Sunday, November 19, marks the centenary of the birth of Monica Lovinescu, of whom Gabriel Liicanu recently said: “Speaking for us, for four decades Monica Lovinescu has become a compensatory function for a whole nation.”

To mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Monica Lovinescu, the Humanitas Aqua Forte Foundation and the Humanitas Publishing House have offered a commemoration and commemoration, a program full of events that will take place throughout 2023 – THE YEAR OF MONICA LOVINESCU, which will culminate on November 19, when in Romanian Athenaeum will be held at 19:00 Monica Lovinescu Galapresented by Maryna Konstantinescu.

Program of Monica Lovinescu Gala

• Adagio Op. post. 148 D897 (nocturnal lifestyle), by Franz Schubert, performed by violinist Valentin Šerban, cellist Štefan Kazaku and pianist Dragos Dimitriou.

• Gabriel Liicianu in dialogue with Horia-Roman Patapijevic – “About memory as a duty”

• Presentation of the “Monica Lovinescu” award for memoirs, scientific works, intellectual or civic courage, head of the jury Ioana Părvulescu.

“I find it comforting to know that patient work and sacrifice can come to the fore. That prudence may also shine, that memory and courage may be rewarded. The prize is €10,000 and this year it will be for books published between 2021 and September 2023, when it will hopefully become annual.” — IOANA PARVULESCU.

• Release of the centenary album Monica Lovinescu: Life, voice, destiny, an illustrated biography of Christina Choabe. This album will also be presented at the Gaudeamus book fair on Sunday, November 26 at 5:00 pm at the Humanitas stand.

• Concerto No. 3 in C minor for piano and orchestraLudwig van Beethoven performed by pianist Florian Mitre and the George Enescu Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra conducted by Gabriel Bebesele.

Originally announced for November 19, the grand opening of the Lovinescu-Jerunka statuary group, executed by sculptor Virgil Skripcariu, will take place later, in December.

“The statuary group that I am working on is a composition in which the classical figurative is cleaned of unnecessary decoration. I say “composition” because in this piece I tried to illustrate the historical context in which the two characters lived. As I was walking towards the final form, I thought I might have faced the most important challenge of my life as a sculptor to date.” — VIRGIL SCRIPCARIOU.

“Monica Lovinescu and Virgil Ierunka entered my human constellation first as a ‘voice.’ They became a function, they were the revenge of the part of us that could not speak. What a formidable “couple” they made with us! History has turned us into cripples of self-expression; they gave us back the gift of speech. What a wonderful therapy their performance was for us! To have the courage to ask, who would we be without Monica Lovinescu? Isn’t it time, at least now, on the centenary of his birth, to remember how much we owe him and how little we have honored his memory?” — GABRIEL OF THE LYCEAN