Founded in 1992 as a successor of the great "Nicolae Balcescu" Ensemble in Craiova, with the purpose of giving a scenic expression of the diversity of the Oltenian folklore and, at the same time, the folklore from all folk areas of Romania, the "Maria Tanase" Folk Ensemble built its reputation over the years and achieved success both in the country and abroad. Displaying on stage the traditional dances with the utmost care and consistently promoting authentic folk songs turned the Maria Tanase Folk Ensemble into one of the most representative and valuable ensembles in Romania. The choreography was assumed by master Marian Badea, master Puiu Vasilescu and then by the choreographer Marin Stîrcu, whose experience was continued by the talented master of dance, Ionel Garoafa, who leads with great professionalism the ballet department made of 22 dancers . The musical leadership was assured for 25 years by the famous violinist and conductor, Nicu Cretu, who originally made the musical arrangement for the orchestra composed of the 13 instrumentalists. The 13 soloists of the ensemble performing along with the orchestra: Niculina Stoican Mariana Ionescu Căpitănescu Constantin Enceanu Petrică Mîţu Stoian Marius Măgureanu Liliana Popa Lavinia Bîrsoghe Manuela Moţocu Aneta Şişu Cristi Banateanu Ciri Mayer Liviu Dică The great talent of the Maria Tănase Folk Ensemble was rewarded at national and international festivals in Greece, Egypt, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Turkey and Iran. We are glad and proud that through everything we do in order to cherish the folk traditions, we are the loyal representatives of the Romanian spirit that we dearly hold under the enlightened patronage of the Lady of our folk music, Maria Tanase.

The OMNIA library was founded at the initiative of a group of intellectuals from Craiova- writers, theatre specialists, academics, artists - with the support of the Institute for Cultural Relations Development in Lyon-France, the Lyon Town Hall and the Lyon citizens. On May 25, 1990, by the order signed by Andrei Plesu, the Minister of Culture at that time, the OMNIA Library became a subsidiary of the National Library of Romania. The official inauguration of the library took place on July 1, 1991, in the presence of prestigious guests, personalities of the cultural and political life of Craiova and across the country, a large number of delegations from France, accompanied by the mayor of Lyon. The library own approximately 30000 volumes from various fields: literature, critics and literary history, linguistics, history, sociology, medicine, philosophy, art, sports, geography, management and marketing, economics, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and collection of periodicals: Lire, Magazine Littéraire, Figaro Magazine, Art et décoration, Beaux Arts, Cahiers du Cinéma, Géo, Science et vie, Histoire, Le Nouvel Observateur, Phosphore, Time, Reader`s Digest, Paris Match etc. The library owns has important collections- Enciclopedia Universalis, Enciclopedia Britannica, Enciclopedia Alpha Juniors, Tout l`Univers, Dictionnaires Larousse, Dictionnaires des œuvres, Beautés du monde, Encyclopédie Bordas-Mémoires du XXe siècle, Cahiers de l`Herne - of remarkable value. As a public library, it has two lending halls, a reading room, a periodic hall, where access is based on an entry permit. Among those who contributed with donations to the OMNIA Library documents fund: The National Library of Romania, The Lyon Municipal Library, The Malta-Paris Knights Order, The French Embassy in Bucharest, The Liviu Rebreanu Franco-Romanian Institute in Lyon, The Gallimard Publishing House, The Actes Sud Publishing House, The Palaiseau Library, The Le Puy Library, The Bergerac City Hall , The Rotary Club, The French Consulate in Craiova. In order to organize conferences, symposiums, literary circles, literary and collective meetings, it was established The Foundation of the OMNIA Library. The Foundation aims to increase the library's fund of documents. Also, it was initiated the series of the "OMNIA Meetings". The following personalities of the Romanian cultural life are among those who, over the years, have responded to the initiative to participate in these cultural meetings: Irina Mavrodin, Octavian Paler, Andrei Pleşu, Mircea Dinescu, Varujan Vosganian, Al. Paleologu, Mihai Şora, Mircea Martin, Livius Ciocârlie, Al. Călinescu, Ioan Groşan, Vlad Ciobanu, Tudor Gheorghe, Dinu Adam, Mircea Martin, Ştefan Augustin Doinaş, Marin Sorescu, Adrian Marino, Laurenţiu Ulici, Marian Papahagi, and from abroad: Jacques Derrida, Lorand Gaspar, Michel Deguy, Roberto Sanesi, Wiliam Snodgrass, Jo Shapcott, the Japanese painter Ajako Yamada, Haruya Samya, translator of Romanian prose in Japanese. The OMNIA Libray headquarters is located in a building considered to be an architectural monument, known as the Plesia House, listed in the Historical Monuments List. It is one of Craiova's most impressive buildings, built in 1890, following the project of the French architect Albert Galleron. The construction is built in eclectic style, with Neo-Classical and Neo-Baroque elements in the interior, with stain glass windows in the style of the Romanian school, with geometric and floral motifs, interior staircase and baroque hardware, gold-plated ceilings, Venetian mirrors and carved panels. Following the loan agreement between the Ministry of Culture and the Council of Europe Development Bank, the French Omnia Library in Craiova will benefit from financing for the restoration, the consolidation and the modernization of the building, according to the "Program for the Conservation and Revitalisation of Cultural and Natural Heritage of Romania ", implemented by the Ministry of Culture.

Approximately 200,000 citizens come to “Alexandru and Aristia Aman” Dolj County Library annually in order to borrow books, to organise or participate in different cultural and educational activities, or to search online information on issues related to health, education, jobs, business development, as well as to speak with family and friends. In 2018 approximately 250,000 documents from the library collections were borrowed or consulted. The high number of citizens who use the services provided by “Alexandru and Aristia Aman” Dolj County Library is a relevant indicator of the influence and importance of the institution. For the undertaken activities, as well as for the implemented projects, “Alexandru and Aristia Aman” Library received the “Library of the Year” Award, within the frame of the APLER (Asociația Publicațiilor Literare și Editurilor din România) Gala, held in Bucharest, in December 2018. The history of the Library goes back more than a century. The inauguration of the Alexandru and Aristia Aman Foundation, in December 1908, represented the first private initiative in Craiova for the purposes of establishing a complex cultural centre for the public. The festive moment took place in the presence of the distinguished scholar Spiru Haret, Minister of Religious Affairs and Public Instruction at the time. An integral part of the initial foundation, “Alexandru and Aristia Aman” Dolj County Library has been functioning uninterruptedly since it was set up. The book, review and newspaper library collections currently include over 620,000 units, out of which 535 old Romanian and rare foreign books from the 16th – 19th centuries, as well as five valuable manuscripts. The Library has four local subsidiaries in the neighbourhoods Craiovița Nouă, Brazda lui Novac, Rovine and Valea Roșie, as well as several other subsidiaries and cultural centres which it supports across the border: Canada, Serbia, Italy, Bulgaria, Greece and, soon, Republic of Moldova.

