The Hills of Change

“The Hills of Change” – A Transcultural Symphony is a Romanian-Norwegian co-production project created by the Association of Creative Industries in partnership with DAC Music Performance (Norway).

Inspired by the landscapes of Iași, Romania, and Oslo, Norway, the project redefines the concept of international artistic collaboration through an interdisciplinary approach combining painting and music.

The bilateral initiative The Hills of Change has come to an end, marking a remarkable artistic collaboration between Norway and Romania. Over the course of four months, the project brought together 43 artists from both countries, merging music and visual art into an innovative chamber symphony inspired by the landscapes of Iași and Oslo.

Under the baton of conductor Kristoffer Wøien (NO) and with concertmaster Daniel Lazar (NO), the ensemble of 26 Romanian instrumentalists delivered a captivating performance, accompanied by visual projections inspired by the works of painters Felix Aftene (RO) and Valeria Duca (NO).

The seven composers—Tirill Mohn, Martin Romberg, Kristin Bolstad (NO), Sabina Ulubeanu, Paul Pintilie, Alexei Țurcan, and Alexandru Murariu (RO)—translated the iconic landscapes of both cities into music, creating a seven-part composition.

The project strengthened cultural ties between Norway and Romania, attracting over 700 spectators and bringing together guests from diplomatic, cultural, and academic circles.

The newly created chamber symphony within the project represents a creative collaboration between three Norwegian composers and four Romanian composers, each contributing a compositional segment to form a seven-part work.

The project aims to celebrate the natural beauty and cultural heritage of both cities through music and visual arts, promoting international artistic collaboration and cultural exchange. Both cities are surrounded by hills, which serve as a source of inspiration for both the residents and their creators. However, the poetic romanticism shaped by the “hills” of Iași represents a different benchmark compared to the wild naturalism of Oslo’s fjords.

The Norwegian composers will draw inspiration from the landscape of Iași and three paintings from the existing collection on this theme by the renowned Romanian painter Felix Aftene. Meanwhile, the Romanian composers will find inspiration in Oslo’s landscape and four paintings commissioned from a Norwegian artist. Each composer will create a movement inspired by these paintings, synthesizing the nuances of the artworks into their own musical language.

The composition, The Hills of Change, will be presented free of charge to the public in two performances, one in Oslo, Norway, and the other in Iași, Romania.

7

Composers

2

Painters

1

Conductor

1

Concertmaster

32

Musicians

Composers

Alexandru Ștefan Murariu

Alexandru Ștefan Murariu is a graduate of the Gheorghe Dima Academy of Music, where he studied composition under the guidance of maestro Adrian Pop. With an outstanding professional career, he is part of the young generation of Romanian composers, having received numerous distinctions over the years.

In 2014 and 2018, he won the prestigious composition award at the George Enescu International Competition in both sections. In 2015 and 2019, he was named one of the winners of the George Enescu scholarship awarded by the Romanian Cultural Institute. In 2017, he received the Cluj Branch Award from the Romanian Union of Composers and Musicologists (UCMR), followed in 2018 by the UCMR Award for Vocal Composition.

In 2020, he founded the contemporary music ensemble Couleurs, with which he has performed numerous concerts promoting both Romanian and international contemporary music. In 2024, he was honored with the George Enescu Award by the Romanian Academy.

His works have been performed on both national and international stages by ensembles from Romania, Germany, Scotland, France, and Switzerland. He is currently a lecturer at the Gheorghe Dima National Academy of Music.

Alexei Țurcan is a Romanian composer, musician, and producer of Bessarabian origin, known for his remarkable contributions to Romania’s music industry. He started playing the accordion at the age of six, and in 1999, he moved to Romania for his studies. For 15 years, he was a member of the band Travka, an experience that significantly shaped his artistic career.

He has also been involved in various projects, including compositions for theater, film music, and orchestral arrangements. One of Alexei’s most important projects is the soundtrack for the documentary România Sălbatică. He is a co-author of a track in the Oscar-nominated film Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and serves as a music producer and collaborator for singer Mădălina Pavăl.

His compositional style creatively blends elements of traditional Romanian music with modern influences.

Sabina Ulubeanu is one of the most complex artistic personalities of her generation, with an extensive career spanning 25 years, ranging from composition, photography, musicology, and experimental performance to the artistic direction of a contemporary music and arts festival.

Her musical creations include chamber, symphonic, choral, and multimedia works, performed across Europe, the United States, and Asia under the auspices of major festivals. Her compositions have won national and international awards and have been broadcast on public radio and television.

Since 2006, Sabina Ulubeanu has expanded her artistic pursuits to photography, exploring themes of time, space, and memory—elements that connect the two arts in her work. In 2011, she co-founded and became the co-artistic director of the InnerSound New Arts Festival in Bucharest. In September 2013, she became a music critic and partner of the official website of the George Enescu International Festival.

In 2021, she conducted large-scale anthropological research and a creative project inspired by the historical region of Banat, in collaboration with mezzo-soprano Claudia van Hasselt and composer Amen Feizabadi, culminating in the transmedia performance The Unified Voices of Banat, a Musik Theater project.

In August 2022, she coordinated the BioAREALab contemporary dance and music residency alongside choreographers Cosmin Manolescu and Cristina Lilienfeld, contributing as a composer and performance artist. In February 2023, she won the UCMR composition commission competition for her work Black Shirt and Blue Soap for solo violin and chamber orchestra. In May 2023, she was awarded an artistic residency in Bergen, Norway, as part of the Eufonic Motions program, organized within Timișoara – European Capital of Culture 2023, which resulted in the Frozen Echoes piece for mixed a cappella choir.

In June 2024, she was selected for the Energie! creative scholarships program, run by the Timișoara Project Center, and in July 2024, she collaborated with the Berlin-based Frau von Da company on the interdisciplinary ethnomusicological, ecological, and anthropological research project Dear Silvanus, conducted in Maramureș and Bucovina.

Since February 2024, Sabina Ulubeanu has been a university lecturer at West University of Timișoara, Faculty of Music and Theatre.

Born in Rădăuți, on June 21, 1990, Paul Pintilie chose the path of music from the first years of his life, showing a special interest in playing the piano . This hobby, which later became a passion, guided him towards vocational studies.

Thus, Paul decided to attend the courses of the National College of Arts “O. Băncilă” from Iași, Principal Piano section, continuing afterwards his university studies at the “George Enescu” National University of Arts Iași, Composition section, class of univ. prof. Dr. Ciprian Ion.

The study of the piano, meanwhile becoming a profession, was completed by his initiation as a tutor at the graduate college, and the higher studies led to doctoral research, ending with the title of Doctor of Music in December 2019, under the guidance of Prof. Univ. Dr. Gheorghe Dutica.

During his training, Paul Pintilie had the honor of studying and absorbing information from illustrious teachers of the art of musical composition, such as Wolfram Wagner, Péter Szegő, Cristian Misievici and Viorel Munteanu.

