Radio România Internațional

Tag: sounds

  • The sounds of a radio station

    The sounds of a radio station

    Radio Romania 91



    Radio Romania boasts a 91 year long history, which started on November 1, 1928. Radio Romania kept company with the Romanians in the interwar period, throughout WWII and during communism, constrained by the limitations and censorship specific to both fascist and communist totalitarian regimes. After 1989, Radio Romania regained its role of public media service. We now invite you to listen to some excerpts of recordings kept in the radio tape library: comedians Stroe and Vasilache presenting the popular show “Ora veselă” (Happy Hour), the great historian Nicolae Iorga, the famous Romanian composer George Enescu, Romanian-born physician and scientist George Emil Palade, a Nobel Prize winner, the great Romanian interwar diplomat Nicolae Titulescu and the former sovereign of Romania, king Michael I.





    Sounds of Czech Radio



    On Friday 18 May, 1923, at 8.15pm the following words started coming out of a canvas tent in Prague’s Kbely neighbourhood: “Hello, Hello, here is the Radiojournal broadcasting channel …”. The transmission went on for about an hour and Czechoslovakia had thus begun regular radio broadcasting just six months after the BBC — the world’s oldest broadcaster. The first transmission was a music performance, but the radio station soon expanded its programme to sports news, weather forecasts and stock market updates. In fact, Czechoslovak Radio can boast to be the first ever European live sports broadcaster.


    Most importantly however, Czechoslovak Radio has played an important role multiple times in key events during the country’s history. The “Battle for the Radio” took place in 1945, during the final days of World War Two and the radio station did not stop broadcasting even while the heaviest fighting was raging around it. Another battle for the radio took place in 1968 when Czechoslovakia was invaded by Warsaw Pact forces. Although Soviet soldiers occupied the building in the end, radio employees continued to broadcast from various rooms. Both battles ended up costing dozens of lives. During the period after 1968, commonly referred to as the “normalisation era”, hundreds of journalists were forced to leave the institution and Czechoslovak Radio became an ideological tool for the Communist regime. A return to free broadcasting came after the Velvet Revolution in 1989. Today Czech Radio is a public broadcaster, which runs four nationwide stations as well as regional broadcasting, digital radio stations and an internet news site.




    Visit Radio Prague International’s website



    Polish Radio, more than 90 years of history



    Polish Radio, the state-owned national public-service, was founded on 18 August 1925. For over 90 years, Polish Radio broadcasts have accompanied Poles in Poland and abroad. The rich history of the station was interrupted on 1 September 1939, after the German invasion of Poland. However, before the Polish Radio went silent for six years, it broadcasted significant messages warning Poles about German attacks. The battlefield recordings are a very valuable archive of those cruel times.




    Visit Radio Polands website



    SWI swissinfo.ch – Sounds of History



    What did swissinfo.ch sound like for the first seven decades of its existence? The short answer: a radio station.


    From the mid-1930s to 2004, Switzerland’s international service was Swiss Radio International (SRI). The first few decades of SRI’s existence were the heyday of shortwave — it was often the only way of getting news directly from other countries.


    A brief history of SRI, the predecessor of swissinfo.ch, helps explain why you hear what you do in the video above.


    What began as the Swiss Short Wave Service in 1935, would grow from broadcasting programmes in German, French, Italian and English to include other European languages and Arabic, and eventually change its name to Swiss Radio International.


    The international service was considered a voice of neutrality during times of war, first during World War II, followed by the decades of the Cold War and up to and including the first war in the Gulf in the early 1990s.


    This decade would mark the beginning of the end for Switzerland’s shortwave broadcasts. Shortwave transmitters gave way to relaying programmes via satellite, and this in turn would give way to the internet when swissinfo went online in 1999 as SRI’s website.


    In 2004, the plug was pulled for good on SRI as part of budget cuts, but not swissinfo. Now producing exclusively online, the international service extended its linguistic reach by adding Russian, Japanese and Chinese, and publishing more video and audio reports.


