Valentin Radu
Encyclopedia
Valentin Radu is founder, artistic director and conductor of Vox Ama Deus, (currently consisting of the Camerata Ama Deus, the Ama Deus Ensemble and the Vox Renaissance Consort) with performances at the Kimmel Center
in Philadelphia and other various city, suburban, and Main Line area venues, has led numerous orchestras and vocal ensembles in Europe and the U.S., including the Hungarian National Philharmonic, Bucharest, Arad, Oradea Philharmonics, the Budapest Chamber Orchestra and the Romania National Radio Orchestra. In 1996 he conducted the Bucharest Philharmonic in Handel
's Messiah
, and in 1997 led the Romanian National Radio Orchestra in Handel's Acis and Galatea (both English language premieres).
Valentin Radu and the Ama Deus Ensemble have recorded on several labels, featuring such masterpieces as Handel
's Messiah, Bach
's B Minor Mass and Magnificat, Handel's Acis and Galatea, Vivaldi's Gloria and Magnificat, Handel's Fireworks (Water Music, Royal Fireworks, Organ Concert No. 4, Op. 4), and Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem
on the Lyrichord label. Their discography (a library of 18 as of 2010) also includes: A Baroque Christmas, A European Christmas, A Renaissance Noel on the PolyGram
label, and Glad Tidings, released on both the Warner label and Sony Classics.
Born in Romania
, Valentin Radu began his music studies at age four. At age six he made his concert debut on the stage of the Bucharest Philharmonic (as a piano recitalist) and at age nine as a concert soloist with the Bucharest Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1973, at 16, he won the prestigious Rome
Piano Competition, and in 1979 - the Saarbrücken Organ Competition. In 1980, he won the silver medal at the Bach International Competition in Leipzig
.
Maestro Valentin Radu holds Doctoral and Masters degrees from the Juilliard School and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Bucharest
Academy of Music. In 1976, he founded and conducted Juvenes Musici, a chamber orchestra under the auspices of the Bucharest Philharmonic. In 1980 he founded “The Juilliard Bach Players” chamber orchestra and initiated the "Bach at Juilliard" concert series at New York's Lincoln Center.
In 1984 Radu was invited to inaugurate and, in 1985, make the first LP solo recording on the newly rebuilt organ of the Imperial Chapel of Schönbrunn Palace
in Vienna. The original instrument was built in 1721, on which Mozart himself performed during his 12 years as Vienna's Court Musician.
In addition to being a classical music scholar and artist, Valentin Radu has been involved in jazz performance as a conductor and a solo performer. In December 1998, he conducted the 97-member Bucharest Philharmonic
in a Gershwin Centennial Gala concert, featuring the Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris, and Porgy and Bess. In November 1999, Radu conducted the Arad Phiharmonic in a centennial concert featuring works by Duke Ellington
and George Gershwin
. Since May 2000, Radu has conducted jazz concerts in Bucharest, with the "Sound" choir group, that has featured singer Teodora Enache and Johnny Răducanu
.
In May 1999, Radu participated in the historic visit to Romania of Pope John Paul II
. In September 2004, he was invited to be the sole performer at a special United Nations
gala in New York honoring the President of Romania.
In December 1997, Radu was awarded the Golden Apple by New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. In February 1999, the Romanian Music Critics’ Association named him "1998 Musician of the Year". In April 2003, Radu was bestowed the title of Honorary Citizen of the City of Bucharest by the mayor of his native town who became Romania's president
.
On December 20, 2005, Valentin Radu received the highest civil award of Romania: The Grand Officer of the Order of Cultural Merit (Romanian equivalent of the French Legion of Honor or British Knighthood), in recognition of his life achievement in the arts and his efforts as "Cultural Ambassador" of Romania. Radu became the seventh and youngest recipient of this most prestigious award in the history of Romania.
Valentin Radu also teaches music history and appreciation at Devon Preparatory School
in Devon, Pennsylvania and heads the school's music department (Music Director 1995–present), and was the Music Director for Philadelphia's Arch Street United Methodist Church (1994–2011).
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts
The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts is a large performing arts venue located on Broad Street, along the stretch known as the "Avenue of the Arts", in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is owned and operated by Kimmel Center, Inc., an organization which also manages the Academy of Music in...
in Philadelphia and other various city, suburban, and Main Line area venues, has led numerous orchestras and vocal ensembles in Europe and the U.S., including the Hungarian National Philharmonic, Bucharest, Arad, Oradea Philharmonics, the Budapest Chamber Orchestra and the Romania National Radio Orchestra. In 1996 he conducted the Bucharest Philharmonic in Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
's Messiah
Messiah (Handel)
Messiah is an English-language oratorio composed in 1741 by George Frideric Handel, with a scriptural text compiled by Charles Jennens from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer. It was first performed in Dublin on 13 April 1742, and received its London premiere nearly a year later...
, and in 1997 led the Romanian National Radio Orchestra in Handel's Acis and Galatea (both English language premieres).
Biography
He has conducted Vox Ama Deus in various programs ranging from motets and madrigals to authentically staged Renaissance operas performed on original instruments. Since 1997, he has conducted the Ama Deus Ensemble and Maestro Dan Grigore, a Romanian pianist, in Viennese Gala concerts in Philadelphia. He also conducted Ama Deus Ensemble in its yearly Good Friday performances at Cathedral Basilica of SS Peter and Paul in Philadelphia.Valentin Radu and the Ama Deus Ensemble have recorded on several labels, featuring such masterpieces as Handel
HANDEL
HANDEL was the code-name for the UK's National Attack Warning System in the Cold War. It consisted of a small console consisting of two microphones, lights and gauges. The reason behind this was to provide a back-up if anything failed....
