The National Chamber Choir “Madrigal – Marin Constantin”, conducted by Anna Ungureanu, performed on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, the extraordinary concert “Music for the Future” on the stage of the Expo Hall “Shining Hat” within Expo 2025 Osaka. The event brought together over 1,600 spectators and international personalities, among them Hiroyuki Ishige – Secretary General of the Expo 2025 Osaka Association, Ueda Hiroshi – former Ambassador of Japan to Romania, Romanian Member of European Parliament Victor Negrescu, along with numerous commissioners general and representatives of the participating countries.
The concert was opened with a speech by Ferdinand Nagy, Commissioner General of the Romania Pavilion, who emphasized the role of music as a universal language of emotion and unity: “Music has the power to bring us together, to inspire us, and to move us deeply, and today we are here to experience this magic.”
The presence of the most prestigious Romanian choral ensemble at international level within Expo 2025 Osaka and in the Romania Pavilion strengthens our country’s image as a nation with a rich cultural heritage and authentic artistic potential. At the same time, it contributes to the deepening of Romanian–Japanese bilateral relations, based on mutual respect, openness, and long-term cooperation.
The year 2025 has a special significance for the Madrigal Choir: it marks 100 years since the birth of its founder, Marin Constantin, and 62 years of uninterrupted existence of the ensemble, recognized worldwide for its artistic excellence and the cultural diplomacy it promotes. Awarded with numerous international prizes, Madrigal has performed thousands of concerts on the world’s most important stages.
As part of the ongoing tour, the Romania Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka hosted on Wednesday, August 20, the educational mini-concert “Madrigal for Babies”, while on Thursday, August 21, at 18:00, the public is invited to enjoy the performance “Music of the European Renaissance”.
The series of events will continue also outside the World Expo, through the participation of the Madrigal Choir in the Yokohama International Choral Festival, thus consolidating its role as Romania’s cultural ambassador and reaffirming the special connection with the Japanese audience, 35 years after its first tour in the Land of the Rising Sun.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms its commitment to supporting cultural initiatives that reflect the creativity, talent, and value of Romanian artists, offering the international public access to an authentic culture open to global dialogue.