The library started operating in 1956 with a small number of volumes, purchased by the local town hall. Up to the present, the library has managed to acquire 40. 317 volumes from various sources (public funding or donations). Since 1997 it has become a municipal library, and since 1998, by the Decision of Dolj County Council no.66/25, August 1998, it has received the name of the Municipal Library of Calafat. Until 2006 it functioned in a space located on street 22 Decembrie, no. 17, and since 2007 it is situated in a building on Gh. Doja Street, no.3A.

At the initiative of Prof. Gh. Tomescu, the registration paper of the library was issued to the main institutions of the city. The agreement was signed by 100 inhabitants of Băileşti. The first librarian was the teacher Nicolae Mirescu. At the beggining, the library functioned in the Reading House (Casa de Cetire) and currently it is located in the House of Culture. Source: www.bibnat.ro/biblioteci.php?id=2661

It was founded in 1935 under the name of the People's Library - Anton Pann, by the teacher Nicolae Mitea in the building of the newly inaugurated primary school. In 1968, the commune was declared a town, and the Library became the Town Library. In 1984, after being moved to various locations, the Library returns to the place where it was established. In 2002, with the support of Professor Irinel Popescu, PhD, the library is equipped with two computers, the TinLib registration program and internet access. Joining the EU meant the participation of the library in various programs and projects, which led to the creation of the multimedia department. Source: www.bibnat.ro/biblioteci.php?id=2774 Photo: www.bibliotecafiliasi.ro

The library has been permanently operating since its establishment in several locations, currently having its own headquarters. The building is in the heritage of Bechet Town Hall. The building has an area of ​​60 square meters and consists of 5 rooms. The library has been operating since 1950 with a small number of volumes, under various titles: popular library, central library, library of the district of Gura Jiului, commune public library and nowadays town library. The library has enriched its collections through public funding and donations from the County Library, as well as from various individuals. The library provides services such as: home book lending for children and adults, book lending to the reading room, book presentations, bibliographic recommendations. Events organized at the library: library days, book exhibitions, numerous cultural activities in collaboration with the local high school, general school and kindergartens.

The town library holds the cultural funds of the Brâncoveanu Settlements and the Royal Foundation. Source: www.bibnat.ro/biblioteci.php?id=2773 Photo: www.facebook.com/bibliotecaorasuluidabuleni

"Mircea Radina" Town Library, Segarcea was founded in 1923 at the initiative of the members of the Dolj Student Circle, as it is mentioned in the cultural chronicle of C.D. Fortunescu in Revista Arhivelor ( The Archives Magazine), in the beginning having a number of 164 volumes. The headquarters of the library was inaugurated in 1926, by the name of "Ferdinand I" Communal Library. After World War II, the library functioned as the Segarcea Communal Library. Starting with 1951, it became the Segarcea Regional Central Library until 1968 when the commune was declared a town and the library was named the Segarcea Town Library. At the initiative of the library staff, following the report of the Legal Department of Local Administration, the Dolj County Council, by decision no.78 / 19.10.2000, agreed to assign the name of the writer Mircea Radina - awarded with the title Son of Segarcea - to the library of Segarcea. Source: http://www.primariasegarcea.ro/oras/cultura-invatamant.php Photo: biblioteca-segarcea.oltsoft.ro/

Put into use in 1963, it features a 500-seat event hall and and the "Marin Sorescu" studio hall with a capacity of 100 seats.

”Amza Pellea” House of Culture initiates and develops projects and programs in the field of lifelong education.

Time schedule for beginners, basic level: Tuesday and Thursday, 16:00-18:00; Time schedule for beginners, advanced level: Tuesday, 18:00-20:00; Time schedule for advanced, basic level: Wednesday and Friday, 16:00-18:00; Time schedule for advanced, intermediate level: Wednesday, 18:00-20:00; Time schedule for advanced, advanced level: Thursday, 18:00-20:00; Time schedule for advanced, mixed group (boys and girls): Friday, 18:00-20:00. All groups can attend the Sunday classes, from 10:00 to 12:00 at Dabuleni Children`s Club.

Similar to any other "students` culture house" in the country, the Students` Culture House in Craiova provides to the students in the university centre of Oltenia an alternative to spending their free time in a productive way through various actions that complement the curricula and the professional training. Short history The Students` Culture House was founded exactly half a century ago, in 1964, overtaking the establishment of the University of Craiova by a year. First, the SCH in Craiova was located in the "Nicolae Titulescu" Palace, under the supervision of the Ministry of Education. In 1979, the need to expand the activities led to the relocation of the Students` Culture House from Eugeniu Carada street and the construction of new buildings, including a big event hall. After 9 years of hard work, the construction has come to an end, so that on May 2, 1988, the Great Hall of Events was put into use. Soon, the students became aware of this event hall thanks to the first student festival "Jazz, Folk, Rock". Due to the great impact of this big event, all Students` Culture Houses in the country took up the idea and the event was presented in the famous Billboard magazine. Over the years, the Students` Culture House has organized cultural, artistic, educational events, but also fun tourism, sports and leisure activities, dedicated mostly to students. The Students` Culture House in Craiova has always been and remains an open institution to all volunteer students, one of the most active institutions of its kind. This is the place where great Romanian artists sterted their career: Gabriel Cotabita, Aurelian Temisan, Vacanta Mare or Janina Matei. From its very beginning, the Students` Culture House has been an expression environement for young and free spirits, an elevated alternative to leisure. This institution represents an environment in which the young students' artistic and moral skills develop, a space for cultural experiments, as well as for promoting young talents. Conclusions and perspectives 50 years since its establishment, the Students` Culture House has remained the cultural edifice that shelters, develops and promotes the talents of students attending training sessions, classes, clubs and various other activities organized by SCH under the guidance of specialists. However, despite the fact that the modernization works did not lack, the SCH`s activity is limited by the permanent budget constraints in the cultural and educational field. The loss of a substantial part of the area in which it used to function (the legal heirs recovered the old building), as well as successive staff restructuring resolutions, affected the activity of the Students` Culture House. The hope of the Students` Culture House is that, along with the long-awaited Decentralization Law, it will be subordinated to the City Hall of Craiova, its work will gain even more brilliance and efficiency, and the students will struggle to transform Craiova into a true cultural capital.

It was established in 1937 by the well-known columnist Constantin Saban Fagetel, and it was initially a Community Centre. Starting with 1968, it becomes Segarcea House of Culture. Over the years, it developed continuous cultural activity. Within the House of Culture is the ensemble of customs and traditions "Segarceanca", led by the folk musician Marius Josceanu. The building that shelters this House of Culture has two levels, a 350-seat event room and a conference room. In the same building is the headquarters of Mircea Radina Town Library.

