A leading figure in instrumental folk music in the Republic of Moldova. He belongs to the golden generation of the „Lăutarii” Folk Music Orchestra, which he helped to found alongside Nicolae Botgros.
Anatol Vițu was born on 25 November 1953 in the village of Hîncești, Fălești district.
He belongs to the golden generation of the „Lăutarii” Folk Music Orchestra, which he helped to found alongside Nicolae Botgros, and is one of the leading figures in instrumental folk music in the Republic of Moldova.
His career spans more than five decades, during which he has made his name as a violinist, conductor, composer, arranger and teacher, contributing to the preservation and promotion of Moldova’s traditional musical heritage.
He worked closely with the great performer Nicolae Sulac, producing numerous orchestral arrangements for his songs. Among the best known are:
- „Când tata va veni”
- „Oamenii de omenie”
- „La o margine de drum”
He has played in several leading orchestras, including „Lăutarii”, „Folclor”, „Mărțișor” and „Busuioc Moldovenesc”, and later in the „Plai Moldovenesc” orchestra of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Since 2011 he has been the conductor of the „Busuioc Moldovenesc” Folk Music Orchestra in Sângerei.
He has produced more than 300 musical arrangements for established performers of Moldovan folk music, among them:
- Nicolae Glib
- Vasile Iovu
- Maria Iliuț
- Surorile Osoianu
- Mihai Ciobanu and many others
Honours and awards
For his artistic work he has been awarded:
- the honorary title of Artist Emerit al Republicii Moldova (Honoured Artist of the Republic of Moldova)
- the title of Honorary Citizen of Sângerei district
In November 2023, marking his 70th birthday and 50 years of artistic activity, the anniversary concert „Ani frumoși cu drag de cântec” was held at the Palace of the Republic in Chișinău, with the participation of many distinguished artists and instrumentalists of the Republic of Moldova.
Anatol Vițu is valued not only as a virtuoso violinist but also as one of the finest arrangers of folk music in the Republic of Moldova. Many of his orchestrations have become reference versions, performed by professional orchestras and established artists. His work has played an important part in preserving and developing the orchestral style of Moldovan folk music.