A Dialogue with Gábor Tompa on the occasion of Romania's National Culture Day at the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York

The evening is a tribute to Gábor Tompa, the internationally acclaimed theatre, film and opera director, poet and teacher, who is considered one of the most influential figures of contemporary European theatre. His work is also closely linked to the United States where, for more than a decade, he led the directing program at the University of California, San Diego, mentoring generations of American and international artists.

During the informal discussion, audiences will get a broad picture of Gábor Tompa's artistic career and creative thinking. Throughout the evening, poems, rare archive photos and video clips from his seminal stage productions will highlight key moments in his life's work.

As part of the programme, Eli Vas and Flóra Bánhegyi will perform selected texts and poems in several languages, evoking the theatrical world of Gábor Tompa. Through the use of Romanian, Hungarian and international voices, one can discover the director's consistent commitment to language, rhythm and acting, which are the fundamental pillars of theatre.

The musical dimension of the evening will be enriched by the performance of cellist Mihai Marica. His performance draws on the diverse musical traditions of Transylvania and provides a meditative counterpoint to the texts, evoking those cultural landscapes and experiential layers that shaped Gábor Tompa's artistic vision.

The event will take place on Friday, January 16, at 7 pm local time at the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York.