's Messiah, Bach
Bạch
Bạch is a Vietnamese surname. The name is transliterated as Bai in Chinese and Baek, in Korean.Bach is the anglicized variation of the surname Bạch.-Notable people with the surname Bạch:* Bạch Liêu...
's B Minor Mass and Magnificat, Handel's Acis and Galatea, Vivaldi's Gloria and Magnificat, Handel's Fireworks (Water Music, Royal Fireworks, Organ Concert No. 4, Op. 4), and Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem
Ein deutsches Requiem
A German Requiem, To Words of the Holy Scriptures, Op. 45 by Johannes Brahms, is a large-scale work for chorus, orchestra, and a soprano and a baritone soloist, composed between 1865 and 1868. It comprises seven movements, which together last 65 to 80 minutes, making this work Brahms's longest...
on the Lyrichord label. Their discography (a library of 18 as of 2010) also includes: A Baroque Christmas, A European Christmas, A Renaissance Noel on the PolyGram
PolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
label, and Glad Tidings, released on both the Warner label and Sony Classics.
Born in Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
, Valentin Radu began his music studies at age four. At age six he made his concert debut on the stage of the Bucharest Philharmonic (as a piano recitalist) and at age nine as a concert soloist with the Bucharest Philharmonic Orchestra. In 1973, at 16, he won the prestigious Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
Piano Competition, and in 1979 - the Saarbrücken Organ Competition. In 1980, he won the silver medal at the Bach International Competition in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
.
Maestro Valentin Radu holds Doctoral and Masters degrees from the Juilliard School and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Bucharest
Bucharest
Bucharest is the capital municipality, cultural, industrial, and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmbovița River....
Academy of Music. In 1976, he founded and conducted Juvenes Musici, a chamber orchestra under the auspices of the Bucharest Philharmonic. In 1980 he founded “The Juilliard Bach Players” chamber orchestra and initiated the "Bach at Juilliard" concert series at New York's Lincoln Center.
In 1984 Radu was invited to inaugurate and, in 1985, make the first LP solo recording on the newly rebuilt organ of the Imperial Chapel of Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace
Schönbrunn Palace is a former imperial 1,441-room Rococo summer residence in Vienna, Austria. One of the most important cultural monuments in the country, since the 1960s it has been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna...
in Vienna. The original instrument was built in 1721, on which Mozart himself performed during his 12 years as Vienna's Court Musician.
In addition to being a classical music scholar and artist, Valentin Radu has been involved in jazz performance as a conductor and a solo performer. In December 1998, he conducted the 97-member Bucharest Philharmonic
George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra
The George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra is a musical institution of Romania.Founded in 1886, under the supervision of Eduard Wachman, the Romanian Philharmonic Society had as purpose the creation of a permanent symphonic orchestra in Bucharest...
in a Gershwin Centennial Gala concert, featuring the Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris, and Porgy and Bess. In November 1999, Radu conducted the Arad Phiharmonic in a centennial concert featuring works by Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
and George Gershwin
George Gershwin
George Gershwin was an American composer and pianist. Gershwin's compositions spanned both popular and classical genres, and his most popular melodies are widely known...
. Since May 2000, Radu has conducted jazz concerts in Bucharest, with the "Sound" choir group, that has featured singer Teodora Enache and Johnny Răducanu
Johnny Raducanu
Johnny Răducanu was a Romanian jazz pianist of Romani ethnic background, whose family has a long musical tradition dating back to the 17th century....
.
In May 1999, Radu participated in the historic visit to Romania of Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. In September 2004, he was invited to be the sole performer at a special United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
gala in New York honoring the President of Romania.
In December 1997, Radu was awarded the Golden Apple by New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. In February 1999, the Romanian Music Critics’ Association named him "1998 Musician of the Year". In April 2003, Radu was bestowed the title of Honorary Citizen of the City of Bucharest by the mayor of his native town who became Romania's president
Traian Basescu
Traian Băsescu is the current President of Romania. After serving as the mayor of Bucharest from June 2000 until December 2004, he was elected president in the Romanian Presidential Elections of 2004 and inaugurated on December 20, 2004...
.
On December 20, 2005, Valentin Radu received the highest civil award of Romania: The Grand Officer of the Order of Cultural Merit (Romanian equivalent of the French Legion of Honor or British Knighthood), in recognition of his life achievement in the arts and his efforts as "Cultural Ambassador" of Romania. Radu became the seventh and youngest recipient of this most prestigious award in the history of Romania.
Valentin Radu also teaches music history and appreciation at Devon Preparatory School
Devon Preparatory School
Devon Preparatory School is a private, Catholic college preparatory school in Devon, Pennsylvania, founded in 1956 by the Piarist fathers. It is an all-boys school, divided into a middle school and an upper school , both located on the same campus of...
in Devon, Pennsylvania and heads the school's music department (Music Director 1995–present), and was the Music Director for Philadelphia's Arch Street United Methodist Church (1994–2011).
External links
- [ Valentin Radu] at Allmusic
- Vox Ama Deus, Radu's Philadelphia area music organization
- Gala Concert Retrieved 2008-09-09
- Gala Concert Program Notes Retrieved 2008-09-09
- Life Style Magazine Review Retrieved 2008-09-09
- Classical Music Philadelphia Interview with Dr. Radu Retrieved 2008-09-09
- Recordings by Vox Ama Deus on the Lyrichord label