    Journalists working in swissinfo’s current ten languages collaborate closely to set the editorial agenda, providing the necessary context in their stories so they are understood wherever they are read, seen, or heard in the world.




    Visit Swissinfo.ch



    From Shortwave to the Web: 74 Years of Change



    Since February 25, 1945, Radio Canada International has been Canada’s voice to the world, first on shortwave radio, then on the web.



    During its 74 years of existence, Radio Canada International has broadcast in 23 languages. Today, listeners and web site visitors on five continents interact with us in five of the most-spoken languages in the world: English, French, Spanish, Chinese and Arabic.



    Radio Canada International also produced recordings that helped Canadian artists become known throughout the world including: Glenn Gould, Oscar Peterson, Jean Carignan, Diane Tell, Karen Young and Oliver Jones.



    For 74 years, Radio Canada International’s mandate hasn’t changed: allow people who know little or nothing about Canada to learn about its culture, society and democratic values. Through its news reports, interviews, programs, and in-depth web series, Radio Canada International continues to fulfill its mandate.



    For Canadians, Radio Canada International offers unique view of the country and creates links with people around the world.



    Radio Canada International has become an anchor, a reference point and an integration tool for people whether they’re potential immigrants, new arrivals or simply have a deep curiosity about Canada. Radio Canada International continues to create these links in both of Canada’s official languages, as well as Arabic, Chinese and Spanish, the mother tounges of thousands of our listeners and web site vistiors, many who have been following us for years.



    For its 74th anniversary, Radio Canada International looks back on its history offering you a singular perspective of the country: multi-cultural, uniquely Canada and resolutely looking to the future.




    Visit Radio Canada International’s website

  • The sounds of a football stadium

    The sounds of a football stadium

    A World Record “Goal!”



    The first ever official football match played on Romanian soil was hosted by Arad, in the west, on August 16, 1899. Romania’s national football team made its debut on June 8, 1922, in an away match played in Belgrade, against Yugoslavia, which it defeated, 2-1. Romania’s national football team has so far participated in seven World Football Championships. In 1994, Romania reached as far as the quarter finals of the FIFA World Cup in the USA. The leader of the so-called “golden generation” of Romanian football is Gheorghe Hagi.



    Football fan galleries in Romania do not have a long tradition in performing football chants on stadiums. That’s why we have chosen to illustrate the sounds of stadiums with the “Goooal” shout by a famous Romanian sports commentator, Ilie Dobre, a former colleague of ours, at Radio Romania. Ilie Dobre has set several Guinness World Records for his extraordinary capacity to shout the word “Goooal” for tens of seconds, without respiration. Ilie Dobre has got, among others, a certification from the World Records Academy for setting a world record for the ”Longest shout without respiration, in studio”, (52.03 seconds).





    The atmosphere of Prague’s big Slavia-Sparta derby



    This year was the first time since 1942 that Slavia Prague football club secured the double, meaning lifting both the league title and the domestic cup. The latter trophy was celebrated by Slavia — who famously wear red and white — at their own Eden stadium following a 3:2 victory over their old foes Sparta Prague on the final day of the season.



    Slavia, which was founded in 1892, has traditionally been the club of the elite of the Czech nation, including, actors, singers, filmmakers and other sports people. Among the club’s best-known supporters have been President Edvard Beneš and Oscar-winning movie director Miloš Forman. Slavia’s greatest legend remains Josef Bican, who received a medal from the International Federation of Football History and Statistics as one of the most prolific goal scorers of the 20th century. The club’s strip has also been worn by Vladimír Šmicer, who lifted the Champions League with Liverpool.



    This year’s domestic league title was Slavia’s 19th, with the club second in this respect behind Sparta (36 titles). Slavia cemented their domination of Czech football by also lifting the Czech cup and reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League, where they lost to eventual winners Chelsea. In the following sound report you can enjoy the atmosphere of the most recent Slavia-Sparta derby, the biggest game the Czech league has to offer.





