International Music Festival „Mărțișor” edition 58

Mărțișor (the pronunciation: [mərt͡siˈʃor]) is a Moldovan celebration of the beginning of spring. The word Martisor is the diminutive of marț, the old folk name for March, and thus literally means "little March".The Mărțișor is a small decorative object tied with a thread braided from a white and a red wire, which is found in the tradition of the Romanians and some neighbouring populations. Along with the Mărtișor are often offered as a gift early spring flower, the most representative being the snowdrop. The tradition of the Mărțișor was included in 2017 in the List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO, as „cultural events associated with the celebration of March 1st”, proposed in a collective file by Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Moldova and Romania. Nowadays, the Mărțișor is worn for the whole month of March, after which it is attached to the branches of a fruit tree. It is believed to bring abundance to people's homes. It is said that if one makes a wish while hanging the Mărțișor on the tree, it will come true immediately.The „Mărțișor” Festival is an attraction for those who want to discover Moldova’s rich culture and talented artists. For almost 2 weeks, music and dance ensembles from the country and abroad transform different concert stages of the Republic of Moldova into a true parade of traditions, joyfully transmitted towards the coming of spring. For more than 50 years, the „Mărțișor” Festival has been paying tribute to this romantic custom through music and dance, with the help of established local and foreign artists. This festival aims to remind us all of our true national values and to show us how beautiful our culture really is. For this reason, the organisers are preparing each edition with a diverse programme, including the most talented artists that are performing national music and dance collectives, as well as the most skilled craftsmen. And certainly, as the festival is called, we will have the chance to see the most beautiful hand-made beads. Also, the Festival proposes to the audience to discover different ethnic groups of the Republic of Moldova through music and dance ensembles. At this event, ensembles from all over the country will present their secular traditions and true ethnic values.The International Music Festival ,,Mărțișor” is at its 58th edition and returns this spring with exceptional performances on stages all over the Republic of Moldova. „Mărțișor” has long since become one of the biggest musical celebrations in Moldova. It has proved to be a long-standing and persistent event among all other cultural forums in the country. Festival „Martisor” was created in 1966 by the former manager of the National Philharmonic, Alexandru Fedcu and producer Gleb Ceaikovski. During years of its existence, there were many genres of music performed at the Festival, including folk, classical, jazz music, and all of it performed by different musicians. Every year the first days of spring are marked by the Martisor Music Festival. During the first ten days of March, the best concert halls from Chisinau (i.e. Philharmonics, Organ Hall, Opera Theater, National Palace) and other localities host over 40 concerts. The performances vary, from classical music, to folklore, to traditional and modern dance. The festival brings to Moldova artists from many countries such as Austria, Germany, Poland, Romania, Belarus, China, Russia and others.