Craiova House of Culture. In 1991 changed its name to "Traian Demetrescu" House of Culture. The institution is built in the former house of the Romanian poet Traian Demetrescu. The house, nationalized in 1950, was converted into a memorial house in 1966 and a cultural center in 1973. "Traian Demetrescu" House of Culture fulfills the following main objectives: - organizing artistic, cultural and permanent education activities; - conserving and transmitting the artistic and technical moral values ​​of the local community, the national and the universal heritage; - organizing or supporting amateur artistic groups at competitions and festivals; - organizing or supporting the documentation of temporary exhibitions, the elaboration of monographs and works of civic education and information of the public. The activity of the "Traian Demetrescu" Cultural House is addressed to all citizens, regardless of their race, nationality, age, gender, ethnicity or religion in order to develop freely and to adapt to major changes within society and general morality norms. Source: www.tradem.ro Photo source: www.tradem.ro

The "Amza Pellea" Memorial House in the city of Băilești was opened to the general public on 7th of April  2024. The building, built in 1908 in the neo-baroque style, was renovated with the support of the Dolj County Council. An exhibition was arranged in memory of the great actor Amza Pellea, with objects donated by his daughter, the actress Oana Pellea.  One of the halls is dedicated to the man - Amza Pellea. Family photos, baptism certificate, personal items such as gold diamond ring, silver pocket watch, sunglasses, pipes are exhibited here. Visitors can also admire a panoply of prop weapons, used by Amza Pellea in films such as "Dacians" or "Michael the Brave". Among the exhibits, there are the award obtained by Amza Pellea at the International Film Festival in Moscow, for the performance in the film "Condemnation", the medal "Golden Promotion Jubilee of the Romanian Theatre 1956-2006" and the Gold Clacheta awarded post mortem to Amza Pellea by Union of Film Authors and Producers from Romania, in 1998. The second hall is dedicated to the actor - Amza Pellea, and here, there are displayed movie posters such as: "Nea Mărin Billionaire", "Then I condemned all to death", "Michael the Brave", "Power and Truth" , "Nea Mărin's" first hat, photos and documents illustrating the rich artistic activity of the great actor.

In the courtyard on Mihail Kogălniceanu no 9, right next to the headquarters of “Alexandru and Aristia Aman” Dolj County Library, there is a small, yet history-rich building, namely the “Elena Farago” House, the oldest memorial house in Craiova. The two patrons of Craiova – the Alexandru and Aristia Aman couple – left the House by testament to be used as “residence for employees in the service of the library and the museum”. The poetess Elena Farago lived here since her naming as director of the “Alexandru and Aristia Aman” Foundation on September 1st 1921, until her passing away in January 1954. Due to the nature of the organised or hosted events, the current Memorial House had the allure of a true cultural salon, the meeting place of literary persons. The “Elena Farago” Memorial House hosts a permanent exhibition that includes 396 showpieces: furniture, personal belongings, books and reviews, as well as hundreds of original documents, photocopies, family photographs and correspondence. Each year thousands of children and young people, as well as persons interested in Elena Farago’s work and life visit the building.

Constantin Brancusi is honored in a unique way in Craiova. The huge glass “egg” constructed in the courtyard of the Craiova Art Museum  represents an unparalleled construction in the artistic and architectural world, a real attraction for the enthusiasts of Brancusi's work, for those fascinated by modern art, as well as for those hunting spectacular objectives. The architect of the glass prism is the famous Dorin Stefan. He wanted to make an unprecedented project, a work on the border between sculpture and bold architecture. Dorin Ștefan was inspired by a sketch made by the great Constantin Brâncuși for the “Temple of Meditation”, a monument he had designed at the request of a Maharajah who wanted to build a mausoleum dedicated to the memory of his wife. In fact, the shape of the egg is found in many of the works of the famous sculptor. The idea of building a center dedicated to Brancusi was assumed by Dolj County Council, and the unique project of glass construction became a reality. The prism, 12 meters high, consists of slats and glass pillars weighing over 200 tons. Below the glass volume is a multifunctional underground pavilion, from inside which the access inside the “egg” is made, with an elevator that offers the perspective of another famous work of Brancusi, the Great Bird (Maiastra). The two overlapping structures, the gallery and the glass signal, form  a complete and complex interactive cultural objective: the “Constantin Brancusi” International Center.  Inside the pavilion there are exhibition spaces, but also areas that can host conferences and shows. At the heart of the concept of exhibition are the life and works of the great sculptor, and the way of presentation is an interactive one. Constantin Brancusi International Center was inaugurated in September 2022, offering Craiova a tourism product of international interest. Visitors have the opportunity to see both the attractive and interactive exhibitions of the center and the Jean Mihail Palace, a construction dating back to 1907 and hosting the Art Museum. Among the valuable exhibits of the museum there are also six Brancusi works: Miss Pogany, Ego, Kiss, Torso, Child's Head and Vitellius. 

The County Centre for Conservation and Promotion of the Traditional Culture Dolj is a public cultural institution with legal personality, subordinated to Dolj County Council, specialized in researching, collecting, archiving, transmitting and promoting the traditional culture in Dolj County, as well as highlighting the potential of the contemporary crafts in our county. It was established on December 1, 1955, by State Decree, under the name of Regional Centre for Traditional Crafts in Oltenia, an institution meant to guide and control amateur artistic activities, with a focus, for many years, on the ​​mass culture. The Community Centres (at that time, there were also neighborhood community centres in each city) and the Local Houses of Culture were subordinated to the Regional Centre for Traditional Crafts. Over the years, this institution has also been named: The Guiding Centre for Traditional Arts and Crafts Mass Movement Dolj, The Centre for Traditional Culture Dolj, County Centre for the Conservation and Development of the Traditional Culture, and since 2003, the County Centre for the Conservation and Promotion of the Traditional Culture Dolj, its current title. Objectives: - Ethnological and anthropological research; - Conservation (archiving) of the traditions and perennial values ​​of folk culture, their defense against pollution and degradation trends -Developing traditions in contemporary times, encouraging the process of folk creation in all artistic genres, promoting through the media and prints the creators and performers of authentic folk tradition and creation -Initiating, organizing and developing annually cultural - artistic manifestations specific to traditional culture (Commune days, competitions, local festivals, etc.).

The main objective of the activity of the County Centre for Nature Protection, Tourism and Sustainable Rural Development Dolj is to ensure the management and the exploitation of the Dolj county`s natural heritage by fulfilling the tasks of the Dolj County Council regarding the management of Natura 2000 sites and the protected natural areas, improving the quality of life in rural areas through sustainable development and tourism promotion in Dolj county.

Opened in 2016, in one of the flagship buildings of Craiova, namely the Damianov House, The Cross-Border Centre for Communication and Information Dolj-Vratsa functions within the frame of “Alexandru and Aristia Aman” Dolj County Library. Conceived as a cross-border hub which aims at contributing to the consolidation of communication and information on both sides of the Danube, the Centre coordinates the process of ongoing development of the information portal and online catalogue which all interested parties can consult in order to access heritage documents, press articles, maps, photographs and all other materials made available by institutions involved in the project – libraries, museums, archives etc. – from Dolj County and the Bulgarian Region of Vratsa. The Cross-Border Centre for Communication and Information Dolj-Vratsa promotes joint business opportunities, public partnerships at all levels, as well as social and cultural exchanges between communities in Dolj and Vratsa.

