Past editions
The HUMANS Festival archive: the program, artists and partners of each edition.
The 2026 edition · June 3–12
Beethoven 199.5 — the first edition
Ten days, three continents, one city. The first edition brought together the “Transilvania” State Philharmonic, the “Gheorghe Dima” National Academy of Music and the “Sigismund Toduță” College of Music around a single program: Beethoven at the center, chamber music at its heart, and passing it on as its reason for being.
10
days
8
concerts
3,600
audience members
10
masterclasses, free admission
Why 199.5? Beethoven’s bicentenary falls in 2027: Cluj celebrated it six months ahead of everyone else.
Concert program
5
June
Friday
Academic College, Auditorium Maximum Hall · 19:00
Ludwig van Beethoven — Overture “The Consecration of the House”, Op. 124
Felix Mendelssohn — Double Concerto for violin, piano and string orchestra in D minor, MWV O4
David Grimal, violin · Itamar Golan, piano
Ludwig van Beethoven — Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 19
Philippe Cassard, piano
“Transilvania” State Philharmonic · Ricardo Castro, conductor
6
June
Saturday
“Gheorghe Dima” National Academy of Music, “Cornel Țăranu” Amphitheatre · 19:00
Antonín Dvořák — Four Romantic Pieces, Op. 75
David Grimal, violin · Itamar Golan, piano
Antonín Dvořák — Piano Trio No. 4 in E minor “Dumky”, Op. 90
David Grimal, violin · Xavier Phillips, cello · Philippe Cassard, piano
Johannes Brahms — Piano Quartet No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25
Valentin Șerban, violin · Juan-Miguel Hernandez, viola · Xavier Phillips, cello · Itamar Golan, piano
7
June
Sunday
“Gheorghe Dima” National Academy of Music, “Cornel Țăranu” Amphitheatre · 19:00
Ludwig van Beethoven — Cello Sonata No. 3 in A major, Op. 69
Xavier Phillips, cello · Philippe Cassard, piano
Franz Schubert — Piano Trio No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 100
David Grimal, violin · Xavier Phillips, cello · Philippe Cassard, piano
Johannes Brahms — Piano Quintet in F minor, Op. 34
David Grimal, violin · Valentin Șerban, violin · Juan-Miguel Hernandez, viola · Xavier Phillips, cello · Itamar Golan, piano
8
June
Monday
“Gheorghe Dima” National Academy of Music, “Cornel Țăranu” Amphitheatre · 19:00
Claude Debussy — Cello Sonata in D minor, L. 135
Xavier Phillips, cello · Itamar Golan, piano
Maurice Ravel — Piano Trio in A minor, M. 67
David Grimal, violin · Xavier Phillips, cello · Philippe Cassard, piano
Gabriel Fauré — Piano Quartet No. 1 in C minor, Op. 15
Valentin Șerban, violin · Juan-Miguel Hernandez, viola · Xavier Phillips, cello · Philippe Cassard, piano
9
June
Tuesday
Iulius Park · 20:00
Students of the “Sigismund Toduță” College of Music, in an open-air concert.
10
June
Wednesday
“Gheorghe Dima” National Academy of Music, “Cornel Țăranu” Amphitheatre · 19:00
Johannes Brahms — Viola Sonata No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 120 No. 2
Juan-Miguel Hernandez, viola · Itamar Golan, piano
George Enescu — Violin Sonata No. 3 in A minor, Op. 25, “in Romanian folk character”
Valentin Șerban, violin · Itamar Golan, piano
Robert Schumann — Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 44
Valentin Șerban, violin · Sabina Silaghi, violin · Juan-Miguel Hernandez, viola · Ștefan Cazacu, cello · Ricardo Castro, piano
11
June
Thursday
“Gheorghe Dima” National Academy of Music, “Cornel Țăranu” Amphitheatre · 19:00
Franz Schubert — Fantasia in F minor for piano four hands, D. 940
Itamar Golan, piano · Ricardo Castro, piano
Johannes Brahms — Violin Sonata No. 1 in G major, Op. 78
David Grimal, violin · Ricardo Castro, piano
Ernest Chausson — Concert for violin, piano and string quartet in D major, Op. 21
David Grimal, violin · Valentin Șerban, violin · Sabina Silaghi, violin · Juan-Miguel Hernandez, viola · Ștefan Cazacu, cello · Itamar Golan, piano
12
June
Friday
Academic College, Auditorium Maximum Hall · 18:00
Ludwig van Beethoven — Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 — directed from the violin, without a conductor
Ludwig van Beethoven — Choral Fantasy in C minor, Op. 80
Ludwig van Beethoven — Symphony No. 4 in B-flat major, Op. 60
Orchestra and Choir of the “Transilvania” State Philharmonic
David Grimal, violin and musical direction · Ricardo Castro, piano and musical direction
Soloists: Țugui, Duffner, Iamandi, Huțan, Mogoșan, Pogana · Malicski, chorus master
Masterclasses
Free admission and participation.
June 3 · 14:00–17:00 — Ricardo Castro, piano
“Gheorghe Dima” National Academy of Music, “Cornel Țăranu” Amphitheatre
June 4 · 10:00–13:00 — Juan-Miguel Hernandez, viola
“Gheorghe Dima” National Academy of Music, “Cornel Țăranu” Amphitheatre
June 5 · 10:00–13:00 — Xavier Phillips, cello
“Gheorghe Dima” National Academy of Music, Academicum Hall
June 8 · 10:00–13:00 — Ștefan Cazacu, cello
“Sigismund Toduță” College of Music, Festive Hall
June 8 · 10:00–13:00 — Itamar Golan, chamber music
“Gheorghe Dima” National Academy of Music
June 9 · 08:30–11:00 — Xavier Phillips, cello
“Gheorghe Dima” National Academy of Music, “Cornel Țăranu” Amphitheatre
June 9 · 10:00–13:00 — Juan-Miguel Hernandez, viola
“Sigismund Toduță” College of Music, Festive Hall
June 9 · 10:00–13:00 — Philippe Cassard, piano
“Gheorghe Dima” National Academy of Music, “Cornel Țăranu” Amphitheatre
June 9 · 14:30–17:30 — Philippe Cassard, piano
“Sigismund Toduță” College of Music, Festive Hall
June 11 · 10:00–13:00 — Valentin Șerban, violin
“Sigismund Toduță” College of Music, Festive Hall
Artists of the 2026 edition
Click an artist’s name to read their biography.
Piano | France
Cello | France
Piano | Brazil
Viola | Canada
Violin | France
Piano | Israel
Cello | Romania
Violin | Romania
Joined by soloists of the Romanian National Opera of Cluj-Napoca, the choir of the “Transilvania” State Philharmonic and students of the “Sigismund Toduță” College of Music.
Sponsors and partners of the 2026 edition
Official Sponsor
Sponsors
Partners