    Land of Soccer



    Soccer is the most popular sport in Switzerland by far: 268’000 players are licensed, of which 8% are women. A visit to the third highest league shows the commitment and level of amateurs. On a rainy Saturday afternoon in May, the two Bernese clubs FC Köniz and FC Münsingen drew 1:1 in front of 375 spectators.



    In addition, the two most important international football associations have their headquarters in Switzerland: FIFA and UEFA.





    When Canadians play “the beautiful game”



    The sport of soccer, or football as it’s generally known around the world outside of North America, is enjoying a huge increase in popularity in Canada. In fact, although hockey seems to be a part of the Canadian genetic makeup, more young Canadians play soccer than do hockey.



    The reason is likely due to the simplicity and cost of soccer. Unlike hockey with its multitude of pads, helmet, sticks, and skates, all very expensive equipment that must constantly be upgraded as a child grows, football’s needs are few. All it takes is a ball, a field and soccer boots. Also soccer has become increasingly popular among girls and women. The sport has also become an important way for newcomers from around the world to integrate into Canada. Indeed it gives them an advantage as their countries of origin almost always have a much greater history and experience with the sport.



    With a new professional Premier league starting in Canada to compete with the already existing top North American MLS league, there are more opportunities for newcomers to make their way as football professionals in Canada.



    The Montreal Impact, the third Canadian team to enter the MLS league after Toronto FC and the Vancouver Whitecaps, each with team members from around the world is a reflection of the diversity in Canadian society today.



  • The sounds of an airport

    The sounds of an airport

    “Henri Coanda” — Otopeni International Airport



    “Henri Coanda” — Otopeni International Airport, the largest airport in Romania, is located outside Bucharest’s urban area, in the town of Otopeni, and is one of Bucharest’s two airports (the second largest being “Aurel Vlaicu” International Airport in Baneasa district).



    During WWII, Otopeni airport was a military base. Until 1965, it was only Baneasa Airport that had operated commercial flights. Later on, a new commercial airport was built on the site of the old military base in Otopeni. The upgraded runway was 3,500m long, being longer than that of Orly Airport in Paris at the time.



    The building of a new passenger terminal was included in the upgrading and expansion program. The upgrading continued with the building of a VIP lounge, ahead of the visit to Romania by the U.S. President Richard Nixon, in August 1969. In 1986 a second runway, measuring 3,500 in length, was inaugurated, and a new airfield ground lighting system was implemented. In March 2011, the departure terminal was extended and the number of boarding gates was increased to 24.



    In 2018, “Henri Coanda” — Otopeni International Airport registered a record high air traffic movement, of over 13.8 million passengers, and an increase of approximately one million people, as compared to 2017. 57 airlines operate on the airport, taking passengers to and from 128 destinations.





    Václav Havel Airport Prague



    Each year 17 million passengers pass through it every year and tens of millions of pieces of luggage checked, while over 400 planes land and take off daily.



    During its history, which began exactly 90 years ago, Prague’s airport has been through a lot — the rise of the young Czechoslovak state, two occupations, the communist era, the Velvet Revolution…. Today it is a modern structure with first-class infrastructure and is regarded as one of Europe’s safest airports. It provides comfort to passengers at three terminals and can handle even the biggest planes.



    Last year it was used by 70 carriers and linked Prague to 157 destinations. In the coming years it is due to get a new terminal and runway.





    Beyond check-in: how does luggage make it to the carousel?



    Airports are a hive of activity as passengers pass through on their way to a different destination. Behind the scenes at Zurich Airport, baggage handlers are working to ensure that passengers’ bags get safely delivered to them. Experience the sights and sounds of this tightly-planned operation, as we take you beyond security and through to a side of airport life most travellers never normally see.


