Composer Dan Buciu Awarded the Marin Constantin Prize

The 2025 laureate of the Marin Constantin Prize is composer Dan Buciu, who received the distinction during the anniversary gala “Marin Constantin 100.” The event was organized by the National Chamber Choir “Madrigal – Marin Constantin” on February 27 at the Romanian Senate.

The Marin Constantin Prize was presented to Professor Dan Buciu by the ensemble’s manager, Emil Pantelimon, “for his significant contribution to Romanian culture and for supporting the work of Maestro Marin Constantin and the Madrigal Choir.”

The “Marin Constantin 100” Gala celebrated Madrigal Day and honored the immense legacy of the legendary conductor and musician Marin Constantin, founder of the Madrigal Choir. It also marked the centenary of his birth on February 27, 1925.

A Tribute to a Musical Legacy

“Every time I listen to the Madrigal Choir—this is my third time—it is a new experience! From the first piece, I was moved by the perfection and wonder of this ensemble. When it comes to Renaissance repertoire, it is hard to find a more soulful interpretation. And the works of Maestro Marin Constantin, though containing some modern harmonies while staying within the realm of classical harmony, achieve truly incredible effects. The choir’s intonation and color are flawless, its sound compact yet allowing the musical texture to shine through, creating a balance that confirms the school and legacy that the maestro established when he founded the ensemble. (…) The choir conveys the joy of singing, touching the heart’s emotions—thank you!”
— H.E. Mons. Giampiero Gloder, Apostolic Nuncio to Romania and Moldova

At the opening of the event, alongside the Madrigal Choir, conducted by Anna Ungureanu, 180 children from Cantus Mundi choirs performed “Vezzosette ninfe e belle” by Giovanni Gastoldi—the unofficial hymn of the Madrigal Choir—as well as “Pomișorul,” composed by Marin Constantin.

“Tonight is a crown of memories for all of us who knew Marin Constantin. He was unique, both as a person and a musician. Being a close friend of my father (violinist Ion Voicu), they understood each other without words, sharing the same wavelength. They had their own world—Marin Constantin was a poet, full of joy and smiles. I do not remember ever seeing him upset, sad, or frowning, and that makes me miss him even more.”
— Mădălin Voicu, State Secretary at the Ministry of Culture

In a deeply emotional atmosphere, the “Marin Constantin 100” Gala concluded with a reunion of generations from the Madrigal Choir, conducted by Veronica Bojescu, former assistant conductor of the ensemble. Alumni members performed fragments from “Flăcări și roți” by Corneliu Cezar and one of Marin Constantin’s most beloved pieces, “Matona Mia Cara” by Orlando di Lasso.

“Every meeting with Madrigal is a delight. When it comes to Madrigal, I always feel the wing of a guardian angel named Marin Constantin. His presence can be felt—a presence of light, depth, and, above all, balance, generously offering beauty and love. I want to carry this moment with me until the next encounter with Madrigal—a moment of true grace.”
— Soprano Felicia Filip

The event was attended by representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in Bucharest, Madrigal institutional partners, government officials, artists, public figures, and close associates of Maestro Marin Constantin.

A Composer’s Legacy

Dan Buciu studied at the Bucharest Conservatory under esteemed professors such as Tiberiu Olah and Dan Constantinescu. Open to musical innovation, he specialized in electronic and computer music under masters Aurel Stroe and Dinu Ciocan, as well as through multiple participations in the Darmstadt Contemporary Music Festival. He has lectured in the United States (1994) and taught summer courses in France (1996).

Alongside his dedication to composition, the Marin Constantin Prize laureate has had a significant teaching career, serving as a professor at the National University of Music Bucharest (UNMB), where he was also rector between 2000 and 2008. A specialist in harmony and musical forms and analysis, he authored a two-volume treatise on tonal and modal harmony.

His neoclassical compositions feature a modern, modal musical language, sometimes inspired by folklore, sometimes of original construction. His works include symphonies, lieder, cantatas, chamber pieces, and choral compositions. As a composer, he has been honored with six awards from the Union of Romanian Composers and Musicologists.

One of his most significant choral pieces, “Remember Hiroshima,” set to poetry by Eugen Jebeleanu, was specially written for the Madrigal Choir and Maestro Marin Constantin, and remains highly valued by both the ensemble’s founder and its current artistic team.

The Marin Constantin Prize

The Marin Constantin Prize was established in 2018 as a tribute to the legendary founder of the Madrigal Choir. It is awarded annually to individuals or institutions that make a significant contribution to Romania’s cultural life and are actively involved in the development and promotion of the fine arts and the Madrigal Choir’s activities. The Marin Constantin Prize is accompanied by the Madrigal Trophy, an original creation by artist Mihai Băcilă.