The Moldovan and Romanian authorities launched the fifth International Poetry Festival “Grigore Vieru” that will be taking place in Chisinau and Iasi during May 16-19.

Contacted by IPN, director general of the National Library “Ion Creanga” Claudia Balaban said all the late bard’s friends were invited to the festival, including translators, composers and poets with whom Grigore Vieru cooperated. “I hope that this festival will bring a new flow of lovers of the great poet’s works. We wish the festival to expand and become a tradition so that Vieru’s works live on,” stated Claudia Balaban.

In Chisinau, the festival starts today at the Classical Writers Alley, where flowers will be laid at Grigore Vieru’s bust. Actor Nicolae Jelescu will give a poetry recital in memory of the poet. The festival will continue at the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, where academicians Mihai Cimpoi, Daniel Corbu, Nicolae Dabija and others will give speeches and present communications.

The festival’s Award Gala will take place at the National Theater “Mihai Eminescu” in the evening. It will be followed by a concert involving panpipe player and composer Gheorghe Zamfir, tenor Mihai Munteanu and actor Eusebiu Stefanescu.

According to Claudia Balaban, for the first time this year there were held two poetry contests for children. “Children from all over the country took part in them. The top prize will be 500 lei, while the second and third prizes - 400 and, respectively, 300 lei,” she said. The festival in Chisinau will end on May 17 with exhibitions, poetry recitals and performances at the National Library and the Academy of Music, Theater and Plastic Arts.

On May 18-19, the event will be held in Iasi.