
The Classix in Focus discussion series put into perspective a number of issues closely related *or not* to classical music in the contemporary context and in relation to a suite of constantly evolving paradigms. Their role is to facilitate artistic, educational, interdisciplinary and business collaborations, between those just starting out and professionals in the field, both from Romania and abroad.

#newTogether movie screening
Documentary film produced by the Austrian Cultural Forum Bucharest
What it is now, we know; but what will we do after? During the quarantine period (lockdown) instituted after the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, the Austrian Cultural Forum Bucharest invited 60 artists from Austria and Romania to reflect on their own artistic future, as well as how their art and communities ours may change during and after the end of the health crisis. The video interventions they sent were posted on the pages of FCA Bucharest and Radio Romania Cultural on social networks. Very quickly, they attracted the attention of tens of thousands of people in both countries.
Considering this success, the FCA Bucharest team decided to entrust the well-known and appreciated Romanian theater and film director, Carmen Lidia Vidu, with the production of a large-scale documentary, starting from the video materials of the participating artists.
The documentary #newTogether is a true dictionary of ideas and situations during the pandemic and, at the same time, a new project in the local cinematographic landscape. It was initiated and produced, as a pioneer, by a (foreign) cultural institute, an actor of cultural diplomacy, and not by a film production company.
Concept – Thomas Kloiber / Andrei Popov
Directed by Carmen-Lidia Vidu
Editor/Animation/Sound – Cristina Baciu
A project supported by Raiffeisen Bank Romania
Duration – 54′
Production Austria/Romania
Language – Romanian, English; Romanian subtitles
Vernissage "Heroines"
The Heroines exhibition is a celebration of the courage, dedication and perseverance of all women who boldly defied the social norms of their times. It brings together portraits of prominent figures of the Czech Republic and Romania, who have had or continue to have important contributions to social, cultural, scientific and economic development and progress. The aim is to convey their impressive stories, but also to pay tribute to those who fought for the world we know today – a world where freedom and equality are fundamental rights, recognized for all social classes.
The “Heroines” are brought to Iași with the support of the Czech Center and the House of Museums (National Museum of Romanian Literature Iași), to whom we thank for their support!
The participants of the opening give their consent to the use of photographic images and audio and video recordings for the purpose of promoting the activities of the festival. Public access is free.


Lecture in Focus
Lecture: Always exceptional? About women composers of the 20th and 21st centuries
ASTRID KVALBEIN – Director of the Norwegian Academy of Music, soprano, musicologist,
The lecture is aimed at all music students, from singers to instrumentalists, composers, musicologists and pedagogues.
Still outstanding?
In the 20th and 21st centuries, women composers claimed space and gained many prestigious positions in the Western music world. Yet they are still addressed as exceptional, in the media, at festivals and concert programs, in teaching and historical writing.
Is it possible to imagine a future where female composers are no longer the exception to the rule(s)? Astrid Kvalbein will explore this question in her lecture, through historical and recent examples.

Panel in Focus
Panel: Feminism in Classical Music
ASTRID KVALBEIN – Rector of the Norwegian Academy of Music, soprano, musicologist
VALENTINA SANDU-DEDIU – Teacher, musicologist, pianist
CRISTIAN LUPEȘ – conductor, manager of the Sibiu State Philharmonic
Moderator: DRAGOȘ CANTEA – Concert pianist, artistic director
Musical interventions: ANNA LIPIAK – pianist
How much do we know about female figures in classical music history/industry?
For centuries, women’s works have been silenced due to social/political context, and one of our missions today as artists is to bring light to some of the most impressive masterpieces that our audiences have never seen before.
Feminism is a hot trend of the 20th century, and today we relate to every area of society with the same problems.
And women make history.