„OLTENIA” PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA - CRAIOVA, ROMANIA The “Oltenia” Philharmonic from Craiova, a well-known institution in the Romanian musical life, has been founded in 1904 and established in 1947 by a Royal Decree. The present activity is carried out by the Symphony Orchestra (around 80 professional musicians), the Chamber Orchestra, the Academic Choir, as many chamber assemblies, too. The repertoire includes masterpieces of symphonic music, operas, oratorios, requiems, musical jewels, arrangements of famous jazz pieces, covering a large historical period, from Baroque to contemporary. The Symphony Orchestra was conducted by musical personalities, such as Alexandr Dmitriev (Russia), Kurt Adler (USA), Wolfgang Gröhs (Austria), Carmen Moral (Peru), Ivan Marinov (Bulgaria), André Nève (Belgia), Stanislav Wislocki (Polonia), Constantin Silvestri, Mihai Brediceanu, Sergiu Comissiona, Iosif Conta, Erich Bergel, Emil Simon, Horia Andreescu, Camil Marinescu and collaborated with famous soloists, like Pavel Kogan, Igor Oistrakh, Mihail Homitzer, Vladimir Viardo, Boris Gudnikov, Vladimir Orlov, Alexander Slobodianik (Russia), José Manuel Esteban (Spain), Thierry de Brunhoff (France), Weimer Stanley (USA), Marcella Crudeli, Fausto Zadra (Italy), Ion Voicu, Ştefan Ruha, Lola Bobescu, Silvia Marcovici, Radu Aldulescu, Valentin Gheorghiu, Dan Grigore, Nicolae Herlea, Ileana Cotrubaş, Viorica Cortez, Mariana Nicolesco ş. a. Recording houses like: Electrecord, Musical Company - Arad (Romania); V.D.Gallo - Doron, Lausanne (Switzerland); R.Z - Berlin (Germany); Disk Makers, Pennsauken - New Jersey (USA) produced highly appreciated CDs and LPs for “Oltenia” Philharmonic. The symphony orchestra was invited in Italy to perform at the summer concerts together with Katia Ricciarelli - the world’s famous Italian soprano - and to attend to “The International Courses for Young Conductors” from Manfredonia, Alessandria (Italy), Corsica (France), “The International Competitions for Young Soloists” (the finales with the orchestra), in Italy: “G.B. Viotti” (Varallo), “Rodolfo Lipizer” (Gorizia), “Citta di Cantu” (Como); in France: The International Festival “Les Nuits Pianistiques” (Aix-en-Provence); The Opera Festivals in Germany and Italy (Spoleto). The symphonic repertoire of the orchestra covers, among others, the integral symphonies by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Bruckner; Symphonies nos. 1, 2, 4 and 6 by Mahler; Symphonies nos. 1, 5, 8, 9 and The Chamber Symphony by Shostakovich; “La Mer”, “Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune” by C. Debussy; “Bolero” by M. Ravel; The Symphonic Poems “The Preludes”, “Orpheus”, “Tasso”, “Faust” Symphony by Liszt; The Symphonic Poems “Don Juan”, “Also sprach Zarathustra”, “Don Quixote”, “Till Eulenspiegel”, “Death and Transfiguration” by R. Strauss; “The Firebird”, “Le Sacre du printemps”, “Petrushka” by Stravinsky. The “Oltenia” Philharmonic from Craiova organizes in 2013 the 40'th anniversary edition of the traditional International Festival “Musical Craiova”, distinguished by the concerts’ comprehensive programmes, the highest artistic quality of the assemblies and the guest-personalities, also. Press Echoes: “The Orchestra of Craiova has demonstrated to be the best one as a good balanced sound.” (Darmstäder Echo); “The orchestra's sections are homogenous; an assembly of a marvellous harmony. It's an important Romanian orchestra.” (Rhein-Neckar Zeitung); “Discipline, interest, musicality conducted to an exceptional efficiency of the orchestra.” (Erich Bergel); “The skills of this orchestra which is situated on the top-level of the best artistic assemblies from our country are remarkable.” (Eugen Sarbu); “It was a great pleasure for me to perform together with this orchestra.” (Silvia Marcovici); “Craiova it's an interesting town and this orchestra it's of a high potential.” (Lory Wallfisch); “In Craiova I had the opportunity to meet extraordinary musicians, an orchestra and a choir of the first quality.” (Bruce Polay); “I remark the whole orchestra which has offered the total energy and attention, realising a splendid interpretation.” (Vincenzo Balzani) ACADEMIC CHOIR OF "OLTENIA" PHILHARMONIC - CRAIOVA, ROMANIA The Academic Choir of “Oltenia” Philharmonic from Craiova, one of the most valuable artistic assemblies of this genre in our country, was created in 1953. The vast repertoire sums up about 1000 of the representative compositions of our choral art like: Renaissance, Baroque, Classic, Romantic and Contemporary. Around 60 professional musicians form the the choir of the “Oltenia” Philharmonic. The activity is extended on two big chapters: a cappella and choral concerts. A cappella concerts include pieces of all epoques and creations, styles of diversity and technical difficulty specific to first class professional ensembles. The vocal-symphonic concerts include masterpieces of universal and Romanian musical literature as: passions, masses, requiems, oratories, cantatas a.o. We illustrate some of them: “Johannes-Passion”, “Matthäus-Passion” Oratorios, The Great Mass in B minor, Magnificat, Christmas Oratorio by J. S. Bach; “The Seasons”, “The Creation” Oratorios by J. Haydn; Requiem, The Coronation's Mass, The Great Mass in C minor by W. A. Mozart; Fantasy in C minor for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra and Symphony No. 9 by L. v. Beethoven; Requiem and Quattro pezzi sacri by G. Verdi; “Messiah” Oratorio by G. Fr. Händel; Stabat Mater by G. Rossini; Requiem by G. Fauré; A German Requiem by J. Brahms, “Carmina Burana” by C. Orff; Mass in E-flat Major by F. Schubert; „Joan of Arc at the Stake” Oratorio by A. Honegger; Byzantine Christmas Oratorio and Byzantine Easter Oratorio by P. Constantinescu; “Elijah” and “Paulus” Oratorios by F. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy; Choral Symphony „The Bells”, “Spring” Cantata and “Vespers” by S. Rachmaninoff. The “Oltenia” Philharmonic from Craiova organizes the annual well-known International Festival “Musical Craiova”, distinguished by the concerts’ programme, the highest artistic quality of the assemblies and the guest-personalities also.

If you are passionate about art or you are a collector, we invite you to see our products.

The Chromatic Galleries were founded in Craiova in the early '60s. Founding member: the famous cartoonist Gabriel Bratu. It was the first Amateur Art Gallery in the country. Artworks are exhibited by amateurs and professionals, photographers, students of various schools in Craiova or in Dolj County through partnerships between the Centre for Popular Creation and the schools; In this way the exhibition hall hosts an exhibition each month / twice a month. Also, in the exhibition hall, regular meetings take place with the managers of the cultural community centers in Dolj County.

The gallery functions as a space for research, production and display for contemporary art. ElectroPutere Gallery serves as a basis for a wide range of public programs and activities exploring art and its role in society. The gallery is conceived as a space of support for production and exhibition of contemporary art and artistic experiments – a laboratory offered to artists with whom ElectroPutere is constantly collaborating available also to our guests. As a platform whose agenda radiates openness, ElectroPutere aims to propagate an open concept of art and pose questions about current artistic production of a young generation of artists as well as to take up socially and politically relevant themes.

