Composer Eugen Doga becomes Chisinau’s Honorary Citizen at 70

On March 1, composer Eugen Doga’s 70-year birthday, the artist was awarded with the title of Honorary Citizen of Chisinau. Eugen Doga, the author of the capital’s anthem, was invited to the City Hall where he received congratulations from municipal councillors and civil servants. The decision to confer this title on Eugen Doga was taken by the Municipal Council on February 20, for special merits in developing national culture and music, as well as on the occasion of his 70th birth anniversary. The composer thanked the municipal authorities for the honorific title, mentioning that life is a great school that he enjoys going to. Eugen Doga assured the civil servants that he would summon all his creative abilities to continue contributing to the development of music in Moldova. Master Doga played a piano suite consisting of his instrumental pieces, including a first public performance of a recent composition, inspired by the personality of the late film director Emil Loteanu. Following the event at the City Hall, the composer accompanied by municipal officials paid a visit to the musical school for children no. 5, which will be named after Eugen Doga, in compliance with a CMC decision. 2007 has been designated by Moldova’s Government and Parliament the “Eugen Doga Year” in Moldova. He was born in 1937 in Mocra village, Transnistria. After graduating from the Conservatoire in Chisinau, he performed as violoncellist in the Orchestra of the State Committee of the Soviet Moldavia for television and radio (1957-1962), taught at the Music College “Stefan Neaga” in Chisinau (1962-1967), and worked from 1967 to 1972 at the repertory-editorial Board of the Ministry of Culture. He is the author of many priceless musical compositions, film and theatre soundtracks. Eugen Doga is Honoris Causa Doctor of the International Movie Institute of Moscow. He was offered the titles “Honoured Master of Arts of Moldova”, Artist of the People of SSRM, Artist of the People of the USSR. He was given the “Order of the Republic”, Order “Star of Romania”, Medal “Mihai Eminescu”, Golden Medal “Man of the XX century”. Composer Eugen Doga is the 23rd honorary citizen of Chisinau. Among the awardees of this title are opera singer Maria Biesu, composer Gheorghe Zamfir, academician Eugen Coseriu, France’s President Jacques Chirac, Moscow’s Mayor Iuri Lujkov, and astronaut Iuri Ghizdenko.