His compositions cover a diverse area, from solo works for piano, flute, clarinet to chamber works (brass quintets, string quartets) and symphonic works:

– Missa Harmonis – for choir, orchestra and jazz combo 

– Close to the Sun – Concerto for orchestra,

– Dali’s Moustache and Other Colours – orchestra suite, based on works by visual artist Felix Aftene and writer Lucian Dan Teodorovici  

– multistylistic music written for theatre plays, Pop works, Jazz, etc.

Recently, the composer signed a collaboration contract for the soundtrack of 4 films with the American production house Sailor’s Eye Productions, the first film being already in the post-production stage.

Being a lover of Jazz and Pop music, the study of these stylistic branches proceeds in parallel with the academic training, a fact made concrete by the repeated participation in competitions and festivals (Jazz Festivals in Târgu Mureș, Sibiu, Locomotiva Jazz Budapesta, etc. . ). Meetings with contemporary artists who revolutionized pop music also contributed to his continuous formation, Paul sharing the stage with: Jennifer Batten and Sam Sims (instrumentists in Michael Jackson’s band), members of Smokie and Scorpions.

Presently, Paul Pintilie is a senior lecturer, PHD at The “George Enescu” National University of Arts Iași, teaching Classical and Romantic Harmony, Music Composition and Choral Arranging.

Paul considers that any theoretical information of an academic nature is a sine qua non condition of the interpretive or creative artistic act, without, of course, marginalizing the force of musical feeling and intuition that gives uniqueness to each individual musician.

Kristin Bolstad (1981) is a Norwegian composer, vocalist and improviser working with site-specific projects, music and sound effects for silent film, and commissions for a variety of ensembles. Her music is often conceptual, seeking the beauty and simple as well as performative elements, humour and the playful. Kristin has a great fascination for sound and acoustics and likes to explore music and sound in unique venues and spaces.

Martin Romberg (born in Oslo, Norway in 1978) is one of the most active orchestral composers of his generation in Scandinavia. His music, which draws inspiration from images and literary works from Pagan and Celtic-Christian culture as well as fantasy literature by authors like J.R.R. Tolkien, H.P. Lovecraft, and Robert E. Howard, has been described as post-Wagnerian, neo-romantic, drawing inspiration from mythopoeia, legends, folklore, and mysticism.    

Romberg’s works have been published by Éditions Billaudot in Paris and been performed by numerous orchestras around the world.

In 2008 and 2016, Romberg was awarded the Norwegian state’s work grant for composers. In April 2007 he won the composer competition at De Unges Konsert in Bergen, and in November of the same year the prize from Paul Woitschach’s foundation in Berlin. His violin concerto won the award as work of the year by NOPA in 2016. 

Highlights of his productions are the performance of his double-violin concerto at the World Exhibition in Shanghai 2010, the orchestral oratorio “Homériade” that closed the 69th Festival d’Avignon, his saxophone concerto performed by the Mariinsky Orchestra in 2019, and the commission of the orchestral work “Fëanor” by l’Orchestre Philharmonique de Nice for their 75th anniversary. He has released three solo CDs, respectively on LAWO Classics and KLARTHE Paris, and two symphonic production music albums for Audio Network, of which he conducted the London Session Orchestra at Abbey Roads Studios in London in 2016 and 2018.  

Martin Romberg studied contemporary classical composition at the University of Music in Vienna with Michael Jarrell, film music with Klaus Peter Sattler and orchestration with Ertuğrul Sevsay. He has been a composer in residence at the Classix festival in Romania, the Temnitzer Orgeltage in Germany, and the RoCultura Programme in Romania, all in 2023. 

Romberg is quadrilingual and spends time outside music writing literary works and philosophical essays.

Having approached music through nature since her earliest works, Tirill Mohn (born 1975) has established a personal and distinctive expression through her journey as a composer. Her music invite both performers and listeners to a close-up experience of the natural and sometimes, supernatural world. Her works include studio works, solo works and works for small ensembles.

 

Background as instrumentalist in several ensembles, educated at the Nordic Institute for Stage and Studio (Oslo/Norway), and sole proprietorship within music production since 2003. Founder of the record label FairyMusic. In 2021 she assembled Trio Poetica for the performances of lyrics put to music. Tirill Mohn lives in Asker, close to the capital of Norway.

Painters

Valeria Duca

Valeria Duca began her career at an early age. Her first exhibition took place when she was only 12 years old, in her hometown of Chișinău, garnering praise for her abstract works and sense of color. Recognition came early, with her participation in the Venice Biennale in 2011, marking the Republic of Moldova’s debut on the international art scene. At the age of 17, Valeria moved to the United Kingdom, where she studied Art History at the University of St Andrews. She currently lives and works as a painter in Oslo, Norway.

Valeria’s works have evolved over a sixteen-year career, transitioning from expressive abstract painting to figurative realism. Not being a student of an academy or part of a workshop, her realism is infused with symbolism, seeking to create visual metaphors. A narrative that describes, if not a descent into madness, then at least a blurring of the boundaries of normality, at times flirting with surrealism.

The visual artist Felix Aftene lives and works in Iasi, but with a sustained artistic activity on the national and international contemporary art scene. His artistic practice is extensive in various media – painting, sculpture, mural painting, new media. In 1996 he graduated as valedictorian of the “George Enescu” Academy of Arts “George Enescu” in Iasi, Mural Painting section, in the class of Prof. Dimitrie Gavrilean. In 2016 he obtained his PhD in Visual Arts at the National University of Arts “George Enescu” in Iasi with a work dedicated to contemporary visual arts. In 1997 he became a member of the Romanian Fine Artists Union. Between 2013 and 2023 he is president of the Fine Artists Union of Romania, Iasi branch. Between 1998 and 2022 he worked as a set designer at TVR Iași. Between 1997-1998 he received the Romanian Fine Artists Union Scholarship. In 1998 he won the competition for the realization of the mural painting in the headquarters of the Directorate General of Public Finances Iasi, with the work entitled Babilon, 74 square meters. In 2008 he realized an important work for the community, the Time Capsule, a bronze monument, placed in front of the Iasi City Hall, on the 600th anniversary of the city’s documentary attestation. In 2016 he was awarded the National Painting Prize of the UAP of Romania. In 2019 he placed in the public space with a project entitled Table of Memories. Situated near the old summer kitchen next to Ion Creangă’s bojdeuca, the work marks the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the first literary museum in Romania. In 2020 Vaslui City Hall permanently exhibits the bronze work Cronos in the city center. In 2021 he realizes the permanent installation Rezervația îngerilor dedicated to the poet Emil Brumaru at the Museum of Romanian Literature in Iasi. In 2023 he curated and realized the Iasi Art Gallery, a permanent exhibition project at the National Museum of Romanian Art in Iasi, which describes the entire history of the Iasi school of visual arts. He has received over 40 awards and distinctions for his artistic activity at national and international level. In the field of painting he is one of the most active contemporary artists in Romania, with over 40 solo exhibitions in museums and international art galleries. His works can be found in museums and private collections in the country and abroad (Austria, USA, Great Britain, Greece, Germany, Greece, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Canada, Denmark, Hungary, Israel, Moldova, USA, Denmark, Hungary, Israel, etc.).

