The fourth edition of the Ratiu Foundation's Annual Meeting, also known as the Bow-Tie Party, took place on the evening of Friday 14 October in the Ratiu Foundation's building of Manchester Square.

Through this event, we remembered and celebrated the legacy of the great Romanian patriot and humanitarian Ion Ratiu, who established the Ratiu Foundation back in 1979, together with his wife, Elisabeth Ratiu. As a nod to Ion Ratiu's fondness for this wonderful item of apparel, all participants wore bow-ties (hand tied, clip-ons, paper-made, and even metaphorical). A photographic exhibition about Ion Ratiu was put together especially for this event. In his welcome address to the participants, Nicolae Ratiu, Chairman of the Ratiu Foundation, talked the moments recorded in the images, treating the audience to less known events from the life of the great Romanian patriot. Before inviting all present to a wine reception, Nicolae Ratiu introduced musicians and Ratiu Alumni, violinist Vlad Maistorovici and pianist Diana Ionescu, who presented a short recital with pieces by Haendel. 

Photo credits: Gabriel Haidau