History

The Romanian Mozart Society was founded in 1991, at the initiative of musicologist Francisc László. It represents a non-profit organization affiliated to the Mozarteum International Foundation in Salzburg and its statutory purpose is to cultivate the work and memory of Mozart in Romania. The main activity helping to reach this goal is the yearly organization of an international music festival which takes place in Cluj – Napoca, around the death of the great composer (December 5, 1791). The festival is organized in co-operation with „Transilvania” State Philharmonic and „Gheorghe Dima” Music Academy. The festival has always been in the attention of the diplomatic representative bodies in Bucharest, especially of the Austrian Embassy, under whose patronage the last editions took place, and also of the Dutch, Czech and Swedish Embassies, thus proving the importance of the festival, not only on a cultural level, but also on the international relations one, which the festival favors. As a recognition of this fact, on December 13,2002, His Excellency Dr. Christian Zeileissen, Ambassador of the Austrian Republic in Bucharest, gave professor Francisc László, founder of RMS, the Cross of Honor for Art and Science, a very high distinction granted by the Federal President of Austria.

In 2006, the International Mozart Year, the Cluj festival represented a connection to the important cultural events of Europe, a beneficial form of cultural integration.

The programs of the Cluj festival gather symphonic and chamber music concerts, competitions of musical interpretation and musicology, symposia, conferences, Masterclasses, CD and book launches.

The guests of the festival

Until now, in the festival’s editions, over 180 Mozart works were performed, meaning approximately one third of the composer`s body of work, some of them in first audition in Romania. The festival was honored with the presence of internationally acclaimed artists, important names of the concert stages in Europe and USA, among whom Robert D. Levin, Malcolm Bilson (USA), Jaap Schröder (The Netherlands), Tamás Vásáry, György Vashegyi (Hungary), Sheila Arnold, Dirk Schultheis, Münchner Klaviertrio, Ferenc Gábor (Germany), Cordelia Höfer, Schubert Quartett (Austria), Mika Eichenholz, Cvartetul Lysell (Sweden).  Next to them, prestigious Romanian artists like Horia Andreescu, Emil Simon, soloists Dana Borşan, Viniciu Moroianu, Gabriel Croitoru, Voces, Transilvan and Ad Libitum quartets, as well as Romanian Piano Trio performed.

The young prize winners of the interpretation competition, taking place within the festival framework, started increasing their fame in Romania or abroad, being on their turn invited as guests of the festival – singers Marius Budoiu, Iulia Merca, Cozmin Sime and the Arcadia Quartet.