A small group of us were standing in a Chisinau Organ Hall not long ago. A young man passes us by. Then he returns and asks: «Do you want to listen to a concert?» Unexpected! And not because we are in a gorgeous Organ Hall, but because we paid a personal visit and outside was sunny non-concert day. A little bit shy, couldn’t really understand but… yes! Empty Organ Hall, there was only a couple of us in the VIP in the center of the auditorium. Some guys, dressed almost in beach clothes start putting equipment: chairs, lecterns, shock installation, electro piano, acoustic columns, accordions on a stage. Everyone connects, take seats, and… the magic begins! Seven accordionists, bassist, pianist and a drummer – that is the unique structure of the collective. First we heard Bach, then other classics, variety and a folk music, jazz, modern music… Impressive! From the bottom of our souls! Big thank you to those who performed and our relative Nikolae Romaşco, to whose respect the music was played! Joint photos for memory and see you soon Eugen Negruta and «Honored collective of Republic of Moldova » ensemble of accordionists «Concertino»!

Konstantin Y. Smolentsev
http://smolentsev.com

Interesting feeling, that I have never felt, has occurred to me in Orthodox monasteries built into hills of Moldova. Steep rocks above Dniester. Narrowest footpaths to monasteries. Low «cells» and temple premises that have been cut down in rock more than one hundred years ago. There are no water pipe and electricity, no windows and no doors, just narrow and little open apertures. Full ascetism and detachment from the world. And opposite to that below through the deep river – well-groomed vineyards, cozy Moldavian villages shielding surface of water from voices of bathing children. Inside of a civilization and outside of it …

Konstantin Y. Smolentsev
http://smolentsev.com