One year after setting a world record for the fastest tour across all continents, violinist Diana Jipa and pianist Stefan Doniga have achieved another remarkable feat: this autumn, the two artists circled the globe twice in just six weeks, their recent tours having a dual purpose: promoting Romanian music internationally and commemorating composers persecuted by totalitarian regimes.

In an interview with AGERPRES, the musicians shared details of their journey, which offered both extraordinary experiences and unexpected challenges.

'We thought this year we would circle the globe for the third time, which indeed happened in September. And that was already a first, at least for Romanian music and culture. Perhaps even globally - this deserves study at least for statistical purposes. The tour spanned four continents. It was a world tour, but then came a second circuit of the planet, almost unexpectedly, prompted by a series of concerts in Japan. Instead of returning west as usual, we continued east and enjoyed absolute privileges of travelling to places that are very hard to reach. Crossing the North Pole, we saw the aurora borealis, we flew over Greenland - so being a musician and travelling the world brings additional joys, often overlooked, but which fill your memory and life with truly memorable moments,' recounted Stefan Doniga.

The artists' musical projects follow well-defined themes, and this autumn the concept focused on the 80th anniversary of the Holocaust.

The tour, titled Muzica Prohibita/Prohibited Music, included works by composers persecuted under Nazi or Communist regimes, such as Paul Constantinescu, Mihail Jora, Miriam Marbei, Walter Klepper, Ernest Bloch, Dmitri Shostakovich and Sergei Bortkiewicz.

'A very relevant programme was structured primarily around the idea of freedom. It is an idea we believe should be discussed more frequently in society, given the consequences of its absence. When we forget what freedom brings, when we forget the values of freedom, we lose all other life values. That was the serious central theme of our journey. We always want to separate the entertainment side of culture from its truth. Unfortunately, culture today is often seen mainly as entertainment, and content is treated accordingly. Culture becomes superficial and short-lived. We wanted to highlight that culture itself represents truth, and through this project we presented the truth of dramatic historical moments. We fought, with our instruments, against oblivion,' Stefan Doniga emphasised.

Despite difficulties, from storms and cancelled flights to visa issues in Kenya and illnesses sometimes resolved miraculously, the musicians managed to perform every scheduled concert.

'The project's content was reflected, on one hand, in the repertoire and the stories of each composer, and on the other, in the tour route, because we performed in all cities worldwide hosting United Nations offices. It was a form of respect for the work of this prestigious international forum in combating persecution. We went to Geneva, Vienna, Brisbane, Nairobi, where there is a centre for indigenous populations, and of course New York. That was the trajectory. Other events were interspersed too,' the pianist added.

A truly special moment occurred in Brisbane, where the two artists performed a sonatina by Walter Michael Klepper, a Romanian composer of German origin, on the birthday of his son, Ralf Klepper.

Ralf Klepper had contacted Diana Jipa two years earlier after seeing a video filmed in Cluj-Napoca featuring pieces composed by his father. Initially, Ralf emigrated from Romania to Germany with his family, and later to Brisbane, Australia.

'This seems almost statistically impossible, but it shows that music can create profound and unexpected connections,' Stefan Doniga noted.

Just a week after the first tour, the series Tokyo Meets Enescu followed, highlighting George Enescu's Third Sonata in Romanian Folk Style, admired by Japanese audiences for its refinement and virtuosity.

'There was a series we called 'Tokyo Meets Enescu'. We were specifically asked to perform the Third Sonata in Romanian Folk Style by George Enescu. It is also a very timely coincidence - next year marks a century since this masterpiece was composed. Why is it important? It is a defining work in the trajectory of Romanian classical chamber music. After it was composed, music was written differently. If this work had not existed, Romanians today would be composing a very different type of music. It was a true milestone in Romanian musical creation. This is the kind of work that, in 40 pages, concentrates what, for example, Tchaikovsky represents for Russian music. It gathers all traditional influences and projects them into universality. Any musician in the world can learn from it how to perform Romanian lautareasca [folk virtuoso, editor's note] music,' the pianist explained.

As a conclusion of these tours, the artists present Romanian music as having universal value.

'The most important conclusion is... the joy of discovering that Romanian music and culture are universal, profoundly connected to human nature, and identifiable, acceptable and appreciable by anyone, anywhere. Romanian music touches an essential element; it needs no explanation. Many cultural products considered exotic from around the world are merely interesting or attractive for us. Romanian music, however, provokes sincere reactions everywhere, not only in areas influenced by European culture. We performed in Morocco, South Africa, Kenya, often for native audiences rather than expatriates or those familiar with European culture. The reception was authentic, requiring no intermediary for understanding. It needed no explanation. This is the most beautiful discovery we made,' Stefan Doniga said.

Diana Jipa added that to be convincing, one must first be honest, which she sees as the foundation of Romanian music.

'To be convincing, you must first be honest, and I believe that is the foundation of Romanian music. It penetrates the essence of the human, the essence of the listener, regardless of background. Romanian music touches the essence of the human being and requires no explanation. It is received authentically everywhere,' the violinist said.

Between 5 September and 22 October, the two artists effectively completed two circumnavigations of the globe, surpassing even Phileas Fogg's fictional achievement.

In their view, Romanian music and culture can be universal, and the richness of European and Romanian cultural heritage deserves appreciation and sharing worldwide.

'We should be grateful to live in a part of the world that offers freedom and the possibility to discover and share our cultural heritage. This is true wealth. The Romanian cultural space contains countless elements, and we are beneficiaries of this superb, rare, and unique European historical mixture. It defines us, and it is very good that it is so. We are proud, and we are rich in this regard. This is evident not only in comparison with the vast regions we visited but also through the appreciation of audiences abroad. We cannot say we have gone far - we have gone the furthest. Geographically, one cannot go further on this planet,' concluded the pianist Stefan Doniga. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Sebastian Olaru; EN - writing by: Simona Iacob)