    It’s a bright and sunny morning in Zurich. The air is filled with the grinding and whirring of machinery and the roar of aeroplanes cutting through the sky. Between landings and take-offs, the ground crew are in action. They’re preparing for the arrival of Swiss International Air Lines, Airbus 320, from Frankfurt, scheduled for 9.35am.



    A so-called ‘Foreign Object Debris’ (FOD) check is carried out by the onsite ramp team. As the plane comes to a halt on the apron — the aircraft parking area – chocks are placed in front of the aircraft wheels and power is connected from the main building. The team, all wearing safety clothing, waits until the engines are switched off and the aircraft is then secured and marked with cones.



    Only when the supervisor has authorised all the relevant arrival checks can the passengers leave the plane and make their way to their final destination or baggage claim. Transit baggage, which is stored in large containers in the hold, and the luggage of first class passengers, is placed near the cargo doors so that it can be unloaded quickly when the plane arrives.



    The staff work efficiently, never stopping to chat. It’s a well-honed routine. From the warren-like holding bay below ground level, the baggage makes its way on to a long conveyer belt to the carousel above ground, where passengers are waiting.



    Loading the plane



    The total weight of luggage, cargo, passengers and fuel has an influence on the aircraft trim (keeping the aircraft balanced). Loading has to be in line with airline safety regulations.



    Nathalie Berchtold, communications manager at Swissport International AG, told swissinfo.ch that the weather also plays an important role. At high temperatures, the air is thinner and the aircraft has less lift during take-off and landing. To take off and climb as quickly as possible, the aircraft must therefore be lighter when there are high temperatures. That means less cargo or baggage can be transported on the aircraft for safety reasons, and is why not all luggage is guaranteed to be transported on a set flight and is sometimes sent on later.



    Lost luggage



    Tens of millions of passengers use Zurich Airport every year, and sometimes, luggage goes missing. Good working practices among baggage handlers and airlines is key to minimising the amount of lost luggage.



    In 2018, there were 38,000 missing luggage reports issued at Swissport Zurich. In the same year, they reported four mispaced bags per 1000 passengers. Around 98% of all lost baggage can be located within 24 hours at Swissport Zurich. Since June 2018 IATA (….) has required its member airlines to keep track of every item of luggage from start to finish. Swissport Zurich is already compliant.



    Zurich airport: in numbers



    A total of 31,113,488 passengers travelled via Zurich Airport in 2018, a year-on-year increase of 5.8%. The number of passengers transferring at Zurich Airport increased by 6.4% to 8.8 million in 2018.





    Warsaws Chopin Airport



    Warsaws Chopin Airport is the largest in Poland. Last year it was used by 15.8 million passengers. Poland’s president greenlighted an ambitious plan to build a large new airport in the centre of the country.



    The new airport, to be built between the capital Warsaw and the central city of Łódź, is expected to handle up to 100 million passengers a year and be one of the largest hub airports in Europe after it is completed in 2027.



    If the new Polish hub is launched, it will be massive competition for the unfinished Willy Brandt Berlin-Brandenburg Airport (BER) near the German capital.​





    Montreal — Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport



    YUL is the aviation code name for the Montreal — Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, which is connected by direct flights to more than 140 regular and seasonal destinations in Canada, the United States and internationally. Some 30 airlines use this airport to transport about 16 million passengers every year.



    Located in the city of Dorval on the Island of Montreal, about twenty kilometres southwest of Montreal’s downtown, this airport is an important hub of air traffic with Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.



    YUL is also known for its expertise in snow clearing and de-icing during Canadas harsh winters. In 2008, the airport earned the International Aviation Snow Symposium’s Balchen/Post Award in the “Major Airports” category.



    The Montreal — Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport began operations in 1941 and has continued to grow. Formerly known as Montreal — Dorval International Airport, it was renamed on January 1, 2004 in memory of former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau.



