19 - 20/09/2015 @ 1 Belgrave Square, London

Those who have not seen our building in Belgrave Square are welcome to visit us during the Open House London weekend, the capital's largest annual festival of architecture and design, taking place on 19 & 20 September 2015.

Built in the 1820’s by Thomas Cubitt, Belgravia is one of the most beautiful areas of Central London. Our house has a rich history, and it was acquired by the Romanian government before WWII, functioning as embassy, ambassadorial residence or cultural institute ever since.

Grade I listed by the English Heritage for its exceptional architecture, the building’s elegant halls, old furniture and paintings by great Romanian artists have been of great interest for tourists and for those who want to learn more about the insights of the British capital’s architecture.

The visitors will have the chance to see 'Auspicious Absents. An architectural and biographical history of 1 Belgrave Square' and ‘The London Salon of Romanian art’ exhibitions.

As a special treat for all our visitors, one of the most talented Romanian pianists studying and performing in London, Cristian Sandrin, will offer the public an all Chopin concert that will take place both on Saturday and Sunday from 12.00 to 2pm with half an hour intermission.

Born in 1993 in Bucharest, into a family of musicians, Cristian Sandrin started to play the piano at the age of 6 with Marina Dragomirescu. He graduated the 'Dinu Lipatti' Music College having worked with Cristian Dumitrescu and his own father, Professor Sandu Sandrin. He is currently studying with Diana Ketler in the second year of the BMus programme at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM), holding the ABRSM Scholarship and the Sainsbury Award. Cristian Sandrin is a prizewinner of numerous competitions both international and collegiate. Apart from international distinctions, he gained numerous awards and prizes in his native country such as First Prize at the National Music Olympiad, First Prize at Competition organised by the Hungarian Cultural Institute (2010) and Third Prize at the National 'Dinu Lipatti' Competition. He also recently received a Very Highly Commended Prize at the 'William Sterndale Bennet Prize', a Highly Commended Prize at the “Max Pirani Trio Competition” and the “Greta Parkinson Prize” from the Royal Academy of Music. Cristian Sandrin has performed with major Romanian orchestras and given recitals in all the major venues in his home country. In 2014 he had his debut both as soloist and conductor in the Mozart Chamber Music Series at RAM playing the Mozart Piano Concerto in Eb major K 449. In 2013, Cristian took part in the Imagine Festival at Southbank Centre at Queen Elisabeth Hall. During the years, the pianist took part in numerous masterclasses, working with important teachers including Angela Hewitt, Stephen Osborne, Yevgeny Sudbin and Kathryn Stott. Within the 7th International 'San Daniele' Piano Meeting he was awarded the 'Pianoforte e orchestra' Award for the best performance of a piano concerto.

When: 19 & 20 September 2015, 10am-5pm.

Where: Romanian Cultural Institute, 1 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PH

Free entry.