To celebrate Romania’s National Day, Ambassador Lucian Fătu hosted an extraordinary concert at Theater Diligentia in The Hague. The event showcased the exceptional talents of Romanian musicians Liviu Prunaru, a violinist from the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam playing a 1694 Stradivarius and the soloist with the Romanian Radio Orchestra, Gabriel Croitoru, performing on a Guarnieri violin that previously belonged to composer George Enescu engaging in a unique duel. Pianist Horia Mihail accompanied them, creating a memorable trio.
The concert, organized by the Embassy of Romania and supported by the Romanian Cultural Institute, drew a diverse audience, including members of the diplomatic corps, international organizations, the diaspora, and Dutch friends of Romania. The duel between the Stradivarius and Guarnieri resulted in a masterful performance, with Prunaru, Croitoru, and Mihail presenting a magnificent program featuring works by Bach, Enescu, Rahmaninov, Kreisler, Poldini, Halvorsen, Vieuxtemps and Bazzini. The audience, captivated by the magical sounds of these unique instruments, applauded enthusiastically, prompting multiple encores.
Following the concert, an animated reception provided an opportunity for guests to discuss and compare their appreciation for the two exceptional violins. The musicians engaged with the audience, fostering a friendly and warm atmosphere.
Ambassador Fătu, in his address, reflected on Romania’s National Day and highlighted the country’s historical journey since the World Wars. He also addressed the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, emphasizing Romania’s solidarity and active support for its neighbor. “Regrettably, this year my remarks must once again address the security and humanitarian crisis created in our immediate neighborhood by the illegal, unprovoked, and unjustified war of aggression waged by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Today, we stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes to defend the principles embodying the values shared by European and NATO members.”
The ambassador underscored the robust relationship between Romania and the Netherlands, emphasizing the multifaceted role of Romania in addressing the crisis in the region. He acknowledged the support of the Netherlands and other partners in establishing Romania as a pillar of stability on NATO’s eastern flank. “However, that’s not the full dimension of Romania’s multi-faceted role in addressing the crisis. Since the war began, under the framework of the refugee response plan, more than 4.9 million border crossings to Romania have been recorded. Currently, 150,000 Ukrainian refugees enjoy temporary protection in my country.”
Ambassador Fătu expressed Romania’s solidarity with the Republic of Moldova and other aspiring EU members, advocating for their accession negotiations. “We stand in solidarity and active support with the Republic of Moldova, one of the worst-hit regional collateral victims of this conflict by proportional size.”
He also condemned terrorist attacks and supported diplomatic efforts for peace in conflict regions. “We support and welcome the recommendation for EU accession negotiations for Moldova, Ukraine, Bosnia, and Herzegovina.”
The ambassador concluded his remarks by recognizing the human dimension of Romanian-Netherlands relations and expressing gratitude to honorary consulates for bridging the gap between the two societies.”
To conclude my remarks, let me recognize tonight the human dimension of the Romanian-Netherlands relations, inspired by common values and aspirations, forming the bedrock of our multifaceted, sectoral cooperation. Every Romanian professional, student, and academic living here for longer or shorter periods, and every Romanian tourist visiting this country, feels connected to Dutch society and proud to be recognized as an EU citizen with equal rights and obligations.”
The concert, sponsored by Damen Holding BV, Ventune BV, Van de Waart Solicitors, was a fitting way to celebrate Romania’s National Day in the city of peace and justice.