Events

21 February 2025 - Closing Conference of the Project

The closing press conference of the project will be held, presenting the project’s activities and achieved results, emphasizing their added value and the contribution of the funders.

The project promoter, the Creative Industries Association (Romania), together with the project partner, DAC Music Performance (Norway), organizes, starting at 10:30 AM, at Braunstein Palace in Iași (Str. Cuza Vodă no. 2), the launch conference of the project “The Hills of Change”.

The event will be streamed live via the project’s dedicated social media page, with the Norwegian partner also joining.

Date of the event: Friday, February 21, 2025, 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Place of the event: Braunstein Palace, Iași (Str. Cuza Vodă no. 2)
External link: Website: https://asociatiaindustriicreative.com/the-hills-of-change/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHillsOfChange

The Romanian premiere of The Hills of Change will take place on February 20, 2025, at Casa de Cultură a Studenților, Sala Gaudeamus, at 19:00.
Open doors: 18:30

After the Norwegian premiere in Oslo, The Hills of Change will arrive in Iași, offering the audience a unique experience through the symbiosis of music and visual art. This seven-part chamber symphony was created by Romanian and Norwegian composers, inspired by the landscapes of both cities and the works of painters Felix Aftene (RO) and Valeria Duca (NO).

Conductor: Kristoffer Wøien (NO)
Concertmaster: Daniel Lazar (NO)
Symphonic Ensemble: 26 Romanian instrumentalists

Composers:
Tirill Mohn (NO)Cetățuia: The Moonlit Hill of the Mystics (2025)
Martin Romberg (NO)Dreamwinter dance in Copou (2025)
Kristin Bolstad (NO)White air / red bird at Colina Repedea (2025)
Sabina Ulubeanu (RO)Ekebergåsen – Zero Gravity (2025)
Paul Pintilie (RO)Vettakollen (2025)
Alexei Țurcan (RO)Grefsenkollen (2025)
Alexandru Murariu (RO)Holmenkollen (2025)

Over 500 spectators are expected to attend the symphonic debut in Iași. The The Hills of Change concert will also be streamed live, allowing a wider audience to enjoy this interdisciplinary artistic experience.

Access to the event is free, based on a reserved ticket from the platform.

By purchasing the ticket, participants agree to the use of photographic images and audio-video recordings for the promotion of festival activities by organizers and partners.

Event details: https://www.facebook.com/events/1592629718282270
————————————————
The Hills of Change – A Transcultural Symphony is a Romanian-Norwegian co-production project created by the Association of Creative Industries in partnership with DAC Music Performance (Norway).
Inspired by the landscapes of Iași, Romania, and Oslo, Norway, the project redefines the concept of international artistic collaboration through an interdisciplinary approach combining painting and music.
The project aims to celebrate the natural beauty and cultural heritage of both cities through music and visual arts, promoting international artistic collaboration and cultural exchange. Both cities are surrounded by hills, which serve as a source of inspiration for both the residents and their creators. However, the poetic romanticism shaped by the “hills” of Iași represents a different benchmark compared to the wild naturalism of Oslo’s fjords.
The Norwegian composers will draw inspiration from the landscape of Iași and three paintings from the existing collection on this theme by the renowned Romanian painter Felix Aftene. Meanwhile, the Romanian composers will find inspiration in Oslo’s landscape and four paintings commissioned from a Norwegian artist. Each composer will create a movement inspired by these paintings, synthesizing the nuances of the artworks into their own musical language.
To stay updated with the latest news about the project, we invite you to follow us on the Facebook page of the “The Hills of Change” project.
Project Promoter: ASOCIAȚIA INDUSTRII CREATIVE
Project Partner: DAC MUSIC PERFORMANCE (Norway)
Total Project Value: 621,972.92 RON (124,984.51 EUR)
Non-reimbursable Funding: 621,972.92 RON (124,984.51 EUR)
Duration: 4 months
Implementation Locations: Iași (Romania) and Oslo (Norway)
Website: https://asociatiaindustriicreative.com/the-hills-of-change/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHillsOfChange
————————————————
This bilateral initiative is implemented by the Project Management Unit from the Ministry of Culture, Romania, acting as Programme
Operator for RO-CULTURE, in partnership with Arts and Culture Norway, acting as Programme partner, and is financed with the support of EEA and Norway Grants through the National Bilateral Fund, managed by the National Contact Point within the Ministry of European Investments and Projects.
The EEA Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, and the Kingdom of Norway to reducing economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area and strengthening bilateral relations with the 15 beneficiary countries in Eastern and Southern Europe, as well as the Baltic states. These funding mechanisms are established under the Agreement on the European Economic Area, which brings together EU member states and Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway as equal partners in the internal market. In total, the three countries contributed €3.3 billion between 1994 and 2014 and €1.55 billion for the 2014-2021 funding period. More details are available at: www.eeagrants.org and www.eeagrants.ro.
The RO-CULTURA Program is implemented by the Ministry of Culture through the Project Management Unit and aims to strengthen economic and social development through cultural cooperation, cultural entrepreneurship, and cultural heritage management. The Program’s budget is approximately €34 million. More details are available at www.ro-cultura.ro.
This bilateral initiative is implemented by the Project Management Unit from the Ministry of Culture, Romania, acting as Programme Operator for RO-CULTURE, in partnership with Arts and Culture Norway, acting as Programme partner, and is financed with the support of EEA and Norway Grants through the National Bilateral Fund, managed by the National Contact Point within the Ministry of European Investments and Projects.

The Norwegian premiere of The Hills of Change will take place at Nynorskens hus in Oslo on February 8, 2025, at 19:00!

Open doors: 18:30

Artists
Kristoffer Wøien – Conductor
Daniel Lazar – Violin
Patrycja Błaszak-Bieńkuńska – Violin
Nanna Ikutomi Sørli – Viola
Marit Charlotte Steinum – Flute
Marek Bieńkuński – Cello
Eskild Ableseth – Double Bass

The Hills of Change is a seven-part chamber symphony, created through a unique collaborative effort by composers Tirill Mohn (NO), Martin Romberg (NO), Kristin Bolstad (NO), Sabina Ulubeanu (RO), Paul Pintilie (RO), Alexei Țurcan (RO), and Alexandru Murariu (RO). It is inspired by the paintings of Felix Aftene (RO) and Valeria Duca (NO), which depict the hills of Oslo (Norway) and Iași (Romania).

Each hill has its own atmosphere and holds intriguing stories, waiting to be discovered by the first 200 lucky spectators.

This is not just a concert – it is an immersive journey through the landscapes, sounds, and artistic expressions of two vibrant cultures.

Register for free access at https://thehillsofchange.eventbrite.com.

