Actress Maia Morgenstern, who took the stage at the 21st edition of the ProEtnica Intercultural Festival in Sighisoara alongside the Bucharest Klezmer Band of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania - Mosaic Cult, said that the musicians are a genuine treasure that contributes to saving the folklore and specificity of Yiddish culture in Romania.

'I've lost count of the times I've been present at ProEtnica, but I know that I would be glad to come every year. It's an eagerly awaited event, it is a moment when we, all the communities so different and yet so close get together, communicating, transferring - if you will - the energy, the joy of presenting ourselves in our own right. Each national minority with its most beautiful, with its most full of life fervor features. And this can bring us together, not separate us. And it's so beautiful! We are here together with my good colleagues from the Bucharest Klezmer Band, who are always exploring and always digging deeper. They are genuine treasures of folklore, of the uniqueness and specificity of Yiddish culture, Jewish culture, the culture that was born here, on these realms and, it would be a shame to lose it. This is the generous, ambitious and worthy approach of the Bucharest Klezmer Band, along with so many others, and we see young people, children and elderly coming to contribute,' Maia Morgenstern declared for the press.

The actress expressed her gratitude to the organizers of the ProEtnica Intercultural Festival, stressing that she understands what a difficult endeavor it is to bring together artists and folklore ensembles representing 20 communities.

'I thank them, and I am deeply grateful. I know how difficult it is at any time and at any moment to organize a festival here, in the heart of the country, and to bring so many bands and each one would like to deliver an as complex as possible image of themselves. And it's very good that this happens. I know how difficult it is, I am deeply grateful to them, I know how complicated it is at all levels - organizational-wise, in terms of logistics and funding, but here we are. I thank them with all my heart and I wish them to keep it up like this,' said Maia Morgenstern.

Carmen Hannah Iovitu, one of the vocal soloists of the Bucharest Klezmer Band, said that the group is trying to present that rich Jewish cultural life which has somewhat been lost.

'It's a highly particular repertoire, precisely because it is part of a heritage that circulates from one country to another. It is universal, it was very local, but now it's universal and this small part must be presented to the public whenever we have the opportunity. ProEtnica has been offering us this possibility for years now and it's with happiness and zest that we come here and perform in concerts that last an hour, an hour and a half. We are full of energy because all these rhythms energize us too. (...) We do it with all our heart because only this way can that part of a life that is no longer here, a rich Jewish life, infused with culture, with poetry and literature, with a certain way of living, specific cuisine, with whatever you want from weddings to funerals, be passed down and dwell in the people's souls. There are very few of us in Romania, but the State Jewish Theater and the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania are coming together to create a special event, which means carrying forward and relaying these elements of Jewish life that were and are no longer there,' Carmen Hannah Iovitu told the press.

The Bucharest Klezmer Band is led by Bogdan Lifsin and is made up of Rodica Doija, Sergiu Marin, Sorin Drobota, Cristian Dragomir, vocal soloists Carmen Hannah Iovitu, Geni Brenda, Arabela Neazi and artistic program coordinator Silvian Horn. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Sorina Matis; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)