The National Chamber Choir “Madrigal” of Romania is one of the most celebrated and highly thought of choral ensembles, both in Romania and throughout the world. Their fame is due to their unique singing artistry - an experience testified to by Lord Yehudi Menuhin and Elizabeth Schwartzkopf, among others, in the “Golden Book”, a guest book begun in the 1960’s to accommodate the many international accolades and endorsements the choir has received.

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The Madrigal choir was founded on the 11th of April 1963, as a component of the “Ciprian Porumbescu” Music Conservatory (now National University of Music) under the initiative of its director, maestro Marin Constantin - professor in residence, together with a few post-graduate students, all choral music lovers.

They had their first concert on the 7th of July 1963, at the Music Theatre in Brasov, and their first international performance as part of the third edition of the International “George Enescu” Festival in 1964.

Conceived as a Renaissance chamber ensemble, Madrigal choir and its director, Marin Constantin, aimed to prepare and popularise the canon of the European Renaissance school in the original languages of the songs. The development and diversification of the repertoire involved the rediscovery of the great treasure of Byzantine and old Romanian music, Christmas Carols, folk influenced music and, in very short time since it was created, Romanian contemporary music and vocal-symphonic works.

The Madrigal choir has constituted, for young or experienced composers, professors or students of composition at the Music Academy, a unique musical interpreter and original laboratory of creation in which bloomed the trio composer - director - interpreter: Anatol Vieru, Miriam Marbe, Tiberiu Olah, Stefan Niculescu, Irina Odagescu, Dan Buciu and many others.

The choir was affiliated with education programs at the Music Conservatory by the activity of Marin Constantin at the Faculty of Ensemble and Choral Directing and through the presence in the ensemble of the students and post-graduate students of Music Conservatory. The National Chamber Choir “Madrigal” of Romania was permanently present in the teaching activity through concert-lessons, meetings with pupils, students and professors within the musical field, symposium or special concerts for different anniversaries.

In over 40 years, over 3500 concerts have been performed by the choir in Romania and abroad. The National Chamber Choir “Madrigal” of Romania and its director Marin Constantin has had the honored mission of presenting themselves at a high level of artistry, promoting the exceptional value of the Romanian performing school all over the world. They have toured in the U.S.A Italy, Germany, France,Yugoslavia, Poland, England, Hungary, Bulgaria, Spain, Belgium, The Netherlands, Austria, Russia, Republic of Moldavia, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, San Marino, Switherland, Canada, Portugal, Turkey, Finland, Greece, Luxemburg, Liechtestein, North Korea, Japan.

Corul National de Camera “Madrigal” este unul din cele mai admirate si respectate ansambluri corale în România si în întreaga lume. Faima lui este datorata tehnicii de cânt si expresiei artistice unice - o experienta atestata, printre altii, de catre lordul Yehudi Menuhin si Elisabeth Schwartzkopf, în “Cartea de aur”, carte a oaspetilor concertelor corului “Madrigal”, care cuprinde cuvintele admirative a numeroase personalitati de pretutindeni ale muzicii.

CORUL NATIONAL DE CAMERA „MADRIGAL” a luat fiinta la 11 aprilie 1963 în cadrul Conservatorului „Ciprian Porumbescu” (azi Universitatea Nationala de Muzica ) din Bucuresti, din initiativa profesorului universitar si dirijorului Marin Constantin, împreuna cu un manunchi de studenti, absolventi si iubitori ai muzicii corale.

Debutul national s-a petrecut în timpul Festivalului Muzicii de Camera din Brasov, în anul 1963, iar cel international avut loc în cadrul editiei a treia a Festivalului International „George Enescu”, în 1964.

Gândit ca formatie camerala de tip renascentist, MADRIGALUL si dirijorul sau si-au propus pregatirea si propagarea organizata a capodoperelor apartinând scolilor Renasterii Europene si interpretarea lor, înca de la începuturi, în limbile originale. Diversificarea si dezvoltare repertoriala au impus redescoperirea si reliefarea marilor comori ale muzicii bizantine si vechi românesti, a colindelor, a lucrarilor de inspiratie folclorica, a patrimoniului clasic autohton si, în foarte scurt timp de la înfiintare, a creatiei românesti contemporane si a genului vocal-simfonic.

MADRIGALUL a constituit pentru compozitorii-profesori la Academie, consacrati sau mai tineri, ca si pentru studentii sectiei de compozitie nu numai un interpret unic ci si un original laborator de creatie în cadrul caruia înflorea triada compozitor - dirijor - madrigalisti. Anatol Vieru, Miriam Marbe, Tiberiu Olah, Stefan Niculescu, Irina Odagescu, Dan Buciu si multi altii au scris lucrari dedicate special corului Madrigal.

Legat organic de procesul de învatamânt, atât prin activitatea la Catedra de Ansamblu si Dirijat Coral a profesorului MARIN CONSTANTIN, cât si prin prezenta în formatie a unor studenti si absolventi ai Academiei de Muzica, Corul National de Camera Madrigal a fost permanent prezent în activitatea didactica prin concerte-lectie, întâlniri cu elevi, studenti si cadre didactice din învatamântul de specialitate, simpozioane sau concerte prilejuite de diverse aniversari.

În toti acesti peste 40 de ani, în cele peste 3500 de concerte sustinute în tara si strainatate MADRIGALUL si dirijorul sau MARIN CONSTANTIN si-au facut o misiune de onoare din a se prezenta la o cât mai înalta tinuta artistica, impunând pretutindeni valoarea de exceptie a scolii interpretative românesti. Au realizat turnee internationale in: U.S.A, Italia, Germania, Franta, Yugoslavia, Polonia, Anglia, Ungaria, Bulgaria, Spania, Belgia, Olanda, Austria, Rusia, Republica Moldova, Norvegia, Danemarca, San Marino, Elvetia, Canada, Portugalia, Turcia, Finlanda, Grecia, Luxemburg, Liechtenstein, Coreea de Nord, Japonia etc.

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