Spirit of Romania: Ovidiu Lipan Țăndărică Project

“Spirit of Romania” – Ovidiu Lipan Țăndărică Project,” an extraordinary concert celebrating Romanian talent and Romania – United States – A Partnership for the Future will be performed one night only, on Wednesday, October 18 at 7:30 pm at the Kennedy Center, Family Theater in Washington, DC, courtesy of the Embassy of Romania to the United States of America and the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York, with the support of generous sponsors: Banca Transilvania, BCR, CEC Bank, Dedeman, Kaufland, EximBank, One, Hidroelectrica, Lidl, EMag.

Considered the best Romanian drummer of all time, Ovidiu Lipan Țăndărică is one of the most beloved and virtuoso drummers in the history of Romanian rock. With a career of more than half a century, he has offered us and continues to offer quality music, music that breathes the 50 years spent on stage, the overflowing energy and youthful spirit that consecrated him. An ambitious spirit with an obsessive state of making art, Ovidiu Lipan Țăndărică lives multiculturally in perfect harmony with himself, often refreshed by innovative projects which give him uniqueness. The first appearance of the artist was in the Romanian group “Red and Black” at only 13 years old, together with Nancy Brandes, proving to be the terrible child of the drums and implicitly of the Romanian rock. Starting with 1975, when he took the position of drummer in “Phoenix”, the most popular band of that time, Ovidiu Lipan Țăndărică continues the masterpiece “Cantafabule” and appears in almost all shows and on all Phoenix records.

During the time he was out of the country together with the others led by Nicu Covaci, at the beginning of the summer of 1977, in Germany he continued to sing in various forms, not only with the former Phoenix. Thus, in 1978 he founded the group “Madhouse”, with Josef Kappl and Erlend Krauser, a formula that recorded two discs. They played a lot in German clubs and at big international festivals. The artist then sang in the studios, with Eruption, with ELOY, with Joachim Witt (German new-wave), various sessions with Herman Rarebell from Scorpions, with Ginger Baker, “Rated X” (the German band with which he released two albums). Being a complete musician he had his own big band and played in international dance tournaments with Michael Hall.

Returning to Romania in January 1990, he performed “The Drummer’s Dream”, a symphonic poem, in a world-music performance that remained forever imprinted in the minds of the spectators. Starting with 1992, when the Artist participated with a clip, for Germany, at the “The Golden Stag”, he built his own career, therefore soloist. He launched a single and an LP with his own compositions, including him as a vocal soloist – “Lipan Connection”. Since 1999, he appears with extensive projects, accompanied by discographic transpositions of soundtracks, initiated and developed in a spirit of traditional Romanian music, identity, at stylistic intersections, without borders!

Always ready for new challenges, Ovidiu Lipan brings back to the fore a Western spiritual trend that appeared in the second half of the 20th century: “New Age”. Through this project, the Artist wants to express through music a closeness of humanity to spirituality, in which it will reign universal harmony. Being a free spirit, the Artist militates for a holistic vision, creating a new vision of the world, without boundaries or limiting dogmas. Mind, body and soul, interconnected and transposed through various styles of music, intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation and optimism.

Featuring:

• Ovidiu Lipan Țăndărică – concept, drums
• Iana Novac – vocal
• Stelu Enache – vocal
• Octavian Dobrota – vocal
• Victor-Manuel Solomon – guitar
• Adrian Stavian – keybords
• Marius Mirea – bass
• Mircea Cazan – bouzoukia
• Gheorghiță Zbranca – trumpet

Free event. Tickets required and available at the Kennedy Center Box Office, by phone (202) 467-4600 and online at https://www.kennedy-center.org/whats-on/explore-by-genre/international/2023-2024/spirit-of-romania-ovidiu-lipan-tandarica/. For all other ticket-related customer service inquiries, please call the Advance Sales Box Office at (202) 416-8540. 

This event is an external rental presented in coordination with the Kennedy Center Campus Rentals Office and is not produced by the Kennedy Center.