SOCIAL SET

Cebu welcomes Romanian virtuosos for a night of musical magic

The concert, titled ‘Road to Freedom,’ was held at the Guang Ming Theater and featured a diverse selection of violin and piano instrumental pieces that reflected the artists’ prowess

Honey Jarque-Loop

Ambassador of Romania to the Philippines, Raduta Dana Matache, recently visited Cebu to promote artists Diana Jipa and Stefan Doniga, renowned classical musicians from Romania.

Welcoming her were Grand Benedicto, honorary consul of Romania in Cebu, and his charming and supportive wife, Genevieve. Also in attendance was Doctor Vivina Yrastorza, president of the Arts Council of Cebu, who assisted in the preparations for the concert.

Romanian Ambassador Raduta Dana Matache with Arts Council Cebu president Dra. Vivina Chiu.
Honorary Consul of Romania in Cebu Grand Benedicto and his wife Genevieve with Romanian artists Diana Jipa (violinist) and Stefan Doniga (pianist).
Japan Consul General to Cebu Hideaki Matsuo and wife Kanami Matsuo.

The concert, titled “Road to Freedom,” was held at the Guang Ming Theater and featured a diverse selection of violin and piano instrumental pieces that reflected the artists’ prowess. Their repertoire included works by notable Romanian composers, emphasizing cultural diversity and freedom, in line with the tour’s theme celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Romanian Revolution.

Ambassador Raduta Dana Matache with Marco Polo Hotel GM Maximilian Schwalbe and Daily Tribune columnist Honey Jarque Loop.
Marco Polo Hotel’s Chie Blas, director of sales and marketing; Gemma Baz, director of sales; and Precious Labapies, banquet sales executive.
BE Group of Companies Arnel Aparis, corporate communications manager; and Joanne Adilan, executive assistant to the president.
Rose Hennessy and Mariter Klepp, Arts Council Cebu directors.

Diana, a celebrated violinist and teacher with a PhD in Music, and Stefan, an accomplished pianist and graduate of the National University of Music in Bucharest, delivered an enchanting evening filled with emotive performances. Their collaboration aims to bridge cultural gaps through the universal language of music.

This concert is part of a broader initiative to promote classical music in the Philippines and provide audiences with the opportunity to experience world-class artistry.

Rene and Joy Kintanar.
Mayek Briones Kuhn and Vicki Hermosisima.
Teresin Mendezona and Maia Franco.
Alchi and Christine Padawan.

It was an engaging program that blended traditional and contemporary works, making it a must-see event for music lovers in Cebu.

Diana and Stefan aim to set a Guinness World Record by performing concerts across six continents in 2024. This ambitious project showcases their commitment to classical music and aims to promote and foster cultural exchange globally.

The duo has gained recognition as one of Romania’s most active chamber music ensembles, having performed over 500 concerts in nearly 30 countries since 2017.