The "Museum of the Romanian Book and Exile" constitutes a unique, large-scale project, whose well-defined purpose is the reunification of Romanian culture with the cultural patrimony produced outside the country, from the post-war Romanian exile up to the present day. Its holdings include nearly 40 collections of immense value in terms of their content: The "Academician Basarab Nicolescu" Collection; The "Leonid Mămăligă" Collection; The "Neuilly Circle" Archive Collection; The "Hyperion Association" Archive Collection; The "Mircea Milcovitch and Maria Mesterou" Collection; The "Andrei Șerban" Collection; The "Paul Barbăneagră" Collection; The "Corneliu Șerban Popa" Collection; The "Vintilă Horia" Collection; The "Cicerone Poghirc" Collection; The "Andrei Codrescu" Collection; The "Carmen Firan and Andrei Sângeorzan" Donation; The "Victor Cupșa" Collection; The "Constantza Buzdugan" Donation; The "Bujor Nedelcovici" Collection; The "Cezar Vasiliu" Collection; The "Valeriu Veliman" Donation; The "Mircea Eliade" Collection; The "Emil Cioran" Collection; The "Ileana and Romulus Vulpescu" Collection; The "Șerban Viorel and Rodica Stănoiu" Donation; The "Academician Dan Berindei" Collection; The "Academician Dinu C. Giurescu" Collection; The "Academician Ștefan Ștefănescu" Donation; The "Romanian Institute/Romanian Library in Freiburg" Donation; The "George Banu" Collection; The "Dumitru Milcoveanu" Collection; The "Octav Calleya" Collection; The "Horia-Dinu Nicolaescu" Donation; The "Nicolas Adam" Collection; The "Ion Deaconescu" Donation; The "Aurora Cornu" Collection; The "Miron Kiropol" Collection; The "Grigore Arbore" Collection; The "Theodor Damian" Collection; The "George Roca" Collection; The "Romanian-American Academy of Arts and Sciences" Collection; The "Romanian Exile Memory at the National Romanian Television" Collection. The project emerged from the need to create an overview of Romanian spiritual creations, made beyond the country's borders during the communist regime. The uniqueness of the Museum's holdings lies within a formidable, remarkable diversity, easily noticeable, especially in terms of the fields represented, ranging from the humanities and social sciences, theology and music, to performing and visual arts, as well as the types of materials that make up each individual collection. When visiting a multitude of museum exhibits, one can observe handwritten dedications in highly valuable books, original manuscripts and documents from the libraries of the personalities represented in the Museum, thousands of pages of correspondence from famous exiled writers, presented for the first time to the Romanian public, as well as unique pieces of visual art in painting, sculpture, drawing, or engraving. The archives held in the museum's collection serve as a robust testimony, a documentary fresco of the cultural, scientific, and artistic activities undertaken by personalities of the Romanian exile. They also represent an invaluable research tool for all those concerned with the creations and memories of cultural figures who settled around the globe during the era dominated by Romanian communism. The museum's efforts, therefore, aim to popularize the works signed by prominent names of the Romanian exile which, up to now, have circulated for almost half a century solely outside the country's borders, with only a small portion being published and translated into Romanian.

Built between 1898 and 1907 in the middle of a city caught in the fever of the innovations of the early twentieth century, the Mihail Palace stands out by the execution details that have the distinction of a meticulously crafted jewellery. Thus, it reflects the exigencies and social status of one of the richest men of that time, and the ambition and the spirit of competition which helped him make a fortune. So, as Gh. Grigore Cantacuzino, nicknamed the "Nabob", in Bucharest and the royal advisor Vălimărescu, across the street, assigned the building of their houses to the famous architect Albert Galleron who had also made the projects of other important buildings in the Kingdom - the Romanian Athenaeum, Constantin Mihail could accept nothing less for himself. He contracted another famous name at the time, Paul Gottereau - the architect of the Royal Court and the creator of the Royal Palace, of the Palace of the "Carol I" University Foundation, the CEC Palace etc. Reflecting on the prevailing trend of the time, that of an eclecticism which successfully combined the rigor of the French academicism with late Baroque elements, the plan of the construction has many similarities with the plan of the Cheverny Palace in the Loire Valley, recognized as an example of architectural balance and elegance. The exterior details and the ornaments on the facade, the window frames and the ironwork of the balconies, prepare the viewer's eye for the exquisite grandeur hidden inside. In the hall of honour, in the reception lounges and in the music room, in the living rooms, but also in all other areas not necessarily having a specific destination for social events, the building materials were of the highest quality: Carrara marble, Murano crystal and Venetian mirrors, decorative ironwork, Lyon silk, gilded mouldings, furniture and art objects, generally purchased from Vienna with the aid of the rich Dumba family, with which Constantin Mihail was closely related. But not only these standards of luxury are impressive. We should also mention the skylights and the large windows, designed to provide the space with as much natural light as possible, and also the technical equipment used to provide comfort all around the house, all exceptional for that period of time, including electricity and the "Roman type" heating system with pipes inserted in the walls and floors. The Palace has 29 rooms (plus annexes) of which the most spectacular is the Hall of Mirrors Inaugurated in 1909 by the two sons, Nicolae and Jean - as Constantin Mihail had died the year before, the Palace began its representation mission, which was intended from the beginning. Jean Mihail was a cultivated man and a person with broad views. He had studied law in Paris, wanting to devote to a political career. Being a prominent member of the high society and part of the restrictive circle at the Royal Court, he hosts the royal family in his palace in 1913, at the inauguration of the monument "That's the music that I love", called so after the remark of Charles I when hearing the cannon shots that marked the start of the War of Independence in 1877. The monument was destroyed immediately after the communists come to power. Two years later, King Ferdinand and Princess Mary are welcomed at the palace together with General Averescu, who were coming to visit the Military Hospital in Craiova. In 1936, Jean Mihail, the last descendant of the family, dies, leaving his entire fortune to the Romanian state, by will. And it really was an impressive fortune considering that, during the economic crisis of 1929-1933, he guaranteed with it the loans contracted by the Romanian state from the foreign banks. His gesture reflects a high civic sense and a patriotism of the noblest kind – and this is why the building remained in the public consciousness as the Jean Mihail Palace. At the beginning of World War II, when Romania generously housed Polish refugees, the Polish President Ignacy Moscicki with his family and Marshal Edward Rydz-Śmigły - the chief commander of the Polish armed forces, were housed at the palace. Furthermore, here, in 1940, Romania and Bulgaria signed the Treaty of Craiova by which the Quadrilateral is ceded to Bulgaria. The palace was first opened to the public between the 24th and the 31st of October 1943, during the "Week of Oltenia" event under the patronage of the Royal Cultural Foundation and during which some of the works of Constantin Brancusi were exposed for the first time in Craiova, (Head of a boy, Head of a girl and The Kiss). From 1945 to 1950, the palace became the headquarters of ARLUS (Romanian Association for Tightening the Relations with the Soviet Union), and then of the Regional Committee of the RMP in Oltenia, whose secretary was Nicolae Ceausescu (probably out of sentimental reasons he later decided, after having become the General Secretary of the Communist Party and the President of the Romanian Socialist Republic, to preserve and restore the building after it had been severely damaged during the earthquake of 1977). Since 1954, following the decision of setting up an art collection, the building was transferred in the patrimony of the City People's Council heritage and became the headquarters of the Art Museum of Craiova. Part of the "Alexander and Aristia Aman” Pinacoteca was moved here, including, besides the library, furniture and paintings belonging to the Dutch, Flemish, Italian and French schools from the XVII-XIX century, paintings and graphics by Theodor Aman, Romanian and foreign decorative art. Its patrimony was extended during the interwar period through purchases made by the city and due to the donations from the great noble families of Craiova: Mihail, Romanescu, Cornetti, Glogoveanu etc. The acquisitions continued in the post-war period and transfers have been made from the National Museum of Art and the central state funds. Currently, the patrimony of the Museum consists of over 8,000 works of European and Romanian art. The collection includes the most important names of the Romanian painting and sculpture: Theodor Aman, Nicolae Grigorescu, Nicolae Tonitza, Ștefan Luchian, Gheorghe Petrașcu, Theodor Pallady, Eustațiu Stoenescu, Ion Țuculescu, Gheorge Anghel, Dimitrie Paciurea. The most valuable works of art from those held by the museum are six pieces from the works of the titan of the universal modern art, Constantin Brancusi: Vitellius, Head of a girl, Head of a boy, Torso Fragment (or Thigh), Miss Pogany and The Kiss.

