Between Corsica and Romania, Robert Girolami tells a revolution at the heart of music in The Twilight Cantata

In “The Twilight Cantata,” Robert Girolami explores his formative experience of discovering communist Romania in the early 1980s, leading up to the revolution of 1989 and the lasting connections with the Sibiu orchestra, well-known in Corsica for its performances. The book focuses on his artistic and personal relationship with the orchestra, which has spanned over forty years.

Girolami’s arrival in 1982 in Romania under Nicolae Ceaușescu’s dictatorship paints a picture of increased surveillance but also vibrant artistic life. The story is based on his own experiences, following his alter ego on a political, human, and cultural exploration. Music becomes a space of freedom in a repressive Romania, allowing for the release of expression despite pressure from the regime.

Throughout encounters in Bucharest, Sibiu, and Craiova, Girolami navigates relationships with musicians engaging in their country’s life. The narrative also delves into the challenges of personal trajectories in a constrained system, embodied in central figures like Bianca, illustrating both intimate relationships and harsh political realities.

“The Twilight Cantata” also highlights the unexpected connection between Corsican and Romanian culture through music, specifically through Girolami’s composition merging two themes. The Corsican sensitivity resonated in Romania, as seen in the reception of his work during the 1989 revolution, strengthening the bond between the two peoples beyond political contexts.

Girolami’s universal message in the book emphasizes the absence of strangers, shaped by encounters and challenges, and underscores the idea that freedom is never guaranteed.

(*”The Twilight Cantata,” François-Robert Girolami, Les Impliqués Editions, 150 pages, €17.)