The 51st International Festival “Musical Holidays in Piatra-Neamț”

5–11 July 2026

This year’s edition of the International Festival “Musical Holidays in Piatra-Neamț” once again brings together some of the most distinguished Romanian musicians and ensembles. Maintaining its international character, the organizer – the “Carmen Saeculare” Centre for Culture and Arts- has also invited renowned artists from abroad.

Music lovers will enjoy seven evenings of outstanding performances, comprising ten musical events, including concerts and recitals. Seven of these events will take place at 9:00 p.m. on the forecourt of the Princely Court, while the remaining three will be held at 7:00 p.m. in the “Calistrat Hogaș” Hall of the Neamț County Council.

 Day One

The festival opens with the “Mihail Jora” Philharmonic Orchestra of Bacău, conducted by Tiberiu Soare.

The soloists of the opening evening are soprano Adina Vilichi (a native of Neamț County who is currently performing in Florence, Italy) and baritone William Hernandez (Costa Rica).

Sunday, 5 July 2026
Princely Court Square, 9:00 p.m.

Opening Concert

Mihail Jora Philharmonic Orchestra – Bacău

Conductor: Tiberiu Soare

Soloists:

• Adina Vilichi – soprano
• William Hernandez – baritone (Costa Rica)

Programme

• W. A. Mozart – The Marriage of Figaro – Overture
• Puccini – La Bohème – Musetta’s Waltz (“Quando me’n vo”)
• W. A. Mozart – Don Giovanni – “Deh vieni alla finestra”
• Donizetti – Don Pasquale – “Pronta io son”
• Bizet – Carmen – Toreador Song / Prelude & Aragonaise (Suite No. 1)
• Donizetti – Don Pasquale – Norina: “Quel guardo il cavaliere”
• W. A. Mozart – The Marriage of Figaro – “Non più andrai”
• W. A. Mozart – Don Giovanni – “Là ci darem la mano”
• Mascagni – Cavalleria Rusticana – Intermezzo
• Charles Gounod – Roméo et Juliette – “Je veux vivre”
• Bizet – Carmen – “Votre toast”
• W. A. Mozart – The Magic Flute – “Pa-pa-pa” (Papageno & Papagena)

 The Mihail Jora Philharmonic Orchestra of Bacău is one of Romania’s longest-standing cultural institutions and is widely regarded as one of the country’s finest orchestras.

Founded in October 1956, the orchestra has continuously developed thanks to the outstanding professionalism of its musicians and the dedication of permanent conductors such as Igor Ciornei, Eugen Pricope, and Ovidiu Bălan.

Today, the orchestra comprises around 75 accomplished musicians, performing a rich repertoire of symphonic, vocal-symphonic, and chamber music spanning various musical periods and styles.

In addition to its regular concert season and its ongoing commitment to music education and community engagement, the Philharmonic organizes several national and international festivals, including “Enescu – The Moldavian Orpheus”, “Contemporary Music Days”—Romania’s longest-running festival dedicated to contemporary music—and the Bacău Music Evenings Festival.

One of the orchestra’s greatest recognitions has been its invitation to perform alongside some of the world’s leading orchestras at the last five editions of the prestigious George Enescu International Festival.

Day Two – Tango Takes Center Stage at the Musical Holidays Festival

The festival’s second evening brings tango into the spotlight. The passionate rhythms of Argentine music will be paired—as they naturally should be—with dance.

Two artistic ensembles will perform together in a seamless production. While the Cluj Tango Orchestra, in an outstanding line-up led by Iulia Merca, will provide the musical performance, the “Atelierul de Tango” Dance School from Iași will complement the concert with choreographed tango performances.

The mezzo-soprano of the Romanian National Opera in Cluj-Napoca will perform some of the best-known masterpieces of Argentine music, accompanied by six instrumentalists from Cluj under the direction of bandoneon player Sorin Robert Indrei.

Further details about all festival events can be found on the website of the organizer, the “Carmen Saeculare” Centre for Culture and Arts.

https://www.culturaneamt.ro/

The Story Behind a Festival that Became a Landmark of Piatra-Neamț

More than five decades after its founding, the Musical Holidays Festival remains one of the cultural landmarks of Piatra-Neamț.

Reflecting on its beginnings, the current organizers quote the memories of Alexandru Moroșanu, who recalls:

“The Musical Holidays Festival in Piatra-Neamț was truly an extraordinary phenomenon. It all started with a brilliant idea from one of Romania’s greatest conductors after Constantin Silvestri—Ion Baciu.

The initial challenge concerned the practical training of music students. Professor Achim Stoia was looking for a way to provide meaningful practical experience for them. Ion Baciu—who played a decisive role in my own professional career and became like a spiritual father to me—came up with the idea.

At the time, Baciu was already conducting the remarkable student ensemble known as the SUPER Orchestra, an orchestra he had built almost single-handedly into what could be described as his own ‘Stradivarius.’

His proposal was to organize a student music festival where the students themselves would perform while also fulfilling their compulsory practical training requirements. In other words, they would enjoy an active summer holiday.

Mihail Cozmei was then Dean of the Conservatory as well as Secretary of the Party Organization, while Achim Stoia served as Rector. They embraced Baciu’s proposal and helped turn it into reality, as Baciu himself was heavily engaged in other professional commitments.

In fact, the Musical Holidays Festival was a collective achievement. I have never liked the idea of attributing its creation to a single individual. One brilliant mind—Ion Baciu—provided the inspiration, but many others were needed to transform that inspiration into a living festival.

Baciu’s idea alone would not have been enough. Neither would the efforts of Stoia and Cozmei without the vision of Potîngă, or the dedication of Bunghez, who stood by the project from its earliest days.

In the end, it was the combined efforts of five people that made the festival possible.”

The complete story of the origins of the Musical Holidays Festival is available on the website of the “Carmen Saeculare” Centre for Culture and Arts.

https://www.culturaneamt.ro/file-de-istorie-cultrala-de-unde-ideea-si-cum-a-pornit-la-drum-festivalul-vacante-muzicale/