 30 scholarships each year through the Young Talents program. Through these scholarships, young musicians and visual artists receive financial support to cover expenses related to their artistic development and access vital career opportunities, such as masterclasses, mentoring sessions with artistic luminaries, and participation in significant artistic events.

On October 25th, the 14th edition of the Royal Charitable Concert brings together tenor Ioan Hotea and mezzo-soprano Martiniana Antonie on the stage of the Romanian Athenaeum, along with the Romanian Youth Orchestra conducted by Gabriel Bebeșelea.

”I am honored to be invited to participate in the Royal Charitable Concert, especially due to its noble purpose of supporting and promoting talented, ambitious young individuals who are at the beginning of their journey but lack financial support. The role taken on by Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation in supporting these young people is, of course, vital for the future of the new generations of artists. I am delighted to share the stage for the first time with the young and very talented mezzo-soprano Martiniana Antonie, with Maestro Gabriel Bebeșelea, with whom I made my debut in W. A. Mozart’s Don Giovanni 10 years ago on the stage of the UNMB opera studio, and later on the stage of the National Opera in Bucharest. Last but not least, I am pleased to collaborate for the first time with the Romanian Youth Orchestra, which is made up of young, highly skilled instrumentalists, an orchestra that I have only heard praised,” says Ioan Hotea, a successful tenor on famous world stages and a laureate of numerous singing competitions, including Placido Domingo’s Operalia, London 2015, and Hariclea Darclée 2015 Grand Prix.

”I received the invitation to be a soloist at the Royal Concert with great joy and emotion. I am deeply honored, after 7 years, to have the opportunity to return and perform in front of the Royal Family and the Romanian elite audience. It will be a special concert, a chance to sing alongside the wonderful tenor Ioan Hotea, under the baton of Maestro Bebeșelea, the mentor who guided my steps to the Rossinian Academy in Pesaro, where I made my operatic debut. It is a concert of gratitude for the two precious years in which I was a scholarship recipient of the Young Talents program, a period that significantly influenced my artistic development and opened doors to extraordinary opportunities, without which I would have not been where I am today. Romania needs art, and talented young people need support and a conducive environment in which to evolve. Romania needs Young Talents!” declares mezzo-soprano Martiniana Antonie.

The musical program of the evening consists of a selection of the most beautiful opera and operetta works, famous arias and duets extracted from creations by composers such as Rossini, Bizet, Gounod, and Richard Strauss.

In the foyer of the Romanian Athenaeum, the audience attending the gala evening can admire the exhibition created by young visual artists, scholarship recipients of the Young Talents program, guided by mentor Prof. Dr. Ion Anghel, during the interdisciplinary creative camp in Balchik in August of this year.

The Royal Concert traditionally takes place on October 25th – the birthday of King Michael I of Romania, the founder of the Foundation alongside Her Majesty Margareta, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown. Each anniversary concert edition has brought to the stage of the Romanian Athenaeum the most valuable musicians of the moment and great orchestras in support of young Romanian artists.

Romania needs art!

Enthusiasts of classical music and art can actively contribute to supporting young talents by attending the Royal Charitable Concert and purchasing tickets. Companies also have the opportunity to become sponsors of the Young Talents program. The funds raised through these initiatives will have a significant impact on the development of young, early-career artists in the coming year, providing them with scholarships, mentorship, and essential promotion. Without this support, talented young people in Romania may struggle to reach, or even realize their true potential.

Over time, the funds accumulated from sponsorships and donations raised at the Royal Charitable Concert have exceeded 1.8 million euros, representing a significant investment in the artistic future of our country. To date, 410 scholarships have been awarded to talented young people coming from low-income backgrounds, and with the support provided by mentors and sustained promotion, they have achieved remarkable success at both national and international levels. The Young Talents program has been recognized as the Best Arts and Culture Program in Romania four times, awarded in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2022 at the Civil Society Gala.

The Royal Charitable Concert will be broadcast live on TVR Cultural and Radio Romania Muzical.

Co-producers: TVR Cultural, Radio România Muzical

With the support of: Filarmonica George Enescu, Centrul Național de Artă „Tinerimea Română”

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About the Young Talents national program

Many talented children come from families whose financial means do not allow them to pursue their talents. As a result, Romania loses dozens of talented young people every year who could otherwise become cultural ambassadors. Romania needs art! In response to this problem, the Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation created a national program in 2009 to support, guide, and promote these talented young artists who come from low-income families and need financial support to achieve their true potential and express their talents. 410 scholarships have been awarded to young people between the ages of 14 and 24 who study music or visual arts in high schools and universities in Romania. They have been helped to overcome financial difficulties and continue to express their artistic value. The Royal Foundation is the sole beneficiary of the Royal Charitable Concert, organized annually since 2008, and the funds raised from ticket sales and sponsorships are dedicated to the Young Talents project.

About Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation

The Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation was founded in 1990 by King Michael I of Romania and Her Majesty Margareta, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown. With 33 years of activity, the Foundation supports children, young people, and the elderly through sustainable interventions based on the exchange of experience and values between generations. Over time, the Foundation has been involved in numerous social, cultural, and educational support projects and artistic talent. More details about the Foundation’s programs are available at www.frmr.ro.