The Henri Coanda Exhibition is hosted in the old town hall building, at the initiative of the Romanian Propaganda and Aeronautics History Association - Craiova Branch. There are two halls dedicated to the great scholar's memory, exhibiting objects related to his childhood partly spent in Perişor. In front of the museum was placed a bronze bust of Henri Coanda. Also in the yard of the museum you can see an IAR - 93 plane, one of the first Romanian flying machines to which the Romanian scientist contributed. The museum features a variety of ethnographic cultural objects. It can be visited upon request. Source: ghidulmuzeelor.cimec.ro

Bania House, a monument of medieval architecture and the oldest civil building in Craiova, was built in the late fifteenth century by the Craioveşti noblemen and it was rebuilt in 1699 by the prince martyr Constantin Brancoveanu. From the initial construction done by Craioveşti only part of the cellar is preserved. In the midst of history, the old foundation was burned many times, it passed through different dominations and administrations and "suffered" architectural changes, additions and deletions according to their needs. Thus, between 1718 - 1739, in Baniei House is based the austrian administration, which strengthens it for defense. In 1750, the building is transferred by ruler Grigore Ghica to the Diocese of Râmnic. Since 1850, the building became headquarters for various institutions of the city: Craiova’s Court, Buzeşti Brothers’ High School, the Local Seminar, the State Archives. Since 1933, the building will house the Museum of Oltenia until 1948, when its use is switched to the Metropolitan Church of Oltenia. Since 1966, the old brancovenian architectural monument hosts the Department of Ethnography from the Museum of Oltenia. The Department of Ethnography organizes: permanent and temporary exhibitions including ethnographic documentary valuables (of traditional and contemporary art from its property patrimony or belonging to other institutions), communication sessions, symposiums, meetings with field specialists, book launches, ethnographic film screenings and other para and meta-museum activities. The Department of Ethnography provides to the public: specialized information, bibliographies on the models and values of the culture and the traditional arts; specialized publications edited by the museum with ethno-folk specific, including the annual of Oltenia, Studies and Communications, Ethnography, and other publicity materials: leaflets, guidebooks, postcards, aso, contemporary traditional art objects (ceramics, icons, fabrics, painted eggs, musical instruments, aso.) and traditional art objects, for sale, at "The cartful of pots" store.

Brief summary of the History-Archaeology In the XVII-XIX century, in the main building where the History-Archaeology Department within Oltenia Museum is located, there was a spring from where water carriers took drinkable water and sold it in the historical area of Craiova. The ground belonged to the Maica Precista Church from Dud, today called Madona Dudu. On the same ground, there was a part from an old and ancient forest, of which a small part is still preserved nowadays, in the park Mihai Bravu. The ground belonged to Brînduşa slum as well, which was divided by a bourn, merging Vâlcea Valey to one of the Jiu branches from those days. In front of the current building, there was a wooden footbridge which connected with the Dorobănţia slum, where people from Dorobănţia lived, who maintained order in Craiova and had military obligations as well. At the end of the XIX century, supported by a donation made to the Madona Dudu Foundation by a certain Preda, the municipality considered the idea of building an asylum. Under these terms, the project of the future building contained a yard with a closed interior and the windows were barred at a greater height than the usual buildings. The management of Craiova town, who received this land by donation, decided that building such a hospital would be inappropriate, as it was too close to the town centre. As a result, the hospital would be built in a location outside Craiova. With funds from the Ministry of Education, supplemented by funds from Craiova city hall, at the beginning of the XX century, the construction of its current residence began. The construction of the History-Archaeology Department building from Oltenia Museum, made after architect Fr. Billek’s plans, was finished in 1906 and inaugurated in the autumn of the same year, on the occasion of the 40 years anniversary celebration of the reign of king Carol I, building that served as an elementary school for boys and girls. This place also served as a shelter for orphan children, who had an opportunity to learn a profession. With funds collected on their own through different methods: objects handcrafted by pupils and sold by the “Doamnele Craiovene Committee” during holidays over the year, they would provide food for many poor pupils, all managed by the priests of the Madona Dudu church. In November 1940, the building was seriously damaged by an earthquake and the school was temporary transferred before further restoration. In 1948, all religious buildings and private schools were suppressed by the Communist regime. As a result, at the direct intervention of future scholar C.S. Nicolăescu-Plopşor and his colleague, Ştefan Voitec, at that time secretary of education, the building was granted to Oltenia Museum. In this location, the State archives, as well as archives of all Craiova museums, would be initially registered.

