The Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra will bid concertmaster Stefan Petrescu farewell on Thursday, April 20, at the orchestra’s final concert this season, held at Belle Aire Baptist Church, 1307 N. Rutherford Blvd., in Murfreesboro. This will be the final opportunity to see TPO’s founder and conductor emeritus Dr. Laurence Harvin and retiring Concertmaster Stefan Petrescu perform together.
Petrescu has been a member of the TPO since the late 1980s and is a well-known musician in Middle Tennessee. His story of how he ended up in Murfreesboro goes back to the days of the Cold War.
It was a difficult decade in Romania during the 1980s. Despite the war-torn land there, beautiful music was still being made and shared. In 1983 Petrescu and fellow musician Daniel Nedelcu first came to the United States, touring with the Romanian Symphony. On their second tour, in 1989, the two men chose to risk it all, asking to defect and to make the United States their home. They could not communicate in the English language, but as is commonly understood about music, it transcends many language barriers.
With families waiting to join them, they found Murfreesboro to be a place that welcomed immigrants. When they first arrived, they stayed with board member Patricia (and Matt) Ward’s family. It is a story of two men who not only wanted a better life for their families, but who were in danger of losing their lives had they returned to their country, and two Americans (along with the help of another Romanian family) willing to give them shelter and a new beginning. From learning to speak English to learning to drive a car, America offered opportunities for both men.
Petrescu is passionate about the importance of hearing live music.
“Hearing music from a CD is listening to fabricated sounds as compared to hearing an orchestra or soloist play live,” he said. “There is phrasing and intonation that is missed in recordings, and the best recording still cannot give you the feeling you get in a concert hall.”
Petrescu joined the Tennessee Philharmonic Orchestra in 1989 and has since brought great joy to thousands of people in Middle Tennessee through his music. But he decided that the time has come for him to retire to Florida.
Join Petrescu at his final concert with the TPO on Thursday, April 20, at 7 p.m. at Belle Aire Baptist Church. Find tickets at tnphil.org.
