Romanian Atheneum
Romanian Athenaeum is a concert hall in Bucharest, building located on Street Victoria in George Enescu
Square(the north side of Palace Market). Here is situated also George Enescu Philharmonic.
Considered one of the architectural
jewels of Romania, Romanian Athenaeum building in Bucharest is product of"Athenaeum Cultural Society", founded in 1865 by an enthusiastic
group consisting of Constantin Esarcu, V. A. Ureche, C. Rosetti, N. Kretulescu, Al. Odobescu and others. Getting money began to be
pulled up only after 20 years, under the slogan "Give one leu for the Athenaeum", thus succeeding in 1886 to start the construction
works.
Plans, neoclassical were designed by architect Albert Galleron, and in two years the building was almost ready, was inaugurated
on February 14 1888. Basically, completion of the building occurred only in the '30s of the twentieth century.
Seen outside the
Romanian Athenaeum building is formed by a peristyle of six columns in ionic style, giving a greek temple inpresia, below which there
is, in medallions, faces of five rulers of Romania. Neagoe Basarab, Alexander the Good, Vasile Lupu, Matei Basarab ang king
Carol the first. The present form of the dome was given on by a team of Romanian architects and engineers, after the project of
Galleron handed over.
The interior is perhaps even more impressive than the outside. In the entrance hall are four spiral staircase
around some columns of Carrara marble and decorative sculptures . Show room(28.50 m in diameter and 16 m height), with a special acoustic,
has 600 seats downstairs and 52 lodges. But what particularly impresses is fresco, 70 meters long and 3 feet high that is made all
around. For 5 years (1933 to 1938) painter Costin Petrescu has worked to implement in images 25 scenes from Romanian history:” Entering
the Emperor Trajan in Dacia”, “Colonization with Roman Legionnaires”, “Training people Dacian”,” Romanian Watch “,”Barbarian invasion”,”
The beginnings of Romanian people”,” Establishment”,” Dismounted”,” Military status”,” Administrative State division of dignitaries”,”
Crusade”,” Prince Stefan the Great”,” Era of peace and faith”,” Unificatorul Romanian Countries - Michael the Brave”,” The beginnings
of Romanian culture”,” The three heroes of the peasant uprising - Horia, Hen and Crisan”,” Revolution of Tudor Vladimirescu 1821”,”
1848 in Transylvania”,” Year 1848 in the Principalities”,” Unification of the principalities from 1859”,” War of Independence led
by Carol I”,” war For the whole of the nation 1916-1918 “,”Ferdinand I” and” Age of building”.
During the Second World War, Romanian
Athenaeum building escaped by a miracle during the bombardments that have turned into ruins around buildings. For over a century Athenaeum
is a sanctuary of Romainian culture, which has hosted some outstanding concerts of the greatest conductors and soloists of the world.
Have to remember first that the March 1 1898, here rang in first agreements famous symphonic poem suite novels. The console is right
orchestra composer, George Enescu, then in the age of 17 years. Among the biggest names that have evolved to the stage Athenaeum should
remember: Sergiu Celibidache, Ionel Perlea, Herbert von Karajan, Dinu Lipatti, Arthur Rubinstein, Pablo Casals, Erich Kleiber, David
Oistrah, Igor Strawinsky, Richard Strauss, Paul Robeson. From 1953 to carry out its activity based Athenaeum State Philharmonic George
Enescu.
