With the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the “Madrigal – Marin Constantin” National Chamber Choir foundation, Romfilatelia introduces into circulation the postage stamp issue Madrigal Choir, 55 years. The new issue will be available on Tuesday, February 27th 2018, in Romfilatelia’ own shops network in Bucharest, Bacau, Brașov, Cluj-Napoca, Iași and Timișoara and online on https://romfilatelia.ro/store/.
On the stamp with the face value of Lei 8 is reproduced the portrait of Marin Constantin (1925-2011), the founder and mentor of the Choir, the release date of the postage stamp being the birthdate of the master.
The “Madrigal – Marin Constantin” National Chamber Choir is an emblem of Romanian and universal musical life, and in 2018 it turns 55 years of uninterrupted activity. Since it was founded, in 1963, by conductor Marin Constantin, the Madrigal Choir has claimed almost 4,500 concerts applauded around the world. The ensemble has become a world-class chamber music choir, officially recognized in 2016 as the Ambassador of Freedom, Hope and Peace, a title received at the United Nations General Assembly, in Geneva.
The Madrigal Choir is the most appreciated professional choral ensemble in Romania, actively involved in the development of the choral movement in the country, through the Cantus Mundi National Programme. Since its early years, the Madrigal Choir has become an appreciated presence on the most important European scenes, and the critics have compared the performance of the choir and the conductor with a “Stradivarius violin in the hands of Paganini” (Dobrica Stevanović, 1968).
The choir’s repertoire includes hundreds of European Renaissance works, Byzantine music, classic Romanian music, traditional carols, contemporary compositions and instrumental vocal works. In fact, even the name of the ensemble denotes the inclination towards medieval creation, the madrigal being a short vocal, polyphonic, lyrical composition specific to the 16th century.
Since its inception, the Madrigal Choir has had a European trajectory, being present at festivals in major musical cities on the continent. The ensemble was always received enthusiastically by audiences, who frequently called these musicians “Les Champions, Les Champions”. Since 1964, the Madrigal has participated in all editions of the “George Enescu” International Festival. Today, the choral ensemble brings the European spirit into the minds and hearts of children, along with the love for choral singing, through the Cantus Mundi National Programme. The Madrigal Choir is the initiator and promoter of the most extensive social integration movement through choral singing in Romania. Launched in 2011, voluntarily, at the initiative of conductor Ion Marin, the idea, that has become the Cantus Mundi National Programme since 2014, has grown remarkably. More than 30,000 Romanian children have joined this national movement, with more than 800 children’s choirs being registered online at www.cantusmundi.com.
For the members of the choir, the Madrigal is a real school, for Romania, it is a national brand, and for Europe it is a relevant part of the continent’s cultural heritage.
The postage stamp issue is completed by a First Day Cover, as page composition there were used the sheet of 32 stamps and a minisheet of 8 stamps + 1 label.
Romfilatelia thanks the “Madrigal – Marin Constantin” National Chamber Choir for its documentary and photographic support given for the creation of this postage stamp issue.
For further information, please contact the Public Relation Office:
Tel: 021 / 337 24 42
roxana.herascu@romfilatelia.ro