Event details on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1557202274942890

—————————————-
The Hills of Change – A Transcultural Symphony is a Romanian-Norwegian co-production project created by the Association of Creative Industries in partnership with DAC Music Performance (Norway).
Inspired by the landscapes of Iași, Romania, and Oslo, Norway, the project redefines the concept of international artistic collaboration through an interdisciplinary approach combining painting and music.
The project aims to celebrate the natural beauty and cultural heritage of both cities through music and visual arts, promoting international artistic collaboration and cultural exchange. Both cities are surrounded by hills, which serve as a source of inspiration for both the residents and their creators. However, the poetic romanticism shaped by the “hills” of Iași represents a different benchmark compared to the wild naturalism of Oslo’s fjords.
The Norwegian composers will draw inspiration from the landscape of Iași and three paintings from the existing collection on this theme by the renowned Romanian painter Felix Aftene. Meanwhile, the Romanian composers will find inspiration in Oslo’s landscape and four paintings commissioned from a Norwegian artist. Each composer will create a movement inspired by these paintings, synthesizing the nuances of the artworks into their own musical language.
To stay updated with the latest news about the project, we invite you to follow us on the Facebook page of the “The Hills of Change” project.
Project Promoter: ASOCIAȚIA INDUSTRII CREATIVE
Project Partner: DAC MUSIC PERFORMANCE (Norway)
Total Project Value: 621,972.92 RON (124,984.51 EUR)
Non-reimbursable Funding: 621,972.92 RON (124,984.51 EUR)
Duration: 4 months
Implementation Locations: Iași (Romania) and Oslo (Norway)
Website: https://asociatiaindustriicreative.com/the-hills-of-change/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHillsOfChange
————————————————
This bilateral initiative is implemented by the Project Management Unit from the Ministry of Culture, Romania, acting as Programme
Operator for RO-CULTURE, in partnership with Arts and Culture Norway, acting as Programme partner, and is financed with the support of EEA and Norway Grants through the National Bilateral Fund, managed by the National Contact Point within the Ministry of European Investments and Projects.
The EEA Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, and the Kingdom of Norway to reducing economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area and strengthening bilateral relations with the 15 beneficiary countries in Eastern and Southern Europe, as well as the Baltic states. These funding mechanisms are established under the Agreement on the European Economic Area, which brings together EU member states and Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway as equal partners in the internal market. In total, the three countries contributed €3.3 billion between 1994 and 2014 and €1.55 billion for the 2014-2021 funding period. More details are available at: www.eeagrants.org and www.eeagrants.ro.
The RO-CULTURA Program is implemented by the Ministry of Culture through the Project Management Unit and aims to strengthen economic and social development through cultural cooperation, cultural entrepreneurship, and cultural heritage management. The Program’s budget is approximately €34 million. More details are available at www.ro-cultura.ro.
This bilateral initiative is implemented by the Project Management Unit from the Ministry of Culture, Romania, acting as Programme Operator for RO-CULTURE, in partnership with Arts and Culture Norway, acting as Programme partner, and is financed with the support of EEA and Norway Grants through the National Bilateral Fund, managed by the National Contact Point within the Ministry of European Investments and Projects.

The launch conference of the project The Hills of Change | Iași, December 3, 2024

The project promoter, the Creative Industries Association (Romania), together with the project partner, DAC Music Performance (Norway), organized on Tuesday, December 3, at 10:30 AM, at Braunstein Palace in Iași, the launch conference of the project The Hills of Change.

This bilateral initiative is financed with the support of EEA and Norway Grants 2014 – 2021 through the National Fund for Bilateral Relations within the RO-CULTURE Programme.
EEA AND NORWAY GRANTS
Unitatea de Management a Proiectului – UMP

The job-shadowing day at DAC Music Performance provided a valuable perspective on the decision-making process, team management, and optimization of artistic resources. Participants observed how the organization’s activities are planned and coordinated, exploring the sustainable management strategies applied in the cultural sector.

The delegation attended the dress rehearsal of the concert performed by Dragoș Cantea and Florin Estefan, analyzing the technical and logistical aspects of the artistic production. The experience continued with participation in the official concert and reception organized by DAC Music Performance in collaboration with the Romanian Embassy in Norway, offering opportunities for idea exchange and collaboration with industry professionals.

The day ended with a session dedicated to rehearsal techniques and a feedback discussion on the application of what was learned for future projects and new opportunities for international collaboration.

This bilateral initiative is financed with the support of EEA and Norway Grants 2014 – 2021 through the National Fund for Bilateral Relations within the RO-CULTURE Programme.

EEA AND NORWAY GRANTS
Unitatea de Management a Proiectului – UMP

On November 26, the delegation of the Creative Industries Association, promoter of the The Hills of Change project, continued the exchange of experience on the theme “Sustainability in Art and Sustainable Management” alongside the Norwegian partner. The day was dedicated to visits to representative cultural institutions in Oslo, with the aim of deepening knowledge about the processes of digitalization, preservation, and sustainability in artistic management.

The activities began with a meeting with Johan Jørgensen, the chief librarian of the Norwegian Academy of Music, where participants explored the Academy’s Library and attended a presentation on the digitalization process of resources, an essential aspect for the accessibility and preservation of musical heritage.

Later, the delegation traveled to the city center to visit the National Museum of History, where researcher Călin Constantin provided a detailed perspective on the museum’s collections and the impact of sustainability on research and the preservation of historical artifacts. The visit continued with a guided tour of the museum, offering context and a deeper understanding of how the institution integrates sustainable practices into its curatorial activities.

The afternoon was dedicated to exploring the Munch Museum, where participants had the opportunity to discover the innovative ways the museum manages its collections and exhibition spaces, placing special emphasis on sustainability, education, and accessibility.

The day ended with a concluding session, where the main ideas and collaboration opportunities arising from the visits and meetings were discussed. These experiences contributed to strengthening the exchange of best practices in the field of cultural sustainability and provided new directions for the development of the project.

This bilateral initiative is financed with the support of EEA and Norway Grants 2014 – 2021 through the National Fund for Bilateral Relations within the RO-CULTURE Programme.

EEA AND NORWAY GRANTS
Unitatea de Management a Proiectului – UMP

At the end of November, the delegation from the Creative Industries Association, promoter of the The Hills of Change project, had the opportunity to participate in a working visit to Oslo as part of this Romanian-Norwegian co-production project, alongside their partner, DAC Music Performance.

On November 25, the activities began with a lecture by Andreas Sønning, author and professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music, who addressed the theme of concert dramaturgy and sustainability in the performing arts. This was followed by idea exchange sessions with industry professionals, including Knut Skansen, CEO of the Oslo Philharmonic, discussing the sustainability goals of the institution.

The visit continued with a meeting with Thormod Rønning Kvam, pianist and artistic director of Aulaseriene, where the discussion focused on ways to support creative entrepreneurship in classical music and opportunities to develop new concert series.

The day ended with a Q&A session and conclusions, and these meetings brought fresh perspectives for the development of international collaborations in the artistic field.

This bilateral initiative is financed with the support of EEA and Norway Grants 2014 – 2021 through the National Fund for Bilateral Relations within the RO-CULTURE Programme.

