The 55th edition of the international festival “Mărțișor” will take place on March 1-10. Sixteen concerts will be given as part of the jubilee edition and one of them will be dedicated to healthcare workers. Owing to the pandemic, this year the concerts will be held only in theater-concert halls in Chisinau and only with at most 250 spectators. Details were presented in a news conference staged by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, IPN reports.

Minister Lilia Pogolșa said “Mărțișor” is the largest, most popular and longest-running festival in Moldova. The festival is held not in order to defy the danger. It is an expression of the wish to return to normality. If the pandemic situation worsens, the organizers of the festival will comply with the restrictions and will hold the concerts in the absence of spectators. These will be broadcast on TV only.

The festival stats at the National Palace “Nicolae Sulac” with a concert titled “Mărgăritare” that will bring together the most representative artists of the national culture, such as Eugen Doga, Nicolae Botgros, the band “Zdob și Zdub”, symphonic orchestras, chamber orchestras and others. The concert dedicated to health professionals will be held at the Organ Hall on March 2.

National Palace “Nicolae Sulac” director Alexandru Locoman said the National Orchestra “Lăutarii”, managed by conductor Nicolae Botgros, on March 4 will give a concert that will involve Ion Paladi, Lidia Bejenaru, Ioana Căpraru and others. The next concerts will take place on Mach 6, 7, 8 and 10. The National Opera House “Maria Bieșu” will host the Ballet Gala on March 7.

The costs associated with the organization of the festival this year amount to 1.9 million lei.