Tonight, 17 December 2012, 18.00 hours, the traditional concert entitled “The Sunrise” performed by the choruses of the Romanian Patriarchate took place in “Patriarch Teoctist” Aula Magna of the Patriarchate Palace, organised by Basilica Press Centre.
The concert was held in the presence of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, of His Eminence Casian, Archbishop of Lower Danube, His Grace Ambrozie, Bishop of Giurgiu, His Grace Ciprian Campineanul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch, His Grace Varlaam Ploieșteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch, His Grace Varsanufie Prahoveanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest, of the members of the Standing Meetings of the Church National Council and of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, of the archpriests of Bucharest and Ilfov county, of the “Patriarch Justinian” professors of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology of Bucharest, and of over 900 spectators. Cca 180 carollers sang carols as follows:
I. Conductors:
Rev. Lecturer Dr. Stelian Ionașcu
Deacon Siluan Eloi
Deacon Constantin Răzvan Ștefan
Luminița Guțanu
1. Carols Medley (florilegium):
– Today it rose for us – Dumitru Georgescu Kiriac
– On a blooming field – Sabin Drăgoi
– Good morning – Timotei Popovici
– The star is rising up – Ioan D. Chirescu
– Shepherd’s carol – Ilarion Cocisiu
– Jesus’ cradle – Valentin Teodorian
2. We carol according to custom – Alexandru Pașcanu
3. Good young carollers – Sabin Păitza
4. Here, in these yards – Vinicius Grefiens
5. Shchedryk – Mykola Leontovych (Ukrainian traditional song)
6. We travel and carol – Mihail Bârca
II. “TRONOS” Psalter Group of the Patriarchal Cathedral
Conductor: Deacon Mihail Bucă
1. Three magi from the East – folk song
2. Near the moon – folk carol
3. Open sky
4. Holy Christmas Night
5. My father’s lit house – folk carol (soloist: George Popa)
6. We carol
III. “Symbol” Children’s chorus of the Romanian Patriarchate
Conductors:
Archdeacon Jean Lupu
Luminița Guțanu
1. Troparion of the Nativity of the Lord – harmonised by Paul
Constantinescu
2. We went carolling – Gheorghe Cucu
3. Three Shepherds – Timotei Popovici
4. On the winding lane – Gheorghe Carp
5. Vespers (Christmas Concert) – Rev. Ion Runcu (soloist: Corina Gatu)
6. Star song, at Bethlehem – Rev. Constantin Drăgușin
7. Noel – Charles Adoplphe Adam (soloist: Andreea Diana Blidariu)
8. The star is rising up – harmonization by Ioan D. Chirescu
IV. “Dimitrie Suceveanu” Chorus of Deanery II Bucharest
Conductor: Rev. Alexandru – Marius Dumitrescu
1. Good Christmas Night – harmonised by Rev. Nicu Moldoveanu
2. Bright feast – Timotei Popovici
3. Santa Claus – by Ioan Borgovan (lyrics by Octavian Goga, arrangement for men’s chorus by Constantin Drăgușin)
4. The apple – by Gheorghe Danga
5. Linu-i lin – by Tiberiu Brediceanu and Ioan D. Chirescu (soloist: Rev. Florian Paraschiv)
6. Don’t sleep any more – Timotei Popovici
7. Plugușorul – Maxim Vasiliu
To end with the concert, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel delivered a blessing speech entitled Christmas Carols – source of light and joy.
In the end all carollers received presents on behalf of the Patriarch of Romania.