EEA AND NORWAY GRANTS
Unitatea de Management a Proiectului – UMP

Press Releases

24 February 2024 - The Hills of Change - Project Completion

Completion of the “The Hills of Change” Project – A Transcultural Symphony

The bilateral initiative The Hills of Change has come to an end, celebrating the artistic collaboration between Norway and Romania through a series of remarkable events held in Oslo and Iași. Organized by the Asociația Industrii Creative (Romania) in partnership with DAC Music Performance (Norway), this project has redefined the concept of international artistic cooperation through an interdisciplinary approach that brought together music and visual art.

The international premiere of the chamber symphony The Hills of Change took place on February 8, 2025, at Nynorskens hus in Oslo, followed by the Romanian premiere on February 20, 2025, at the Casa de Cultură a Studenților in Iași. The two concerts gathered over 700 spectators, offering a unique artistic experience that blended music and visual art.

Distinguished guests from the diplomatic, cultural, academic, media, and business sectors attended the events in Norway and Romania, further strengthening the artistic bond between the two countries.

The composition, structured into seven distinct parts inspired by the iconic hills of Iași and Oslo, was created by Norwegian composers Tirill Mohn, Martin Romberg, and Kristin Bolstad, alongside Romanian composers Sabina Ulubeanu, Paul Pintilie, Alexei Țurcan, and Alexandru Murariu.

After the success in Oslo, the audience in Iași was captivated by an immersive artistic experience, where music and visual art harmoniously intertwined through projections inspired by paintings from artists Felix Aftene and Valeria Duca. The emotional impact of the moment was heightened by the enthusiastic response from the audience, who rewarded the performance with prolonged applause, reflecting the concert’s profound effect. Under the baton of conductor Kristoffer Wøien (NO) and with Daniel Lazar (NO) as concertmaster, the ensemble of 26 Romanian musicians delivered an outstanding performance, engaging the audience with an expressive and powerful execution.

The five composers present at the event—Paul Pintilie (RO), Alexei Țurcan (RO), Alexandru Murariu (RO), Sabina Ulubeanu (RO), and Tirill Mohn (NO)—were warmly received by the audience, who recognized their artistic contributions. The overwhelming enthusiasm turned the evening into a true celebration of art and cultural collaboration.

On February 21, 2025, at Palatul Braunstein in Iași, the project’s closing conference took place, where the results and impact of this cultural exchange were presented. Artists, journalists, and representatives of cultural institutions attended the event, engaging in discussions that highlighted the added value of this bilateral initiative.

Beyond the concerts, The Hills of Change facilitated meaningful cultural exchanges. The entire symphony was composed following the composers’ inspirational journeys to Iași and Oslo. The project team also participated in seminars and lectures with Norwegian experts, including Andreas Sønning (Norwegian Academy of Music), Knut Skansen (CEO of Oslo Philharmonic), Thormod Rønning Kvam (Aulaseriene), and Johan Jørgensen (Norwegian Academy of Music Library).

The project demonstrated that music and visual art can unite different cultures through an interdisciplinary approach. Over four months, in Oslo and Iași, The Hills of Change brought together 43 artists from both countries and attracted more than 700 spectators at its events. This international visibility reinforced the project’s role as a model for sustainable artistic collaboration.

The Hills of Change – A Transcultural Symphony is a Romanian-Norwegian co-production project initiated by Asociația Industrii Creative (Romania) in partnership with DAC Music Performance (Norway). Inspired by the landscapes of Iași (Romania) and Oslo (Norway), this bilateral initiative redefines the concept of international artistic collaboration through an interdisciplinary dialogue between painting and music. The chamber symphony is a collaborative effort involving three Norwegian composers and four Romanian composers, each contributing a musical section to create a seven-part work.

The total value of the bilateral initiative is 621,972.92 RON (124,984.51 EUR), fully funded as a non-reimbursable grant. The implementation period of the project was four months, in the cities of Iași (Romania) and Oslo (Norway).

For more information about the project, visit the website:

https://asociatiaindustriicreative.com/the-hills-of-change/

or follow the project’s Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/TheHillsOfChange

About the EEA and Norway Grants

The EEA and Norway Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway to a greener, more competitive, and more inclusive Europe. There are two general objectives: reducing economic and social disparities in Europe and strengthening bilateral relations between donor countries and 15 EU countries from Central and Southern Europe and the Baltics. The three donor countries closely cooperate with the EU through the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). Between 1994 and 2014, donors provided 3.3 billion EUR through consecutive grant schemes. For the 2014-2021 period, the EEA and Norway Grants amount to 2.8 billion EUR.

More details are available at: www.eeagrants.org and www.eeagrants.ro

The RO-CULTURA program is implemented by the Ministry of Culture through the Project Management Unit and aims to strengthen economic and social development through cultural cooperation, cultural entrepreneurship, and cultural heritage management. The program’s budget is approximately 34 million EUR.

More details are available at: www.ro-cultura.ro

Premiere of the Symphony The Hills of Change in Romania

The Romanian premiere of the symphony The Hills of Change will take place on February 20, 2025, at the Casa de Cultură a Studenților in Iași, in the Gaudeamus Hall, starting at 7:00 PM, with public access from 6:30 PM. This special concert offers a multisensory experience, where music and visual art intertwine to depict the symbolic landscapes of the two cities. The audience will have the opportunity to discover a seven-movement symphonic work, each inspired by an emblematic hill from Iași and Oslo, reinterpreted musically by Romanian and Norwegian composers.

The event will be conducted by Kristoffer Wøien and will feature Daniel Lazar as concertmaster. The symphony ensemble, composed of 26 Romanian musicians, will perform this composition for the first time in Romania. The seven composers who contributed to this work are Tirill Mohn, Martin Romberg, and Kristin Bolstad from Norway, along with Sabina Ulubeanu, Paul Pintilie, Alexei Țurcan, and Alexandru Murariu from Romania. Each composer created a movement inspired by a representative hill of the two cities, drawing reference from the works of painters Felix Aftene and Valeria Duca. Thus, music becomes a channel through which the cultural and natural landscapes of Iași and Oslo are reimagined and presented to the public in an innovative artistic form.

The concert in Iași follows the Norwegian premiere of The Hills of Change, which took place on February 8 at Nynorskens hus in Oslo, where over 200 spectators attended this exceptional event. Among the evening’s distinguished guests were Ionuț Eriksen, President of the Norwegian-Romanian Chamber of Commerce, and H.E. Cristian Bădescu, the Romanian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Norway. Also present were Mia Huhta, Director of Vaasa City Symphony Orchestra in Finland, Manuela Linke, Cultural Officer at the Austrian Embassy in Norway, Caroline Stefek, Cultural Director of the Goethe Institute Oslo, and Maria Łukaszuk, Ministerial Adviser at the Polish Embassy in Norway.

As the project concludes, on February 21, 2025, at 10:00 AM, the closing conference of the The Hills of Change bilateral initiative will take place at the Braunstein Palace in Iași. This event will highlight the project’s conclusions and offer insight into how the collaboration between Romanian and Norwegian artists contributed to the development of an innovative artistic creation. The conference will provide an opportunity for the public, journalists, and cultural professionals to learn more about the creative process and the impact of this project on the international artistic scene.

