Moldova's Barbu Prepares to Take Eurovision Stage
On Thursday, April 26, Moldovan singer Natalia Barbu will depart for Malmö, Sweden, to begin final preparations for her performance at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest.
Barbu spoke at a press conference held by Moldova 1, expressing both her readiness to compete and her hope for the support of Eurovision fans across Europe.
"The excitement is definitely growing," Barbu said. "It's a mix of exhilarating emotions and fatigue, but ultimately, it's a wonderful experience."
Teleradio-Moldova (TRM), the national organiser for the Eurovision Song Contest, is taking a very responsible approach to this year's event, according to Andrei Zapșa, TRM's Deputy General Director for Development. "The Eurovision Song Contest is more than just a music competition," Zapșa remarked. "It's a celebration of what we call Pan-European identity. TRM is committed to presenting Moldova in the best possible light, both domestically and internationally. We are incredibly grateful to Natalia Barbu for representing our country this year with such dignity and talent. We wish her the very best in the competition."
Corneliu Durnescu, TRM's Deputy Director responsible for the public television channel, also commented on the event. Durnescu pointed to the increased interest in the competition in recent years, evidenced by the record number of states that rebroadcasted the Moldovan National Final on March 4. "Eurovision is a cherished project for Moldova 1," Durnescu said. "In recent years, we've successfully elevated the National Final to a new level of prestige. This year, for the first time, it was broadcast in 12 countries and on the EBU platform. Natalia is a true fighter, and we will be firmly behind her every step of the way. We urge all Moldovans abroad to show their support as well. When Natalia takes the stage in Malmö, she won't just be a singer; she'll be a symbol of Moldova, and a source of great pride for our nation."
Barbu will compete in the first semi-final on May 7, performing eleventh in the running order. She will be representing Moldova alongside singers from 14 other countries, including Cyprus, Serbia, Lithuania, Ireland, Ukraine, Poland, Croatia, Iceland, Slovenia, Finland, Azerbaijan, Australia, Portugal, and Luxembourg. The second semi-final will take place on May 9, featuring contestants from Malta, Albania, Greece, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Austria, Denmark, Armenia, Latvia, San Marino, Georgia, Belgium, Estonia, Israel, Norway, and the Netherlands.
Countries with the highest scores in the semi-finals will progress to the grand final on May 11. Voting will commence immediately before the performance of the first contestant. Viewers at home will have the opportunity to vote throughout the live broadcast. Additionally, Eurovision fans from countries not participating in the contest will have a 24-hour window to cast their votes online before each live show.
The 2024 Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Malmö, Sweden. This year's event follows the victory of Swedish singer Loreen in 2023, making her the first woman in Eurovision history to win the competition twice. Loreen's first win came in 2012 with the song "Euphoria."
Translation by Iurie Tataru
