In the days of good weather, when he has a little time off, Charalampos Konstantinidis “hides” on a bench in Cișmigiu Park to read and enjoy the tranquility that this place offers. Being passionate about books, he also relaxes in many bookshops with tradition in Bucharest. But he feels best when he goes to the Romanian Athenaeum, which he claims is “a temple of music“.
For students this is one of the busiest times of the year, due to the exam session. Charalampos Konstantinidis is in a continuous agitation, dividing his time between theoretical and musical preparation. He is learning, studying the instrument, rehearsing.
But he also made time for us and told us about his experience in Bucharest.
“Music is the antidote of my soul for the evil of the world”
The young Greek-Cypriot comes from the city of Larnaca, located on the southern coast of Cyprus.
He is 24 years old and has a lot of passions. Apart from music, he also loves literature, fine arts, theater, film and photography. A true artist soul that vibrates to everything that is beautiful.
He does not come from a family with a tradition in music, and he had the first contact with this field when he was 9 years old, when he joined a children’s choir. The conductor of that choir realized the inclinations of the kid, so when the boy was 11 he advised his parents to point him to learning a musical instrument. “This is how I started violin classes and music theory classes, at the same time, at a private institution where I received lessons in particular. A year later, I started piano lessons as a secondary instrument. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to study in a music high school, because the establishment, in my city, of such an educational institution took place only when I was preparing to finish my high school studies,” said the young man.
As the first name says, Charalampos “shines with happiness” when he feels the violin strings vibrate under his fingers. “I chose music because it is what makes sense in my life and motivates me to go further. Because music becomes my voice every time I find it difficult to express myself in words. Because music is the antidote of my soul for the evil of the world,” says the young man.
He came to Bucharest because of his Romanian teacher
The one who determined him to come to Bucharest to continue his studies was his teacher, the Romanian violinist Sorin Alexandru Horlea. He met his teacher in Cyprus, where Sorin Alexandru Horlea is a member of the Symphony Orchestra, and as a result of this collaboration he wanted to follow his example and he applied to the National University of Music Bucharest.
“He is an extraordinary violinist and an excellent teacher, who also conveyed to me his love for violin and for music in general. Having him as a model, I chose to follow the same path and to study at the National University of Music Bucharest which Sorin Alexandru Horlea also graduated. I can say that my admission to this prestigious university is largely due to him and to the training I had with him. Apart from all this, Bucharest is a city with a great tradition in classical music, and the National University of Music Bucharest is a renowned violin school”, notes Charalampos.
He also tells us that the choice of the instrument to which he is totally dedicated now had no secret passion. He simply opted for the violin because his grandfather liked the sound of this musical instrument. “Later, it became a passion and a love that is becoming more and more strong due to my teacher.”
Bucharest embraces artists regardless of nationality
As music is a universal language, which raises bridges between cultures and unites people, Charalampos did not encounter any problems when he first came to the Capital of Romania. “I found that Romanians are very receptive, friendly and warm. Every time I needed help, I knew I would have someone near me to support me. Bucharest is a very active city in terms of culture. It is said that music is a universal language that builds cultural bridges and unites people. Therefore, there is no reason for Bucharest to be an unfriendly city, especially with the artists. What I want to say is that whether you are Romanian or foreign, what matters in our field is to be a musician, a good artist. When you are good at what you do, there will be proposals for collaborations, concerts, etc. In my opinion, it all depends on the performance of each one. In general, Bucharest offers many possibilities for artists and embraces them regardless of nationality”, emphasizes the student.
Even if, from time to time, he is worry about his future and his career, Charalampos is trying to live and enjoy what is happening to him now. His priority is the completion of studies. However, he does not say no to a job offer in Bucharest. As he does not say no to the collaborations that are brought to his attention. In fact, he even has some recitals in the project for the coming months, but for now there is nothing official. “To be honest, I did not think about the option of permanently staying in Bucharest. It is a city that can really give me everything I like and everything I need. Of course, if I were hired, I would definitely stay. But who knows what the future holds for me?”, says the violinist.
The places in Bucharest that brings him joy
But as he lives in the moment, Charalampos Konstantinidis is enjoying Bucharest and the places he has discovered here.
“I come from a small town, which is why I think what I love most about the place where I live now is the energy of Bucharest, the energy of a European capital. I do not like the fact that academic institutions, but also normal buildings are covered by graffiti. Bucharest has a lot of places worth visiting. However, the winner of the first place is the Romanian Athenaeum. Apart from its refined architecture that I admire every time, the Romanian Athenaeum is one of the most beautiful concert halls in the world, with an exceptional acoustics. I personally consider it a temple of music where I find myself every time I want to relax. Being a booklover, my second favorite place in the city could be no other than the traditional bookstores in the Old Center. The third favorite place is Cișmigiu Park. I usually go there and sit on a bench to read and enjoy tranquility that this place offers. Being a great admirer of fine arts, I am very fond of going to the National Museum of Art of Romania, where I like to lose myself among the exhibits in the National Gallery. Also, I meet very often with friends in one of the trendy confectioneries in the city center for a coffee and to find out the news of the week. The cultural environment in Bucharest is highly developed in terms of all forms of art. As I mentioned before, it is also very active. Each week means another concert or more concerts on the same day, it means another exhibition, another show”, shows the young violinist.
He believes that Bucharest is one of those cities that must be explored to appreciate their beauty. “Bucharest seemed like a ‘Gotham City’ and I like to call it that. I think that Bucharest is already one of the most sought tourist destinations in Europe. It has a very important history and a very rich culture. What Bucharest should do to become a tourist destination even more sought is to increase the level of cleanliness on the streets, to renovate the old houses that can enhance the character of the city, to create more subway stations for the comfort of the citizens. Also, to reduce the urban art by establishing certain special places for graffiti and eliminating the existing ones”, points out Charalampos Konstantinidis.
