70 years old, an age that is not just here and there!

70 years ago and more, against the backdrop of the popular musical movement in the villages, the existence of a rich folkloric musical material, the existence of fiddler bands that provided the musical background for parties at the clubs, sittings, and village choirs, the Crișana Popular Orchestra appeared, which was the basis for the formation in 1998 of the Crișana Professional Artistic Ensemble.

The archives of the time provide evidence of the existence of the folk orchestra since 1948 when it operated alongside the Union of Artists' Union. Starting with 1950, the orchestra was included within the Oradea State Philharmonic and performed in cities and villages, in factories and plants, assuming the role of culturalizing the people, and at first it bore the name Danko Pișto.

Here is what a journalist of the time wrote in the Crișana newspaper in October 1949:

“"Thanks to the help given by the Provisional City Committee, the "Danko Pișta" Popular Orchestra, in addition to now ensuring the existence of a significant number of instrumental artists in Oradea, has intensified its activity so as to contribute to the action of culturalization of the masses. In the last week, the orchestra gave concerts of folk music for the workers of the "Solidaritatea" and "Victoria" factories, at the brush factory, at the "Munca" Beer Factory, as well as for the workers of the Agricultural Mechanization Station in Ghiorac-Bihor. During yesterday, the members of the orchestra voluntarily participated in the works of arranging the city library that will open in a festive setting on November 7th.".

Over time, there have been several conductors at the orchestra's lectern, such as: Vladimir Voloșin, Gheza Gombos, George Mițin Vărieșescu, Alexandru Viman, Gheorghe Rada, Sorin Miescu, Aurel Mot, and now the orchestra is led by conductor Adrian Miescu.

Among the solo instrumentalists, the following stood out: Ardeleanu Adalbert, Ardeleanu Desideriu, Bebe Iosif, Horvath Iosif, Mezei Gheorghe, Rada Gheorghe, Iorga Hendrig, Petre Bundiș, the Vincu Brothers, Gheorghe Soponar, Augustin Cosma on the violin, Cornel Acea and Teodor Bot on the taragot, Gheorghe Costache on the accordion, and Samu Bela and Titi Gheorghe on the dulcimer.

Among the vocal soloists who have worked with the Popular Orchestra and who have been noted for their artistic and vocal qualities: Ducasz Ana, Sofia Preda, Nagy Iuliu, Gulacsi Adalbert, Maria Dumitras, Elisabeta Pavel, Maria Haiduc, Elena Hașaș, Adriana Comșa, Elvira Lerințiu, Traian Hurgoi, Dumitru Sopon, Florica Duma, Grigore Ignat, Alexandru Hanga and others.

Starting in 1998, the Crișana Popular Orchestra transformed into the Crișana Professional Artistic Ensemble by adding a corps of dancers and operated within the Oradea State Philharmonic until 2011 when, through the reorganization of cultural institutions, it became part of the Regina Maria Theater. .

Today, on its anniversary, the Crișana Professional Artistic Ensemble presents itself as a valuable collective formed by instrumentalists, dancers and vocal soloists with real and excellent artistic qualities. The ensemble has experienced a significant revival of activity since 2004 when, with the arrival of director Leontin Ciucur, the ensemble intensified its activity both in the country and by representing and promoting Romanian folklore abroad. It has held folklore shows, mainly in the cities and communes of the county, with active involvement in almost all festive events in the Municipality of Oradea, numerous shows held on the occasion of the days of villages and communes in the county or outside the county or for tourists coming for rest and treatment at Băile Felix, have constituted as many occasions of joy and satisfaction for the spectator public. The activity of the ensemble, in which the orchestra plays a primary role, has achieved high levels of representativeness in international events in terms of promoting Romanian folklore. The recordings of the performances, the photographs, the diplomas and trophies, the press reviews and, last but not least, the thanks and appreciation of the audience and the organizers are testimony to this.

The Crișana Professional Artistic Ensemble has proudly represented Bihor and Romania since 2004 in countries such as: Greece, Ukraine, Serbia, Hungary, Tunisia, Austria, Turkey, Italy, Germany, Egypt, China, South Korea, Czech Republic, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Republic of Moldova, USA and others. .

More than 20 editions of the show Tezaur Folcloric of Romanian Television were produced by the Crișana Professional Artistic Ensemble. The ensemble's artists participated in specialized shows on almost all folklore-specific stations or not only: TVR, National TV, Favorit TV, Hora TV, Pro TV, Transilvania TV and others.

And to properly honor this anniversary event celebrating 70 years since the founding of the Crișana Popular Orchestra, Crișana Professional Artistic Ensemble, from the Regina Maria Theater, performs in Oradea on March 12, 2020, in partnership with Romanian Television and the Bihor County Council, two Extraordinary FOCLORICAL TREASURY Concerts.

Of the two Extraordinary Concerts that will take place at the Regina Maria Theater Hall, four editions of the show will be produced. Folklore Treasure, shows that will be broadcast on national television TVR1.

The first concert will start at 5:00 PM and will include artistic moments performed by the following artists:

 Maria Haiduc, Gheorghe and George Rada, Viorica Bradea, Maria Sidea, Voichița Mihoc, Florica Ungur Vocal Group (Iulia Lucaciu, Mădălina Ilea, Luminița Tomuța, Florina Puscău, Daniela Lele, Felicia Costin, Andreea Suciu), Petrică Popa, Simona Costin, Ionel Ban, Otilia Haragoș Seghedi, Liliana Laichici, Stângaciu and Stângaciu Junior, Viorica Macovei, Ovidiu Homorodean, Mirela Mănescu, Mariana Ionescu Căpitănescu.

The second concert will start at 8 pm with the following artists: Felicia Costin, Cornelia Covaciu, Luminița Tomuța, Florica Duma Vocal Group – (Roxana Târb, Ciprian Mocan, Mădălina Ilea, Andrei Corb, Florina Pușcău, Daniela Lele, Ionel Ban, Denisa Berinde, Mădălin Dodu, Andreea Suciu, Iulia Lucaciu) Leontin Ciucur, Florica Zaha, Cornel Borza, Roxana Reche, Alexandru Pal, Ina Todoran, Paul Ananie, Sorin Filip, Taraf violins with horn Crișana (Zbiciu, Stângaciu and Stângaciu jr, Dan Moisa, Mitică Negrean), Ana Ilca Muresan, Sava Negrean Brudașcu.

 In both concerts, the ensemble's dancers will also perform with dances from Bihor and different regions of the country, and the accompaniment will be provided by the ensemble's orchestra conducted by Adrian and Sorin Miescu.

Tickets are available at the Theatre agency and on www.bilete.ro at the following prices
Central lodges, 1st floor – 50 lei / person
Side box, 1st floor and ground floor, 1st, 2nd place – 45 lei / person
Side boxes, 1st floor and ground floor, 3rd, 4th place – 40 lei / person
Room 40 lei / person
Balcony R1 40 lei / person
Balcony R2 seats 10-23 – 35 lei / person
Balcony R3 seats 11-26 – 35 lei / person
The rest of the balcony seats – 25 lei / person  

Leontin CIUCUR
Director
Queen Marie Theater Oradea
Crișana Professional Artistic Ensemble
Phone 0731835300