Moldovan PM attends DescOpera Festival

Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu has taken part in the anniversary edition of the DescOpera open-air Classical Music Festival, held in Butuceni, at the Orheiul Vechi Complex. The event marks 10 years since the launch of one of the most important cultural projects dedicated to promoting classical music, opera and the cultural and natural heritage of Moldova.

“Here, at Orheiul Vechi, music, nature and history meet in a harmonious and special way. For several evenings, this unique place becomes a stage for opera, symphonic music and lyrical art, proving that Moldova has valuable artists and an audience thirsty for beauty. A people who value culture, education and art is a people who know how to pass on to future generations the love for beauty,” said Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu.

In the context of the performance of the National Philharmonic Serghei Lunchevici on the festival’s stage, Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu referred to the role of this institution in the culture of Moldova and about the need to reconstruct the Philharmonic after the fire that destroyed the building. The PM underlined that, although walls, halls and an important part of the heritage built by generations were lost, Moldova had not lost its artists, musicians and the people who continued to represent national culture.

“The Philharmonic must be reborn. It is a duty to the culture of Moldova, to the generations who built this institution and to the generations who must inherit it. We will rebuild the Philharmonic, because a country that respects its culture respects itself. And a country that invests in culture is, in fact, investing in what will remain after us,” declared Prime Minister Alexandru Munteanu.

The festival takes place during June 18-21, 2026 and, for the first time, offers four evenings of opera and classical music performances. On 20 June, the audience will be able to watch the opera “Nabucco” by Giuseppe Verdi, performed by the Maria Biesu National Opera and Ballet Theatre, and on June 21, the festival will conclude with the Strauss Dynasty Gala, an evening dedicated to waltzes and famous works of the Strauss family, performed by the Symphony Orchestra of the Teleradio-Moldova Company.

Throughout the festival, the public can also discover traditional crafts through the presence of folk artisans from Moldova and through craft activities. The atmosphere in Butuceni is complemented by tours in the Orheiul Vechi (Old Orhei) Reserve, farm visits and other cultural and recreational activities.

For spectators who choose to travel from Chisinau to Butuceni and back, the organizers provide transport throughout the four days. Departure from Chisinau is scheduled at 15:30, and the return from Butuceni at 22:30. The transport form can be filled in online at: https://forms.gle/hzzTzhwV1yontqvL8.

Organized under the aegis of Moldova’s Culture Ministry, the DescOpera open-air Classical Music Festival is one of the most important platforms for promoting classical music and enhancing the country’s cultural and natural heritage. Launched in 2016, the festival contributes to the development of cultural tourism and to bringing the public closer to lyrical and symphonic art.