Inaugurated on December 2, 1923 under the title "Museum of Natural History Craiova", by the members of Craiova Scientific Circle managed by Prof. Marin Demetrescu, teacher of natural sciences, the museum became a department of Oltenia Regional Museum in 1928. On May 13, 1928 it was decided that the Museum of Natural History Craiova, having extended its management area to the collections of the Museum of Ethnography and Antiquities Dolj county during 1927, should "restrict the exploration area to Oltenia region" (Vincenz, 1928) and function under the title “Oltenia Regional Museum”, managed by Prof. Marin Demetrescu. At first, the Department of Natural Sciences was operational in the Prefecture building; between 1934 - 1948 the department moved to the current office of the Ethnography Department, and between 1949 - 1975 it was operational in the current office of the Archeology – History Department. During this period, the patrimony of the Department of Natural Sciences was opened for visitors under various exhibition forms until 1963, when the basic exhibition was introduced into the exhibition circuit, installed in the building ground floor at 44 Madona Dudu Street, performed according to a thematic project drafted by Prof. Dr. Ioan Firu. This exhibition was phased-out in the year 1975 to extend the basic exhibition of the Archeology – History Department. Between the years 1975 - 1986, in the absence of the required space, the exhibition within the Department of Natural Sciences closed and was followed by specific activities with the aim to complete, diversify, record and scientifically improve the museum patrimony. The new exhibition campaign began on March 13, 1986, on the building ground floor at 8 Popa Sapca Street where it also continues to be operational nowadays, when two temporary exhibitions have been introduced: “Butterflies – Flying Petals” and “Animal World”. The two exhibitions have been regularly followed by dozens of temporary exhibitions with the aim to renew the enhanced patrimony with museum pieces resulting from research activities performed by curators. At least four temporary exhibitions have been showed annually at the Department’s office, some of them being also exhibited in other museums in the country (Drobeta Turnu Severin, Timişoara, Târgu Mureş, Brăila, Curtea de Argeş, Suceava, Bacău, Bârlad, Bistriţa Năsăud etc). On September 18, 2008, the basic exhibition from the 1st floor has been opened and installed after implementing the project “Enhancing tourist attractiveness of Craiova municipality and Dolj county by installing the basic exhibition at the 1st floor of the Department of Natural Sciences within Oltenia Museum in Craiova”, submitted on December 16, 2002 within PHARE Program 2001 Economic and Social Cohesion – Non-refundable financing scheme for small infrastructure projects, by Dolj County Council, in partnership with Oltenia Museum – Department of Natural Sciences (photos 1-3). On February 22 2012 the basic paleontology exhibition “Oltenia – Terra fossilis” has also been introduced, installed at the building ground floor located in 8 Popa Şapcă Street.

Early Years… There has been a long-going interest in drama in Craiova, traceable in a large array of shows organized here: old folklore, puppet and shadow, itinerant companies and circus artists ones. An early piece of evidence of this activity is the 1596 mention of an ‘improvisation theatre’ in “The Chronicle of Michael the Brave’s Reign” (see Oltenia’s archives). Undoubtedly, the mention is there thanks to the commercial relationships that Craiova had developed with Vienna, Venice, Trieste, Lipsca-Leipzig, Tarigrad, Petersburg and Breslau-Bratislava. “The History of Craiova” (Scrisul Românesc Publishing House, Craiova, 1977) mentions Italian ‘buffoon shows’ in 1811 and a German company which performed two of August von Kotzebue’s plays – “Emperor Claudius” (Kaiser Claudius) and “The Window Comedy” (Das Lustspiel am Fenster) in 1830. We also learn that ‘the highly respectable authorities of Dolj county’ were asked to grant the theatre company run by Valéry and Theodore Gaffrey the permission to perform ‘theatrical pieces on the days with no club activity, which will conform to the current good manners and religious morality’, in 1840. As far as opera is concerned, ‘in 1837, the German Theatre Society performed in Craiova «The Puritans», a great drama in three acts by Romani (sic) (Carlo Pepoli), music by Vincenzo Bellini’, – this first opera show in Craiova took place only one year after its première in Paris. The composer George Simonis claimed that in Craiova there were sung fragments from “Norma” by Vincenzo Bellini and “Roberto il Diavolo” by Giacomo Meyerbeer. The operas respective scores belonged to Simonis family and bore the annotation ‘used at the Kraiova Theatre in 1844 by the Kapellmeister Simonis’. In 1850, Costache Caragiale and Costache Mihăileanu, with the aid of Pera Opran Filişeanu and the scholar Gheorghe Chiţu, founded a permanent theatre. 29th of June 1850 appears in the annals of Craiova as the inauguration date of the National Theatre, with the first performances being first held in the High school’s Auditorium, then in a wooden building, with double, earth-filled walls. The first season’s repertoire was mostly made up of vaudevilles: “The Muse from Burdujeni” by Costache Negruzzi, “Rustic Wedding” by Vasile Alecsandri, “The Village Boyar” by I. Dumitrescu, “Quarantine” by Costache Negruzzi and others. The Teodorini Period During the 1853-1854 season, the theatre was managed by Pera Opran, while in 1854 the position was given to Theodor Teodorini. The beginning of his administration was marked by a great loss, the playhouse burning down on New Year’s Eve. In May 1856, a new National Theatre, built in Neo-classical style, in the Street of Justice, was inaugurated. Theodor Teodorini died in 1873, leaving behind a rich artistic heritage: ‘a new building for the theatre and a repertoire made up of 325 works, most of them original’. The wife of Theodor Teodorini, Maria Teodorini, followed in his footsteps as the theatre manager and started strengthening the company. She hired Profira and Ion Fărcăşanu, Aristizza Romanescu (Paulina Stavrescu’s daughter and Maria Teodorini’s sister), Clotilde Ademolo, Aron Bobescu, Al. Manu and Mia Teodorescu, Ion Livescu and Al. Demetrescu Dan. In 1887,‘helped by her daughter, Elena Teodorini, she restored the theatre building, introducing electric light, which did not exist elsewhere in Craiova, so that on the 15th of January 1888, the season started in an almost new theatre’. The real celebration of the opening of the Theatre in Craiova, mentioned in “The History of the National Theatre in Craiova” (Aius Publishing House, Craiova, 2000), took place in the autumn of 1889, with a concert in which Elena Teodorini sang, followed by other shows in which she sang opposite to Concetta Zanchi, a mezzo-soprano, Serafino Zanchi del Falco, a tenor, Enrico Broggi, a baritone and other artists from Craiova. The most important moment for the music life in Craiova at the end of the 19th century was the founding of the “Dramatic Society” by Maria Teodorini, in agreement with ‘the regulations of the theatre law’ (passed in 1877 and applied in Craiova as late as 1889). During the first season of the “Dramatic Society”, its committee settled for the creation of an operetta company and thus an operetta department was inaugurated in Craiova in the 1889-1890 season. At the end of the 19th century, the Craiova operetta company was one of the best in the country, with artists such as Aron Bobescu, Irina Vlădaia, Eliza Odeseanu, Iosefina Găluşcă, Profira Fărcăşanu, Ion Băjenaru, Nicu Poenaru, Ion Fărcăşanu, Al. Nanu and Ion Vasiliu. These were very productive years for the Theatre in Craiova. The Teodorini family’s concern for enhancing its prestige was further demonstrated by the establishing of the company’s own orchestra and the renowned conductors and composers that were invited to work here: Eduard Wachmann, Alexandru Flechtenmacher, Ion Andrei Wachmann, Carl Theodor Wagner and the whole Bobescu family. The musicologist Viorel Cosma, in an article published in “Ahead” (Înainte), a newspaper, on 27th March 1973, highlighted Craiova’s role in Romanian music history. ‘For me, the town of Craiova remains the cradle of classic operetta music in Romania, an artistic center with a great tradition, splendidly illustrated by the former companies of Teodorini and Al. Bobescu’. In “The History of the National Theatre of Craiova” there are mentioned ‘two distinct operetta companies in 1890, one led by Al. G. P. Marinescu and one by A. Bobescu, something not to be seen in any other Romanian theatre’. Since the establishment of a stable operetta company in 1889, the National Theatre alternated drama and comedy shows with opera and operetta ones; since 1894-1895, the theatre show prevailed over the musical one in Craiova, due to the introduction of drama and tragedy by the actor, poet and playwright Ioan I. Livescu. Original Romanian and translated or adapted foreign comedies, couplets and vaudevilles were still performed with great success, as part of a wide dramatic repertoire. The beginning of the 20th century to the present… In the first years of the new century, many opera and operetta performances by ‘some great European companies and artists’ took place in Craiova. Once Grigore Gabrielescu, a tenor, occupied the position of manager in 1904, a series of famous names of the lyrical and dramatic European stage could be heard and seen in Craiova: Georges Courtois, Sarah Bernahardt, Paulina Giovanni, Rafael Punza, Adolfo Sterngola, Salvatore Sciaretti. At the same time, important plays and operas entered the theatre’s repertoire, such as “Ernani”, “Un Ballo in maschera”, “Rigoletto”, “La Traviata”, “Il Trovatore”, “Aida” by G. Verdi, “La Gioconda” by A. Ponchielli, “Faust” by Ch. Gounod, “I Pagliacci” by R. Leoncavallo, “Cavalleria rusticana” by P. Mascagni, “Lucia di Lammermoor” by G. Donizetti, “Carmen” by G. Bizet and “La Tosca” by G. Puccini. The National Theatre in Craiova, which bore Theodor Teodorini’s name until 1889, burned down in August 1927. Between 1927-1932, performances were held in the building of the “Modern” cinema, on whose frontispiece one could read “Modern Theatre Cinema”. Between 1893 and 1895 the building of Carol the 1st High school was raised, in French Academic Art style – with Neo-classical elements and a central rotunda with rhythmical Corinthian pillars. The rotunda corner was heightened, while preserving the initial aspect, by building a new floor between 1923 and 1927. The building included a superb auditorium in Italian style. Here, the Theatre held its shows between 1933 and 1973. The building of the High school fell victim to another fire in 1930, and was restored by the Italian architect Giovanni Battista Peresutti. The economic crisis of the ’30 and the ensuing political decisions led to the closing down of the National Theatre. It was re-opened in 1942. “The History of Craiova” chronicled the shows after 1950, which were brought on stage due to the collaboration with other cultural institutions such as the Philharmonics, the National Theatre, The Artistic Company “Nicolae Bălcescu”, the Popular Arts School, as well as some amateur companies: “The Bird Seller” by Carl Zeller, “Ana Lugojana” by Filaret Barbu, “The Happy Widow” by Franz Lehár, “New Moon” by Ciprian Porumbescu and “The Gypsy Baron” by Johann Strauss (son). On the 1st of January 1972, the operetta department was established as part of the ”Oltenia” State Philharmonic, the first season opening with “Viennese Blood” by Johann Strauss (son). Starting with 1974, one can speak about a three-tier activity of the operetta department: besides opera and operetta shows, a musical show for children entered the repertoire, namely “The Naughty Rooster”, by Constantin Ungureanu, (a composer from Craiova), based on a story by Ion Luchian. On 28th of May 1979 the Executive Committee of the Popular Council of Dolj passed Decision no.264 which established The Lyrical Theatre Craiova starting from the 1st of June 1979. The lyrical theater was thus separated from “Oltenia” Philharmonic that had embraced it for seven seasons with a lot of sacrifices (a double activity for the choir and the orchestra, for the conductor Teodor Costin and the choirmaster Alexandru Racu). Because the Lyrical Theatre of Craiova started to focus on opera, under the influence of Modest Cichirdan and Emil Maxim, both conductors, who also tried to establish the ballet performance as an independent show, the latter made the formal request of changing the name of the institution from The Lyrical Theatre in The Opera and Operetta Theatre of Craiova. This was granted through the Decision no. 36 of the County Council of Dolj on 23rd of September 1996. On the 9th of October 2002, the Local Council of Craiova, under whose supervision the theatre was, passed Decision no. 208 which changed the name of the institution from The Opera and Operetta Theatre of Craiova in The “Elena Teodorini” Lyrical Theatre. Recently, the management team of the institution asked for another change of name into THE ROMANIAN OPERA CRAIOVA, a request justified by the large number of opera shows in the current repertoire. The Local Council of Craiova agreed to this, passing Decision no. 763 on 28th of November 2013. Source: http://www.operacraiova.ro/en/history/

