After the success of its first edition, the European tour FRIENDS. ENCORE returns in 2025 with a series of concerts dedicated to contemporary Romanian encores – those charming musical miniatures offered to audiences at the end of recitals as a gesture of closeness and dialogue between stage and hall.
In this edition, four renowned pianists – Adriana Toacsen, Horia Maxim, Loreta Porumbescu, and Oana Zamfir – will take audiences in Vienna, Chișinău, and Brussels on a unique sonic journey, presenting eight encore works in world premiere, signed by contemporary Romanian composers.
Concerts
Bösendorfer Salon Vienna
26 August 2025
Unirii Hall Chișinău
12 September 2025
Romanian Embassy in Vienna
18 September 2025
Museum of Musical Instruments Brussels
25 September 2025
Adriana Toacsen has been building bridges between music lovers and contemporary music since 2019, not only as the initiator of ENCORE, but also as a pianist and creator of cultural projects. FRIENDS. ENCORE is a unique European tour that brings to the forefront the subtle art of the contemporary Romanian encore – a short yet intense form of musical expression, presented in world premieres at prestigious cultural and diplomatic venues. The ENCORE project promotes the existing heritage of contemporary compositions, highlights young composers, and discovers new talents. This year, ENCORE becomes a story carrying Romania’s signature in the heart of Europe.
Encore breaks down the barrier between a considerable number of music lovers and contemporary classical music, through short, moving pieces that focus on the pure pleasure of listening. The story-concert is a type of recital–performance specially designed to remain in the audience’s emotional memory, to embody the emotion and connection between soloist and public, and to create a moment of freedom for the performer. A moment that steps outside the rigor of the program and allows the artist to express pure emotions. Encore presents short, intense, and expressive pieces that create a captivating and easily enjoyable experience for the audience.
The FRIENDS. ENCORE project is organized by the Encore Association and co-financed by the Romanian Cultural Institute through the Cantemir Program, a funding program dedicated to cultural projects with international visibility. The tour also benefits from the support of the Union of Romanian Composers and Musicologists, as well as cultural and institutional partners from Austria, Belgium, and the Republic of Moldova.
