Conferences

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On Sunday, 8 May 2016, as of 11.00 a.m., at the NTB Black Box Hall, Mrs. Georgeta Filitti shall hold the conference on the topic Royal Romania during La Belle Epoque.

About the conference

The interval between the last decades of the 19th century and the First World War meant a period of effervescence, of creativity and innovation, positively perceived in the Romanian space.

The war from 1877-78, which resulted in the achievement of state independence, a monarchy increasingly anchored in the Romanian realities and a flourishing economy turn Romania into the arbitrator of the Balkans.

Institutional creation (banks, libraries, institutes, hospitals, schools of higher education, charity establishments), public and private architecture (nowadays almost the only pride of our cities), the educational system with proven efficiency – they have all emphasized the national potentialities.

Culture meant a profitable exchange of values with the West. The training of some Romanians in the great Western cities, the arrival and stay in Romania of countless physicians, architects, journalists, professors have left a cosmopolitan imprint on the spiritual manifestations of that epoch. At the same time, the national fund was cleverly valorised, and the main vector in the field remains the royal family. The cultivation of the folk costume, the encouragement of the peasant household industry, the popularisation of traditional architecture, the support for the village education system, the collection of folklore are harmoniously blended with modernity, promoted by the numerous cultural personalities of the time.

M. Eminescu, G. Coşbuc, N. Grigorescu, G. Enescu, I. Ghica, M. Kogălniceanu, C. A. Rosetti, G. Gr. Cantacuzino, P.P. Carp, Iancu Bălăceanu, Take Ionescu, the Brătianu family, Ion Cantacuzino, Victor Babeş, Carol Davilla, N. Iorga, the Storck family, Spiru Haret and many more are boosting the society. A highly expressive media – in Romanian, Greek or French – performs a work of informing and educating the public opinion.

Foreign competent observers were considering Bucharest one of the most musical cities in the world. Romanian and foreign artists were performing on the stage of the Romanian Athenaeum, many concerts unfolding under a high royal patronage.

The passion for theatre finds a matchless confirmation in the productions of the National Theatre and of private theatres. The inland repertoire, competing with the foreign one, keeps the audience from the urban areas alert.

The horse races, animated by the Jockey Club, the car rallies, the air shows attract a tremendous audience. There, the latest fashion creations, brought from abroad or manufactured in Romania are flaunted.

This societal pulsation at European pace is also reflected in social life. Animating it are women, first of all. Cultivated, intelligent, many of them remarkably beautiful, they have succeeded in imposing themselves both inland and for instance in Paris, where intellectual salons par excellence are held.

La belle époque has regarded, beyond any doubt, predominantly the social elite. At the same time, the constitution of the middle class, the ambition to move up the social ladder, as well as the authorities’ concern for various social programmes have meant a permanent effort to use energies, to solidarise communities, to perfect the individual.

A faded era, part of our European tradition, towards which it is worthwhile returning often as an example of triumph of a world arbitrated by the monarchic institution. Georgeta Filitti

About Georgeta Filitti

Expert in modern and contemporary Romanian history. Editor of documents.

Studies: Faculty of History of the Bucharest University (1961); PhD in History from the Cluj University (1971).

Professional background:

-      Scientific researcher at the „Nicolae Iorga” Institute of History of the Romanian Academy, up to the degree of principal researcher I (1961-1998); advisor at the „Ion Ghica” foundation (1997-2004); librarian, head of department at the Bucharest Metropolitan Library (2003-2007); principal researcher I at the National Institute for the Memory of the Romanian Exile (din 2007).

Publishing (selection):      

1975-2004 – she edits the Works of M. Kogălniceanu (Oratory, 9 vol., 1864-1891), for which she receives the “Nicolae Bălcescu” award of the Academy (1983); 1978 – Encyclopaedia of Romanian Historiography (co-author); Since 1982 – she has been editing the works of Nicolae Iorga: Economic Works, History of the Romanian People, History of Romanians from Transylvania and Hungary, History of Romanians, vol. VIII, History of Romanians for the Romanian People, 2 vol., History of Romanians, vol X, Parliament Speeches (1907-1917); 1985-2008 – edits the works of I.C. Filitti (Selected Works, Journal, 1913-1919; The Diplomatic Role of Phanariots, Man through his Work); 1996 – George Ciorănescu. Romanians and the Federalist Idea; 1997 – The Memoirs of Prince Nicolae Sutu, 1798-1871, translation from French, introduction, notes and annotations; 1998 – Voices of Exile. Anthology; 2002 – Ion Bălăceanu. Political and Diplomatic Memories, 1848-1903, translation from French, introduction, notes and annotations; 2003-2006 – Foreign Travellers about Romanian Countries in the 19th Century. New Series, 1800-1840, 3 vol. (co-author and preface author); 2004 – Romanian Travellers to Greece. Anthology; 2006 – Time Travel with…; The Romanian Millennium (co-author, with an English version as well); 2007 – Testaments. Anthology; Time Travel through Bucharest; 2008 – From the Life of Romanian Exile (1954-1968), vol. I: 1954 – 1957; 2010 – Always Together. Romania-Greece. 130 Years of Diplomatic Relations.

Translations:

– Matilla Ghyka: Escales de ma jeunesse; The World Mine Oyster; Again One Day.

Permanent columns:

– From the History of Notaryship, in the Magazine of Notaries Public from Romania (since 2000);

– People Used to Send Letters; Romania 100 Years Ago, in Historical Magazine (since 2002); Bucharest Archives, in the magazine The Bucharest Library of the Bucharest Metropolitan Library.

Translated by Simona Nichiteanu