Donegal Chamber Music Society's St Cecilia concert in Letterkenny on Sunday

The popular Sunday afternoon concert series ‘Sundays in Conwal’ continues this Sunday with a classical music recital by two exceptional Romanian artists, violinist Anca Ratiu and pianist Cristina Popescu Stăneşti.

A special concert to mark the patron saint of music, St. Cecilia, following on her feast day today, Friday, November 22. The concert is taking place in the historical Conwal Parish Church at 3pm on Sunday afternoon.

Anca Ratiu is a principal member of the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra (OBC), one of the top orchestras in Spain, and has played as a chamber musician, soloist, and concertmaster all across the world, playing in important halls like Konzerthaus (Vienna), Suntory Hall (Tokio), and Carnegie Hall (New York), with ensembles like the Athens Camerata, Galicia Symphony Orchestra, and the Symphony Orchestra of the Greek Broadcasting Corporation (ERT).

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She has worked with top conductors like Mikis Thedorakis, Manos Hatzidakis, Daniel Baremboim, Valery Gergiev, Leonard Slatkin, Gianandrea Noseda, Georges Pretre, and outstanding soloists like Joshua Bell, Frank Peter Zimmermann, Sarah Chang, Midori, Tabea Zimmermann, Lang Lang, Radu Lupu, Arcadi Volodos, Emmanuel Ax, Gautier Capuçon, and Natalia Gutman.

Pianist Cristina Popescu Stăneşti's wide repertoire comprises both solo and chamber music works. She has performed in recitals in Romania, Greece, Spain, Germany, Italy, and the U.S.A., and she recorded various works for the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company and for the Eurostar records.

She has been continuously invited as an official piano-accompanist in master classes, as well as at festivals and national and international competitions, including the George Enescu International Competition, violin section. Currently she is an associate professor at the Keyboards and Chamber Music Department, and she serves as the dean of the Faculty of Musical Performance at the National University of Music in Bucharest.

Anca and Cristina began their collaboration in 1984, during their high school years. Among their many achievements, we mention the completion of Beethoven's sonatas for piano and violin, as well as Prokofiev's works for violin and piano.

“Let's Bach: Baroque to Romanian Music” is the title of this concert that will include music by Bach and Scarlatti, ahead of their anniversaries next year, as well as music inspired by folk melodies by Dinicu and Bartók. This is the first of four concerts planned by violinist Anca Ratiu as part of her residency with Donegal Chamber Music Society 2024-2025.

Admission tickets, €10 (€5 student), will be available at the door from 2.30pm. Concert time is 3 p.m. The concert will last approximately one-hour without intermission.

Let's Bach: Baroque to Romanian Music
Anca Ratiu, violin; Cristina Popescu Stăneşti, piano
Music by Bach, Scarlatti, Dinicu and Bartók
Sunday, 24 November 2024, 3.00pm
Conwal Parish Church, Letterkenny
Tickets: €10 (€5 student)