The performing art of Constantin Sandu has developed under the influence of his Romanian masters \u2013 Sonia Ratescu, Constantin Nitu and, later on, Constantin Ionescu-Vovu at the “Ciprian Porumbescu” Higher Music Conservatory of Bucharest \u2013 and of other outstanding individualities such as Sequeira Costa, Dimitri Bashkirov, Helena S\u00e1 e Costa and T\u00e2nia Achot. His unique artistic personality blends accuracy and respect for the musical text with fascinating poetical sensitivity and imaginative sound spectrum<\/p>\n
At the age of 14, he started his career as a soloist with orchestra. Since then, he has been involved in an intense musical activity \u2013 hundreds of recitals, chamber music and concerts with orchestra \u2013 in several European and Asian countries, having had favourable appreciation from both the public and the critics: \u201chis sensitive personality helps him give a very personal though valid version\u201d (Piano Journal \u2013 United Kingdom); \u201ca musician of an undoubted personality, (\u2026) a magnificent sense of colour and rhythm, together with undeniable virtuosity\u201d (Diario de Sevilla \u2013 Spain); \u201ca superb pianist, (\u2026) a masterful hue and delicacy (\u2026) irreproachable mastery. Overwhelming.\u201d (ABC \u2013 Spain); \u201can artistic performance of real excellence\u201d (Muzica \u2013 Romania); \u201ca concerto full of expression and emotion\u201d (P\u00fablico \u2013 Portugal); “A General leading his troops, the Bodensee Symphonic Orchestra.” (L’ Est R\u00e9publicain \u2013 France); \u201cThe delicate and deep playing, the almost immaterial sound, carried the audience into a dimension of dream.\u201d (Corriere Valsesiano \u2013 Italy).<\/p>\n
He holds several awards at international competitions: Senigallia \u2013 Italy 1980 (2nd), Viotti-Valsesia \u2013 Italy 1981 (1st), Paloma O\u2019Shea \u2013 Santander, Spain 1984 (Honourable mention), Epinal \u2013 France 1985 (2nd) and Maria Canals \u2013 Barcelona, Spain 1985 (3rd and Alberto Mozatti special prize).<\/p>\n
He has participated in important Festivals, namely: George Enescu \u2013 Bucharest, Chopin \u2013 Paris, Festival Internacional de Santander, Festival de Primavera – Sevilla, Ciudad de Ayamonte, Internationale Trossinger Tastentage, Muziksev – Izmir, Vara Magica – Bucharest, Figueira da Foz, Espinho, Guimar\u00e3es.<\/p>\n
He is a regular guest soloist of the most significant Romanian orchestras, such as: George Enescu \u2013 Bucharest, Transilvania \u2013 Cluj, Oltenia \u2013 Craiova Philharmonics, the National Radio Orchestra of Romania. He has also played with noteworthy European orchestras, as for instance: Arthur Rubinstein \u2013 Lodz, Halle Philharmonic, Bodensee Orchestra \u2013 Konstanz, National Orchestra of Belarus, Symphonic Orchestra of Radio \u2013 television of Kiev, National Philharmonic of Moldavia, National Orchestra of Porto.<\/p>\n
He has played with renowned conductors, such as: Cristian Mandeal, Horia Andreescu, Ludovic Bacs, Emanuel Elenescu, Christian Badea, Camil Marinescu, Daisuke Soga, Ilya Stupel, Thomas Koncz, Victor Dubrovski, Emil Hatchaturian, Elena Herrera, Meir Minsky, Mark Stephenson, Heribert Beissel, Johen Wehner, Robert E. Luther, Didier Benetti, and Piero Bellugi, Roberto Salvalaio, Salvalaio, Theo Wolters and Wong Kah Chun.<\/p>\n
He has performed in celebrated concert halls (Ateneul Roman \u2013 Bucharest, Concert Hall of the Romanian Broadcasting Society – Bucharest, Palau de la M\u00fasica Catalana \u2013 Barcelona, Iturbi hall of the Palau de la M\u00fasica \u2013 Valencia, Manuel de Falla Auditorium \u2013 Granada, Mozart hall of the Zaragoza Auditorium, Teatro de Rojas \u2013 Toledo, Teatro Cervantes \u2013 Malaga, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation – Lisbon, Suggia hall of Casa da M\u00fasica \u2013 Porto) and in other important musical centres (London, Paris, Berlin, Hamburg, Brussels Rome, Turin, Madrid, Seville, Budapest, Bratislava, Xi’an, etc.).<\/p>\n
He was a member of the jury of the following International Competitions: Epinal, France 2015, 2017 and 2019, president of the jury in 2021, Vianna da Motta \u2014 Lisbon, Portugal 2001, Cidade do Porto \u2014 Portugal 1996, 1998, 2003 and 2010, Viotti-Valsesia \u2014 Italy 1995, Pinerollo-Citt\u00e1 della cavalleria \u2014 Italy 1994 and 1996, Helena S\u00e1 e Costa \u2014 Aveiro, Portugal 2004, Florinda Santos \u2014 S\u00e3o Jo\u00e3o de Madeira, Portugal 2004, 2012, Ciudad de Toledo \u2013 Spain 2007 and Propiano \u2013 Bucharest, Romania, 2008 – 2013 2015, 2017, 2019 – 2023, Pa\u00e7os\u2019 Premium 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2017, Santa Cecilia – Porto, Portugal 2017. He was invited to be the president of the jury of
\nthe 28th Epinal International Piano Competition in 2021.<\/p>\n
He has given several master classes, among which the following are to be mentioned: Porto International Music Courses 1998, Celebrating the Great Pianists Festival in Aveiro 2001, International Music Courses Ciudad de Gandia 2003, National Music University of Bucharest 2005, 2013, International Music Forum of Torrelodones 2008, Encuentros Internacionales de M\u00fasica – Alcobendas 2012, Hochschule f\u03cbr Musik Trossingen 2012, F\u00f3rum Internacional de M\u00fasica “Ciudad de Orihuela” 2013 – 2019, Steinway & Sons House – Xi’an 2019, National Music Conservatory of Lisbon 2008 and 2020 and several editions of the International Instrumental Courses of ARTAVE \/ Centro de Cultura Musical.<\/p>\n
Within the ERASMUS+ programme, he has given master classes at prestigious Conservatories and Universities, such as Conservat\u00f3ire National Sup\u00e9rieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris 2018, Universit\u00e4t f\u00fcr Musik und Darstellende Kunst Wien, Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles 2016, Hogeschool Zuyd Maastricht 2013, Yasar University Izmir 2014 and 2020.<\/p>\n
Within Porto 2001 \u2014 European Capital of Culture, he performed Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Porto National Orchestra, under the direction of Mark Tardue. This performance was integrated in an all-Rachmaninov-Concertos programme, in which he participated together with Vladimir Viardo, Sequeira Costa e Artur Pizarro.<\/p>\n
He recorded several CDs \u2013 Beethoven (2001, 2020), Albeniz and Gershwin (2002), Portuguese and Romanian piano music (2005, 2021), Mozart and A. J. Fernandes Concertos (2009) and other collective or chamber music works.<\/p>\n
In 2006, he received the title of Ph. D. in music at the National Music University of Bucharest, with the thesis Portuguese Piano Music.<\/p>\n
He has lived in Portugal since 1991 and presently teaches the piano at the Porto Higher School of Music and the Performing Arts, where he is the current Head of The Piano Department.<\/p>\n
In 2019, the Government of Romania distinguished him with the Excellency Prize and Medal 100 pentru Centenar, for his contribution to the “preservation of the Romanian cultural heritage”.<\/p>\n
Official website<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"