  • The sounds of a market

    The sounds of a market

    The “Matache Măcelaru” and “Alexandru Moghioroş” Markets in Bucharest



    The “Matache Măcelaru” Market is located within walking distance from North Station, the main train station in Bucharest, at the crossroads of Calea Griviței and Calea Buzești, the favourite place of merchants and tradesmen in the late 19th Century. One of them was butcher Loloescu Matache. He started doing business in the wake of the Romanian War of Independence, around 1879, when he started building the famous Matache hall, which has recently been demolished. Back then, the market was located on the outskirts of Bucharest. In 1948, it became the “Ilie Pintilie” state-owned market, named after a former Romanian communist leader.



    In the “Drumul Taberei” district in Bucharest, the main market has borne the name of another communist politician, Alexandru Moghioroş, for a long time. Soon after the fall of communism, it was renamed after the famous Romanian conductor Sergiu Celibidache. Going beyond its name, it is still the market of choice for the district dwellers.





    The Jean Talon Market, Montreal



    The Jean Talon Market, founded in Montreal in 1933 and named in honour of the first governor of New France, is one of the largest markets in North America. It is open during the four seasons. Its visitors – more than 2.5 million in 2018, including tourists – purchase fruits, vegetables, produce, herbs and flowers from local farmers whose farms are generally within 50 km from the market.



    Located in the district of Little Italy, this multicultural market is famous for the wealth of organic produce and regional products of the province of Quebec it offers to its visitors.



    These “scenes of life” were captured between the end of summer and Christmas 2018.





    Weekly Market in Bern



    For over 130 years, a weekly market has been held on the Bundesplatz near the historic old town of the Swiss capital Bern. Local farmers offer their specialities directly in front of the parliament building. Not only many people from the population visit the market. It also attracts tourists – and sometimes you even see a minister shopping.





    Farmers markets in the Czech Republic



    A short distance from the city centre, the embankment Rašínovo nábřeží in Prague is filled with lovers of fresh, local products on Saturdays. The atmosphere of farmers’ markets, with their tastings, seating and often music, attracts locals and tourists. In recent years the number of markets has risen steadily and there are now more than 20 each week in the Czech capital alone. This signifies a revival of sales of fresh foods from regional producers, which was forcibly interrupted during the Communist period.





    Hala Mirowska in Warsaw



    Hala Mirowska is one of the largest markets in Warsaw. It was constructed in the beginning of the 20th century. The building was bombed during the Warsaw Uprising in 1944. Rebuilt in the 1950s, it was restored to its original function as a market and is now a place where different generations meet.



    It is also a popular spot for tourists, who come here to look for traditional and regional polish products, like sauerkraut, beetroot, sour cream, mushrooms, honey, fresh herbs, smoked cheese and sausage. The market consists also of a modern and very chic hall, but the real charm can be found only in the old area of the market.



  • The sounds of a railway station

    The sounds of a railway station



    The North Station in Bucharest



    The North Station in Bucharest is the biggest railway station in Romania. Approximately 300 trains are arriving in and departing from this station every day. The station was built between 1868 and 1872, the building being included on the list of historical monuments in Bucharest. Even if it was not designed to be the main station in Bucharest, it has become the main railway node of the Capital City and of Romania, but it was already too small to accommodate the growing flow of traffic as early as 1880. The communist period saw a spectacular growth in railway transport, but the number of passengers has plummeted all across Romania since 1990. Among other issues, the precarious state of the station also led to the reduction of rail traffic. As early as 1906, when the famous Orient Express train was inaugurated, the North Station in Bucharest was included as a stop on this route. At present, the Orient Express is running twice a year.






    Warszawa Centralna



    Warszawa Centralna is the main railway station in Warsaw, Poland. Its construction began in 1972 and was a flagship project during the Communist-era. The station is located in the very center of the city. Some years ago the grey concrete building had a refurbishment and the main hall has more light and a more friendly atmosphere. 2017 Warszawa Centralna was used by 15,1 Million passengers. Every day nearly 1000 trains run through. You can catch a direct train to capitals like Vienna, Prague, Berlin, Budapest, Kiev or Moscow.