The audience in Iași is invited to attend the February 20 concert free of charge, based on ticket reservations made through the platform. The event will also be streamed online, allowing as many spectators as possible to enjoy this interdisciplinary artistic experience. By reserving a ticket, participants agree to the use of images and video recordings taken during the event for the purpose of promoting the festival’s activities.

The Hills of Change – a transcultural symphony is a Romanian-Norwegian co-production project carried out by the ASOCIAȚIA INDUSTRII CREATIVE (Romania) in partnership with DAC MUSIC PERFORMANCE (Norway). Inspired by the landscapes of the cities of Iași – Romania, and Oslo – Norway, the bilateral initiative redefines the concept of international artistic collaboration through an interdisciplinary approach between painting and music. This chamber symphony represents a collaborative effort between three Norwegian composers and four Romanian composers, each contributing a compositional section to create a seven-part work.

The total value of the bilateral initiative is 621,972.92 lei (€124,984.51), and the non-reimbursable funding amounts to 621,972.92 lei (€124,984.51). The implementation period of the bilateral initiative is four months, in the cities of Iași (Romania) and Oslo (Norway).

More information about the project can be found online at

https://asociatiaindustriicreative.com/the-hills-of-change/
and on the project’s Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/TheHillsOfChange

About the EEA and Norway Grants
The EEA and Norway Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway to a green, competitive, and inclusive Europe. There are two main objectives: reducing economic and social disparities in Europe and strengthening bilateral relations between donor countries and 15 EU countries in Central and Southern Europe and the Baltic States. The three donor countries work closely with the EU through the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). Between 1994 and 2014, donors provided €3.3 billion through consecutive grant schemes. For the 2014-2021 period, the EEA and Norway Grants amount to €2.8 billion.

More details are available at:
www.eeagrants.org
www.eeagrants.ro

About RO-CULTURA
The RO-CULTURA program is implemented by the Ministry of Culture through the Project Management Unit and has the general objective of strengthening economic and social development through cultural cooperation, cultural entrepreneurship, and cultural heritage management. The program budget is approximately €34 million. More details are available at www.ro-cultura.ro.

The Hills of Change
The Project Debut

“The Hills of Change” – a transcultural symphony is a Romanian-Norwegian co-production project carried out by ASOCIAȚIA INDUSTRII CREATIVE (Romania) in partnership with DAC MUSIC PERFORMANCE (Norway). Inspired by the landscapes of Iași – Romania, and Oslo – Norway, the project redefines the concept of international artistic collaboration through an interdisciplinary approach combining painting and music. This chamber symphony will be a collaborative effort between three Norwegian composers and four Romanian composers, each contributing a compositional segment to create a seven-part work.

The Norwegian composers will draw inspiration from the landscape of Iași and from three paintings in the existing collection on this theme by renowned Romanian painter Felix Aftene, while the Romanian composers will take inspiration from the landscape of Oslo and the four paintings created by Valeria Duca.

The seven composers who will sign the symphony “The Hills of Change” are: Tirill Mohn (Norway), Sabina Ulubeanu (Romania), Alexandru Sabin Murariu (Romania), Paul Pintilie (Romania), Martin Romberg (Norway), Alexei Țurcan (Romania), and Kristin Bolstad (Norway).

Each composer will create a movement inspired by these paintings, synthesizing their nuances into their own musical language. Once the composition is completed, it will be presented to the general public free of charge in a dedicated performance, both in Oslo – Norway, and in Iași – Romania. The bilateral co-production “The Hills of Change” aims to attract over 700 spectators to the performances in Iași and Oslo and to provide international visibility for the 43 artists involved from Romania and Norway: composers, painters, instrumentalists, and conductors.

The launch conference of the project “The Hills of Change” took place on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, starting at 10:30 AM at the Braunstein Palace in Iași. The speakers included Patricia Roxana Brohanschi – Project Manager, Dragoș Cantea – General Holder of DAC Music Performance, Maria Isabela Nica – Artistic Assistant, and Anca Floroiu – Communication and Public Relations Specialist, while journalists, representatives of local administration, and cultural institution representatives from Iași attended, enthusiastic about this new initiative.

The conference followed the cultural exchange held in Oslo, where the project team attended seminars and lectures with Norwegian experts such as Andreas Sønning – author and professor at the Norwegian Academy of Music / Norges musikkhøgskole, Knut Skansen – CEO of the Oslo Philharmonic / Oslo Filharmonien, Thormod Rønning Kvam – pianist and artistic director of Aulaseriene, Johan Jørgensen – director of the library at the Norwegian Academy of Music / Norges Musikkhøgskole, and Călin Constantin – researcher at the National History Museum in Oslo. The team’s visit continued at the Norwegian partner DAC Music Performance and at the celebration of the National Day at the Romanian Embassy in Norway, alongside H.E. Ambassador Cristian Bădescu.

The total project value is 621,972.92 RON (124,984.51 EUR), with the non-reimbursable funding amounting to 621,972.92 RON (124,984.51 EUR). The implementation period of the bilateral initiative is four months, in the cities of Iași (Romania) and Oslo (Norway).

More information about the project can be found online at https://asociatiaindustriicreative.com/the-hills-of-change/ and on the project’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheHillsOfChange

The bilateral initiative is implemented by the Project Management Unit within the Ministry of Culture, as Operator of the RO-CULTURA Program, in partnership with Art and Culture Norway as the Program Partner, and financed with support from the EEA and Norway Grants 2014–2021 through the Bilateral National Fund, managed by the National Contact Point within the Ministry of Investments and European Projects.

The EEA Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, and the Kingdom of Norway to reducing economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area and strengthening bilateral relations with the 15 beneficiary states in Eastern and Southern Europe and the Baltic states. These financing mechanisms are established under the Agreement on the European Economic Area, bringing together EU member states and Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway as equal partners in the internal market. In total, the three states contributed €3.3 billion between 1994 and 2014 and €1.55 billion for the 2014–2021 funding period.

More details are available at www.eeagrants.org and www.eeagrants.ro

The RO-CULTURA Program is implemented by the Ministry of Culture through the Project Management Unit and has the general objective of strengthening economic and social development through cultural cooperation, cultural entrepreneurship, and cultural heritage management. The program budget is approximately 34 million euros. More details are available at www.ro-cultura.ro

The Hills of Change
Invitation to the Project Launch Conference

“The Hills of Change” – a transcultural symphony is a Romanian-Norwegian co-production project carried out by ASOCIAȚIA INDUSTRII CREATIVE in partnership with DAC MUSIC PERFORMANCE (Norway).
Inspired by the landscapes of Iași, Romania, and Oslo, Norway, the project redefines the concept of international artistic collaboration through an interdisciplinary approach between painting and music.
This chamber symphony will be a collaborative effort between three Norwegian composers and four Romanian composers, each contributing a compositional part to create a seven-movement work.

