The first day of autumn began with the gala concert at Castel Mimi, attended by representatives of the country’s leadership and diplomatic missions, including the ambassadors of Romania, the United States, and the European Union in Chișinău.
The orchestras of the Romanian National Opera and the National Philharmonic of Chișinău were conducted by the Romanian conductor Daniel Jinga. On the stage at Castel Mimi, the great opera soloists from both sides of the Prut River performed: Iordache Basalic, Mădălina Barbu, Lilia Istrati, and Dumitru Mîțu.
VinOpera concluded with the renowned “O sole mio,” performed by all four artists. Their performance was met with a standing ovation from a thousand spectators.
In addition to solo performances, the audience was delighted to witness duets featuring the voices of Lilia Istrati and tenor Dumitru Mîţu, interpreting Franz Lehár’s “Lippen schweigen,” Eldo Di Lazzaro’s “Chitarra romana,” and Luigi Denza’s “Funiculì, Funiculà,” sung spectacularly by Iordachi Basalic and Dumitru Mîţu.
The event organizer, the Constantin Mimi Foundation, awarded the VinOpera trophy to the conductor and soloists as a sign of high appreciation and gratitude for their participation in the festival.
“We are proud that it has already become a tradition to gather here at Castel Mimi art, culture, and excellent wines enthusiasts. VinOpera is more than a classical music festival; it is proof that together we can achieve great things, grow and develop sustainable partnerships, promote important values, and proudly represent our country,” said Cristina Frolov.
The event was also attended by the Secretary of State for Relations with the Republic of Moldova in the Romanian Government, Adrian Dupu.
“We hope that the VinOpera Classical Music Festival will become a constant and a tradition in the Republic of Moldova. An event that should be a cultural milestone, bringing together people from both sides of the Prut River to share and celebrate what unites us: our common culture, the Romanian language, traditions, and customs,” said Adrian Dupu.
The festival began on August 30 with a recital in Varniţa by the “Gândul Mâţei Band” and the Ethnofolk Ensemble “Plăieşii.”
On August 31, in Bulboaca, residents of the region and all interested individuals could attend a concert near the train station, featuring melodies played on the pan flute by Constantin Moscovici, the young singer Andreea Josan, and the master’s sister Nadejda Moscovici. The evening concluded with a recital by Felicia Dunaf and the “Dunaff Band.”
The climax of the VinOpera Festival took place on September 1 at Castel Mimi with a grand symphonic concert.
All festival attendees could also participate in the Wine Vernissage, where small producers such as “Minis Terrios,” “Casa Vinicolă Luca,” “Gogu Winery,” and “Vinăria Nobilă” showcased and offered their wines for tasting.
The International Classical Music Festival VinOpera was fully powered by solar energy produced at Castel Mimi, which in recent years has made colossal efforts to generate renewable energy by installing solar panels on the vineyard estate.
In total, over 3500 people participated in the three events held in Varniţa, Bulboaca, and Castel Mimi.