Romanesti, anniversary cave concert

Music lovers have recently attended the 17th edition of the cave concert at Romanesti, Timis County (western Romania). Violinist Florin Ionescu-Galati and his father Maestro Ilarion Ionescu-Galati, as the conductor were the special quests this year.

This is an annual event long-expected by people all across the Banat region. The concert was held in a cave in the Carpathian Mountains (Poiana Rusca Mountains) close to a village called Romanesti. The Cave’s legend says that long time ago a shepherd was killed and taken away the sheep by his son. The old shepherd’s spirit has been haunting the Cave and the surroundings, ever since.

The speoconcerts (cave concerts) are organized since 1984 by the Timisoara Cultural Academic Foundation, the Banatul Philharmonics, and the Timis County Council with the aid of Speotimis Speleological Association.

One day every year, the cave “wakes up”. Performers, guests, tourists and organizers carrying instruments and equipment walk 1 hour from Romanesti village to the cave. The cave has a good acoustic; this reflects the success of these concerts. It has three different levels and a total length of 1,450m. The lowest level is in the area of the groundwater and has flowing water during certain times of the year.

The cave concert included an overture of The Marriage of Figaro, solo variations by G. Tartini-Fr. Kreisler, gypsy tunes by Sarasate, a Slavonic Dance by Dvoral, Fragments from the Ballet the Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky, and it ended in the Imperial Waltz by Johann Strauss.

There are few caves in Europe and The Cave of Romanesti is the only one in Romania that hosts symphonic, rock, jazz, blues or electronic music.

So if you want to mix a walk through nature with some good quality music, probably the best time of year to visit the cave is when the concert is held. The entrance is free.