Mixed Choir Ioan Dumitru Chirescu

Cernavoda, Romania

Manuel Balanica conductor


About


Mixed choir I.D. Chirescu, founded 124 years ago, is the oldest section of the cultural institution, but also the "pride" of the city, bearing a history and musical tradition over time. "I.D. Chirescu", the oldest choir from Dobrogea, but also one of the oldest in the country, had its first appearance at the inauguration of the bridge over the Danube - "Carol I", built by Anghel Saligny. Throughout the time, the choral ensemble has participated in numerous festivals and competitions, both in the country and abroad: Caransebes, Focsani, Intorsura Buzaului, Călarasi, Topoloveni, Braila, Cluj-Napoca, Sfantu Gheorghe, Karditsa and Kalamos - Greece; Silistra, Dobrich, Obrochiste and Balcic - Bulgaria; Krsko - Slovenia; Rome - Italy; Chisinau - Republic of Moldova, receiving numerous awards and prizes, last one in 2018 - 1st Prize at "Ludovic Paceag Choir Festival" - Tulcea, Romania.

Currently, the choral ensemble is coordinated by the conductor Manuel Vasile Bălănică and it is composed of 30 members (young and adults), some of whom have a musical activity for more than 40 years. Mr. Bălănică is studying music at Ovidius University Constanta; he had just finished the 1st year at the Faculty of Arts. He has sung in Chirescu choir for many years as a tenor.

Cernavoda is a town situated on Danube's shore, near Constanta and the Black Sea. Is the only city in Romania which has a nuclear power plant. Many prehistoric artifacts was found in Cernavoda, among them being the statues "Hamangian thinker" and "Sitting women". Also, the famous Anghel Saligny Bridge is in Cernavoda.




Repertoire


Title Composer Lyrics
COMPETITION
Rum dum dum Dragan Shuplevski (1933-2001) Macedonian folk lyrics
Bogoroditse Devo
(Rejoice, o Virgin Theotokos)
Serghei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) Russian religious
Morarul (The Miller) D.G Kiriac (1866-1928) Romanian folk lyrics
La Paloma (The Dove) Sebastian de Iradier (1809–1865)
Se equivoco la paloma
(The dove has mistaken)
Carlos Guastavino (1912–2000) Rafael Alberti (1902-1999)
Foaie verde viorea
(Green leaf bluebell)
Stefan Popescu Moldavian folk lyrics
FOLK
Zamfira Gheorghe Danga (1905-1959) Romanian folk lyrics
Hai, Dunarea mea!
(Come on, my Danube!)
Sorin Vînătoru (1912-1997) Romanian folk lyrics
Karagouna Stefanos Eftimiadis Greek folk dance lyrics