Marincu Palace houses the Art and Ethnography Museum in Calafat. It was built between 1905-1907 by Ştefan Marincu, in memory of his daughter Marioara Marincu according to the plans of the architect Paul Gottereau. The works were supervised by the architect Constantin Rogalski. The exterior and interior decorations were made by construction engineer Pietro Adotti. As an architectural style, the recently rebuilt palace (2001-2002) belongs to the French neoclassicism with baroque and rococo accents and with influences of the Romanian architecture at the beginning of the 20th century. The edifice was introduced in the National Heritage, on the List of Historic Monuments, in 2003. It hosts collections and works by some great Romanian fine artists such as Nicolae Grigorescu, Henri Catargi or Theodor Pallady and sculptures by Ion Irimescu, Nicu Enea, George Demetrescu Mirea. The folk art collection of the museum includes traditional clothing and carpets, braids, tools and household items. In September 2012 a department dedicated to the history of Calafat was opened , with the important support of the Florentza and Ilie Marincu families, descendants of the family who built this palace and who made important donations to the museum, including the concert piano and the chandelier in The Great Hall of Mirrors. Source: www.monumenteoltenia.ro Photo source: www.monumenteoltenia.ro

"Cornetti" School was the first musical education institution in Craiova, inaugurated in the fall of 1911 by bringing into the spot light the generous donation made by the family of Elefterie Crăciun-Cornetti and Elena, born Zissi. The story begins at the turn of two centuries, with two determined people who had a nice thought in mind: to build a music school in the town of Craiova. Elena and Elefterie Cornetti, nostalgic about the patronage of the arts from the golden times, recalling the inaugural magnitude and significance of some ancient rulers' donations, have left their entire estate to the City Hall for it to establish an institution of musical education, as the ones which, at that time, were only in Bucharest and Iasi. In the fall of 1911, the School of Music "Elefterie and Elena Cornetti, born Zissi" opens its gates in a festive ceremony. Starting with only six classes and several hearty teachers, the School expanded over time its range of activities, including plastic arts, theatre, choreography, photography and cinematography. The number of classes and the number of the students has been steadily increasing, so that today more than 400 students complete their artistic education in the "Cornetti" School. The "Cornetti" School initiates and conducts educational programs in long-term education, traditional culture and folk arts, consistently aiming to: - foster creativity and talent; - cultivate the traditional values, the authenticity of the contemporary folk art, as well as of the unprofessional performing arts: vocal and instrumental music, choreography (classical dance and folk dance), theatre (acting), visual arts (graphics, painting, film); - develop cultural exchanges at county, national and international level; - ensure the conservation, valorization and transmission of the moral, artistic and technical values of the local community, as well as those of the national and world cultural heritage.

Summer Theater