Strings of Fire: The Soulful Sound of the Cimbalom

Moldovan virtuoso Ivan Curtean playing the cimbalom. (Photo by Janos Müpa)

This summer, audiences at the Northern Lights Music Festival in northeastern Minnesota will have a rare chance to experience a musical marvel: the cimbalom, an instrument both ancient and astonishing, brought vividly to life by Moldovan virtuoso Ivan Curtean.

Often described as a cross between a hammered dulcimer and a grand piano, the cimbalom is a stringed instrument played by striking metal strings with light hammers. It originated in Central and Eastern Europe in the 16th century and became a hallmark of Romani, Hungarian, and Romanian folk music. By the late 19th century, a concertized version of the instrument was developed in Hungary, with an expanded range and dynamic capabilities — ushering the cimbalom onto the classical concert stage.

Today, its shimmering, percussive voice still evokes village dances and gypsy caravans, but in the hands of artists like Ivan Curtean, it also sings in the language of 21st-century music. Whether interpreting Bartók, playing contemporary works, or improvising across genres, Curtean brings astonishing flair and sensitivity to an instrument many Minnesotans have never encountered live.

Ivan Curtean was born in Moldova and received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary, where he is currently pursuing doctoral research on cimbalom repertoire.

He has performed internationally as both a soloist and ensemble player. His artistry defies borders — both geographic and musical. At the Northern Lights Music Festival, he will be featured on opening night, July 1; again, as part of the Festive Fourth! Concert and in chamber music concerts on July 2 in Virginia and July 9 at the Lake Vermilion Arts Center in Tower. His appearance marks a first for the festival, and possibly for the region.

For audiences used to pianos and violins, the cimbalom may be a revelation. It’s not just a folk curiosity, it’s a living, evolving voice. And with Ivan Curtean at the helm, it becomes something unforgettable.