    Prague main railway station



    The main railway station in Prague (Praha Hlavní nádraží) is the largest passenger railway station in the Czech Republic. The historical building above the railroad is also the largest Art Nouveau monument in the country. Work on it started in 1869 and its present-day appearance is the result of a recent reconstruction made according to the original design by architect Josef Fanta. The station handles 27 million passengers annually.






    Zurich Central Station



    Switzerland is known around the world for having a dense and well-organized railway network, where the trains run on time and to all corners of the country. That’s no small feat considering the Alps spread over about 60% of Switzerland’s geographical area. The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) is the largest railway company and handles the majority of national and international traffic. According to the SBB, there are about 10,600 trains and 1.26 million passengers per day. Furthermore, there are about 800 railway stations and stops in Switzerland. Zurich main station is the largest of these: it has multiple platforms, facilities and shops above and below ground.






    Montreal Central Station



    Montreal Central Station (Québec, Canada) opened in 1943. It is the second-busiest rail station in Canada, after Torontos Union Station (Ontario, Canada). The station is adorned with art deco bas-relief friezes on its interior and exterior walls. The east and west interior walls of the station feature two large bas-reliefs depicting Canadian life, arts and industry. Included in the bas-reliefs are some of the lyrics of Canadas national anthem, O Canada. The lyrics are in French on the east side of the station and in English on the west side.



  • The Sounds of a Mass

    The Sounds of a Mass

    Every place has its own sound. Every place has its background noise. Listen to the sounds of a number of selected sites in Romania and compare them to similar sites in countries where Radio Romania International (RRI) has international broadcasters partners.




    Radio Romania International – Whats the Sound of an Orthodox Mass in Romania



    86.5% of the Romanians have declared themselves Orthodox Christians, in the latest census. Whats the sound of an Orthodox mass in Romania, in a centuries-old monastery with World Heritage frescoes in the region of Bukovina, in a district church, in the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest or in a small wooden church in Maramures County? (author: Camelia Popa, photos: Radio Romania International, sounds: Radio Romania 2018)






    Radio Prague — Religion in Czech Republic



    The Czech Republic is one of the most atheistic countries in the world. The number of believers has consistently been dropping and has halved in the course of the last two decades. Only a fifth of Czech citizens claim to belong to a faith. Only a tenth of believers go to church regularly, at least once a month. The Roman Catholic Church has the largest number of followers. (photography and sound: Radio Prague 2018)






    Radio Poland – Sunday Mass in Warsaw



    About 93 percent of Poles declare themselves to be Catholics. But even in Poland is the number of church service attendees falling. By 2016, the figure had dropped to 36.7 percent. Despite the fall, the Sunday mass remains for many Poles a very important part of life. (photography and sound: Radio Poland 2018)






    Radio Canada International – Mass at the Shrine of Kateri Tekakwitha in Kahnawake



    Kateri Tekakwitha (1656-1680), a Mohawk woman from Kahnawake, an Indigenous community near Montreal, was canonized by the Catholic Church in 2012. On October 21, 2018, a special mass was celebrated for the 6th anniversary of her canonization at the St. Francis Xavier Mission, in Kahnawake, which also houses her shrine. The choir sings in Mohawk and some of the prayers are also in that language. (photography and sound: Marie-Claude Simard, Radio Canada International 2018)






    Swissinfo — Religion in Switzerland



    The majority of Swiss people are Christians, most of them Roman Catholics. A 2016 report showed that about 70% of Swiss visited a place of worship at most five times a year. The number of believers has dropped in the past few years. In October 2018, Arlesheim Cathedral community welcomed their new pastor Sylvester Ihuoma in a solemn mass. The cathedral was built in the 1680s and is known for its impressive late Baroque architecture. (author: Catherine Waibel, Swissinfo 2018)