The Norwegian composers will draw inspiration from the landscapes of Iași and three paintings from the existing collection of the renowned Romanian painter Felix Aftene, while the Romanian composers will be inspired by the landscapes of Oslo and four paintings commissioned from a Norwegian artist. Each composer will create a movement inspired by these paintings, synthesizing their nuances into their own musical language. Once completed, the composition will be presented free of charge to the general public in a dedicated performance both in Oslo, Norway, and Iași, Romania.

The project promoter, Asociația Industrii Creative (Romania), together with the project partner, DAC Music Performance (Norway), invites you on Tuesday, December 3, at 10:30 AM, to Palatul Braunstein in Iași (Str. Cuza Vodă no. 2) for the launch conference of the “The Hills of Change” project.

The objectives aim to enhance cooperation between artists and cultural experts from Romania and Norway in the field of art through joint participation in the realization of a contemporary art co-production, as well as to increase access to culture for the public in both Romania and Norway.

Thus, the project seeks to celebrate the natural beauty and cultural heritage of both cities through music and visual arts, promoting international artistic collaboration and cultural exchange. Additionally, it aims to enhance the professional skills of three employees of the project promoter through participation in experience exchanges and job shadowing sessions, with the goal of improving the competencies of the professionals involved and promoting sustainability in cultural management.

The bilateral co-production “The Hills Of Change” aims to attract over 700 spectators to the performances in Iași and Oslo and provide international visibility to the 43 artists involved from Romania and Norway, including composers, painters, instrumentalists, and conductors.

The total project value is 621,972.92 RON (124,984.51 EUR), with the full amount covered by non-reimbursable funding.
The bilateral initiative will be implemented over four months in the cities of Iași (Romania) and Oslo (Norway).

More information about the project can be found online at:
https://asociatiaindustriicreative.com/the-hills-of-change/
and on the project’s Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/TheHillsOfChange

A bilateral initiative implemented by the Project Management Unit within the Ministry of Culture, as the Operator of the RO-CULTURA Program, in partnership with Art and Culture from Norway as the Program Partner, and funded with support from the EEA and Norway Grants 2014–2021 through the Bilateral National Fund, managed by the National Contact Point within the Ministry of Investments and European Projects.

The EEA Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, and the Kingdom of Norway to reducing economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area and strengthening bilateral relations with the 15 beneficiary states in Eastern and Southern Europe and the Baltic States. These funding mechanisms are established under the Agreement on the European Economic Area, bringing together EU member states and Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway as equal partners in the internal market. In total, the three states contributed €3.3 billion between 1994 and 2014 and €1.55 billion for the 2014–2021 funding period.

More details are available at:
www.eeagrants.org and www.eeagrants.ro

The RO-CULTURA Program is implemented by the Ministry of Culture through the Project Management Unit and has the general objective of strengthening economic and social development through cultural cooperation, cultural entrepreneurship, and cultural heritage management. The Program’s budget is approximately 34 million euros. More details are available at www.ro-cultura.ro

Inspiration visits

16.12.2024 - 22.12.2024 | Iași - Kristin Bolstad (NO) - composer
“The most important thing I did during my stay in Iasi was to go to Repedea Hill. This hill, together with the painting of the same hill by Felix Aftene, is the starting point and inspiration for creating a musical piece. It was wonderful to go there and see and feel it with my one eyes and body, after reading about it and looking at pictures of it online. I was so happy that one of the Romanian composers in the project, Paul Pintilie, wanted to take me there. He also took me to the monastery at Repedea hill, and we got to see the beautiful chapel of the monks. We also went to a restaurant with traditional Romanian food, and we strolled along the main streets of Iasi and visited the Christmas market. Paul turned out to be a very good guide, not just a composer, so I got a lot out of the day together with him as he talked and shared freely. The following days I strolled around the city visiting many of Iasi’s many sites and attractions, I ate wonderful food and drank loads of good coffee. I listened to the beautiful Romanian language and enjoyed people-watching at cafés. I got loads of inspiration to finalize my piece and composed every day.”
𝐊𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐝 (𝐍𝐎) – 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫
This bilateral initiative is financed with the support of EEA and Norway Grants 2014 – 2021 through the National Fund for Bilateral Relations within the RO-CULTURE Programme
“A travel to Iași is like a pilgrimage where culture and cathedrals meet, but also: encountering young people that enthusiastically promote old culture. Another inspirational part of creation is slow-travel. This is why I always take the train from Bucharest to Iași, having Romania unfold before me like a slow, unrevealing, theatre of legends and stories.
My composition tries to capture something that I interpret as essential in mister Felix Aftene’s works: the combination of childhood, dream and afterlife, the grey-zone between popular and classical culture, and variations over a reoccurring theme. It is also about movement, flying, and catching a single moment in time of a levitating, but dancing, angelic character.”
𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐠 (𝐍𝐎) – 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫
This bilateral initiative is financed with the support of EEA and Norway Grants Grants 2014 – 2021 through the National Fund for Bilateral Relations within the RO-CULTURE Programme

“For me, the experience in Oslo was an abundance of art and color. I noticed how all the city’s main landmarks are filled with sculptures and art installations, while the lighting systems give them an elegant ‘halo,’ highlighting their charm. The memorable works from Vigeland Park, the Munch Museum, and the National Museum left a mark on my composition, along with the tranquility and beauty of nature, which I discovered on Vettakollen Hill. All these influences were ‘translated’ into three main musical ideas that form the foundation of my piece.”

Paul Pintilie (RO) – composer

This bilateral initiative is financed with the support of EEA and Norway Grants 2014 – 2021 through the National Fund for Bilateral Relations within the RO-CULTURE Programme

“I went to Oslo in December to find inspiration, to see the paintings created by Valeria Duca, and to return with a story. We are four Romanian composers and three Norwegian composers, coming together in a unique symphony about the atmosphere and similarities between Oslo and Iași—both sheltered by hills.

I was worried about the darkness, that Oslo would remain hidden in semi-obscurity, that I was getting closer to the Arctic Circle. And yet, what a wonderful sun I found! The days spent there felt ‘longer’ thanks to the people I met (Michael, a Viking descendant, who sailed around the world in his boat), the neighborhoods bursting with the colors of the world—because Oslo is a welcoming host to people from everywhere—and the mist that settled right when I reached the famous ski jump: under the ski jump, on the ski jump, thick fog so dense you couldn’t see a thing!

But what I loved most was the silence. When you sit by the water’s edge, the city falls quiet and invites you to take a step back, to appreciate it as a whole. And the lights—the warmest and most carefully placed lights—on houses, in houses, on buildings, along the streets, under the trees, in the park, through the fog. When you have so much darkness to deal with, you create your world out of light.

To write my piece, I connected with the painting Grefsen by Valeria Duca, because she captured in the Grefsen neighborhood a stunning light that looks like morning (though it’s probably 3:00 PM). Morning is the most vibrant time of day for me. I spent a week walking through Oslo’s mornings, filling my lungs with air—enough to bring some back home.

