“Perfection! When I listened to the Madrigal Choir singing, I had the most certain sense of perfection!” – Leopold Stokowsky
The National Chamber Choir “Madrigal – Marin Constantin” symbolises the Romanian and universal musical life. Since its founding by the legendary musician and conductor Marin Constantin (1925–2011) in 1963, the Madrigal Choir performed over 4,500 acclaimed concerts worldwide, considered an authentic Romanian cultural brand. It is one of the world standards of chamber choral music, recognised by its unique concept, defined by its specific sonority, stereophonic location on stage and impressive costumes. The Choir’s repertoire is focused on the European Renaissance, Gregorian and Byzantine scores, traditional carols, and the compositions of classical or contemporary Romanian and universal creation.
Currently, the National Chamber Choir “Madrigal – Marin Constantin” is a public institution of concerts of national importance within the Romanian Ministry of Culture. The Honorary Director of the ensemble is the renowned international conductor Ion Marin, and since 2014, the institution is managed by Emil Pantelimon. The principal conductor of the Madrigal Choir is Anna Ungureanu – a disciple and follower of the Maestro Marin Constantin, and since 2016, the second conductor is Cezar-Mihail Verlan.
In November 2016, the National Chamber Choir “Madrigal – Marin Constantin” was officially recognised as an Ambassador of Freedom, Hope and Peace, receiving the “Jean Nussbaum and Eleanor Roosevelt” Award at the United Nations Palace in Geneva, during the Global Summit of Religion, Peace and Security.
In 2019, in addition to the Extraordinary Christmas and Easter tours and concerts, the ensemble performed in La Cetra d’Orfeo “Ay Amor!”, a project directed by the Belgian musician Michel Keustermans at the “George Enescu” International Festival, and in November, the female voice parties (soprano and viola) joined the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Maestro Ion Marin, for the concert “Doppelfenster: Beethoven und Pergolesi“.
In the complex cultural circumstances of 2020, the Madrigal Choir hosted the outdoor Summer Season, with five concerts, each with distinctive themes, repertoires, costumes and artistic concepts: “Hora staccato”, “Madrigal sings to the children”, “The Renaissance Music”, “Choral Jewellery” and “Ave Maria”.
Recently, the Choir launched the videos of its famous Extraordinary Christmas and Easter Concerts, conducted by Anna Ungureanu and Cezar-Mihail Verlan, which can be accessed for free on the newly created online platform – Madrigal App – app.madrigal.ro, as well as five new record albums (with Roton Music) – three labels “Madrigal de Crăciun”/”Madrigal for Christmas” (awarded with the Golden Record) and two dedicated to the Easter holidays – “Ave Maria”, conductor Anna Ungureanu and “Holy Week”, conductor Cezar-Mihail Verlan.
Since 2011, the institution has been coordinating the Cantus Mundi National Program, the most extensive social integration program through music for children in Romania, initiated by Maestro Ion Marin. The program brings together over 1,660 choirs and 60,000 children from Romania and the Romanian Diaspora.
More information about the Madrigal Choir can be found at madrigal.ro.