Freshly returned, I rushed to the studio to compose. I wrote feverishly and in small strokes, as if the instruments transformed into flickering window lights through the Norwegian mist. I had completely forgotten about the stillness of the fjord.

After a few days’ break, I finally managed to ‘anchor’ the composition in a theme for cello and double bass, which, despite the hurried atmosphere, remained unwavering until the end—like an embrace.”

Alexei Țurcan (RO) – composer

This bilateral initiative is financed with the support of EEA and Norway Grants 2014 – 2021 through the National Fund for Bilateral Relations within the RO-CULTURE Programme

“Visiting the city of Oslo and aiming to ‘conquer’ as many peaks in its vicinity as possible, along with exploring Valeria Duca’s creations, led me to observe multiple layers of landscapes—similar to geological layers. In the end, the idea of stratigraphy ‘won the competition’ for the concept of my piece, Holmenkollen.

Initially, without prior research, I believed that my first journey to the Nordic countries would grant me the chance to witness the famous Northern Lights. However, Oslo showed me something different from the dance of lights in the sky—namely, the continuous interplay between landscapes, urban architecture, and works of art.”

Alexandru Ștefan Murariu (RO) – composer

This bilateral initiative is financed with the support of EEA and Norway Grants 2014 – 2021 through the National Fund for Bilateral Relations within the RO-CULTURE Programme

 

“I arrived in Oslo during that time of the year when the days are very short, and darkness dominates. But all this darkness vibrates intensely with two elements: culture and the sense of community. In short, I felt how culture is built around the idea of community—while visiting outdoor sculpture parks, warm and interactive museums, observing architecture seamlessly integrated into nature, and experiencing the generous energy of the library.

Meeting Valeria Duca and seeing her blue painting of Ekeberg Hill was wonderful—there was an instant and beneficial connection between us. As for the darkness, one day stood out completely—it was blindingly bright, so intense that even sunglasses were useless. This contrast made me reflect.

From this contrast, my piece Zero Gravity was born, drawing inspiration from multiple sources. Valeria’s painting has a striking characteristic: it appears realistic from afar yet impressionistic up close. The opposition between the deep blue-grey darkness and the almost unbearable light follows the same paradigm. Later, I received a gift—an old memory of a story told through sound, which resurfaced vividly.

Thus, I combined long-term and immediate memory—from Oslo—to create textures, then searched for a melodic idea within them, gradually revealing a narrative. In short, I crafted a piece in which time is alternately born, suspended, and then fixed immovably in a final cello quote from Grieg. This ties together the memories of a powerful visit to Oslo (recently) with the subtle transformation of darkness into sound (long ago). Just like in Valeria’s painting—both near and far.”**

Sabina Ulubeanu (RO) – composer

This bilateral initiative is financed with the support of EEA and Norway Grants 2014 – 2021 through the National Fund for Bilateral Relations within the RO-CULTURE Programme

 
“I experienced Iași as a diverse and vivid city, and had several inspirational moments during my stay. The Cultural Palace, Parcul Copou and a walk to the Nicolae Gane Museum were experiences I enjoyed much. Interesting coffee talks and walks with fellow participant and guide Paul Pintilie around the city; not to mention the visit to Hill Cetățuia (the hill of my choice) and the 17th century orthodox monastery on the top of it. The visit to Felix Aftene’s gallery was a highlight, and inspired and confirmed my approach to the composition, where several elements from the actual painting can be identified. All these experiences were important to the composing process as well as the final result of the music. Not only because of the relevant and interesting information, but the unique opportunity to surround yourself with all those vivid impressions in one moment, and sit by the desk and work out the composition in the next, made it a genuine, very positive and inspirational experience!”
𝐓𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐌𝐨𝐡𝐧(𝐍𝐎) – 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫
This bilateral initiative is financed with the support of EEA and Norway Grants 2014 – 2021 through the National Fund for Bilateral Relations within the RO-CULTURE Programme

Concert The Hills of Change | Iași

The project aims to promote both international artistic collaboration and the development of the audience. The artistic process will be enhanced through exchanges of experience between composers and painters, who will explore the connection between visual art and music.

Additionally, the project seeks to enhance the professional skills of three employees of the promoter through their participation in exchange programs and job-shadowing sessions facilitated by the Norwegian partner, with the goal of improving the competencies of the professionals involved and promoting sustainability in cultural management.

The bilateral co-production, created by the Association of Creative Industries in partnership with DAC Music Performance (Norway), “The Hills of Change”, aims to attract over 700 spectators to the performances in Iași and Oslo and to provide international visibility for the 43 artists involved from Romania and Norway: composers, painters, musicians, and conductors.

Collaboration with the Norwegian partner DAC Music Performance and the involvement of sustainability experts will contribute to strengthening bilateral relations, knowledge transfer, and the exchange of best practices. Thus, the project not only promotes culture but also lays the foundation for sustainable models of artistic collaboration.

Once the composition is completed, it will be presented free of charge to the general public during a dedicated premiere, both in Oslo, Norway, and Iași, Romania.

To stay updated with the latest news about the project, we invite you to follow us on the Facebook page of the “The Hills of Change” project.

Project Promoter: ASOCIAȚIA INDUSTRII CREATIVE
Project Partner: DAC MUSIC PERFORMANCE (Norway)
Total Project Value: 621,972.92 RON (124,984.51 EUR)
Non-reimbursable Funding: 621,972.92 RON (124,984.51 EUR)
Duration: 4 months
Implementation Locations: Iași (Romania) and Oslo (Norway)
Website: https://asociatiaindustriicreative.com/the-hills-of-change/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHillsOfChange

This bilateral initiative is implemented by the Project Management Unit from the Ministry of Culture, Romania, acting as Programme
Operator for RO-CULTURE, in partnership with Arts and Culture Norway, acting as Programme partner, and is financed with the support of EEA and Norway Grants through the National Bilateral Fund, managed by the National Contact Point within the Ministry of European Investments and Projects.

The EEA Grants represent the contribution of Iceland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, and the Kingdom of Norway to reducing economic and social disparities in the European Economic Area and strengthening bilateral relations with the 15 beneficiary countries in Eastern and Southern Europe, as well as the Baltic states. These funding mechanisms are established under the Agreement on the European Economic Area, which brings together EU member states and Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway as equal partners in the internal market. In total, the three countries contributed €3.3 billion between 1994 and 2014 and €1.55 billion for the 2014-2021 funding period. More details are available at: www.eeagrants.org and www.eeagrants.ro.

The RO-CULTURA Program is implemented by the Ministry of Culture through the Project Management Unit and aims to strengthen economic and social development through cultural cooperation, cultural entrepreneurship, and cultural heritage management. The Program’s budget is approximately €34 million. More details are available at www.ro-cultura.ro.

This bilateral initiative is implemented by the Project Management Unit from the Ministry of Culture, Romania, acting as Programme Operator for RO-CULTURE, in partnership with Arts and Culture Norway, acting as Programme partner, and is financed with the support of EEA and Norway Grants through the National Bilateral Fund, managed by the National Contact Point within the Ministry of European Investments and Projects.

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