Alexandra Căpitănescu impresses in her first Eurovision 2026 rehearsal with an electric performance of “Choke Me” for Romania in Vienna.
Photo: Vanda Bienville / EBU
The Wiener Stadthalle stage shook today as Alexandra Căpitănescu proved that first rehearsals are for more than just checking camera angles. With rare self-confidence and a performance that looks ready for the live broadcast, Romania has made it clear that it arrived at Eurovision 2026 to fight for the crown. The audience in Vienna can expect a visual and vocal display of power that leaves no room for doubt regarding the professional level of the delegation.
Romania’s First Rehearsal: more details
A Breathtaking Moment on the Eurovision Stage
The performance of the song “Choke Me” opens with a powerful image of a sharp intake of breath, representing the internal tension that Alexandra maintains throughout the entire three minutes on stage. She will perform as song number three in the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, where she will attempt to release all that accumulated energy in a mesmerizing vocal peak toward the end of the song. This is a serious statement of intent toward all the contestants in the competition.
A Mysterious Figure and Electricity in the Air
At the center of the stage, a fascinating struggle takes place between the singer and her inner thoughts, as she is accompanied by four band members and a mysterious sixth presence whose name has yet to be officially revealed. The stage in Vienna comes to life through glowing tubes that transmit a constant electric current across the surface, adding to the electrified atmosphere of the performance. The perfect coordination between the lighting and the movements of the singer shows meticulous preparation, turning the first rehearsal into a display of peak professionalism.
The Leather Armor of Alexandra Căpitănescu
The attire reinforces her impressive and dominant presence, as she is dressed in black leather armor including a corset with a prominent collar and straps wrapped around her arms. Black knee-high leather boots complete the tough look, giving her the appearance of a warrior ready to conquer Europe with the rhythm of the electric current. With such a tight and impressive performance already at this stage, Romania marks itself as one of the most promising candidates of the second semi-final.
Will the immense confidence of the singer and the polished show be enough to launch Romania to the top of the table in the Grand Final? Let us know what you think of the Romanian performance in the comments!
Romania at Eurovision 2026
“Choke Me” is the song that will be performed by the singer Alexandra Căpitănescu, which will represent Romania as song number 3 in the second semi final on May 14th, in Vienna, Austria. The song was written by Alexandra Căpitănescu herself and Elvis‑Claudiu Silitră, and composed by Căpitănescu, Silitră, Călin‑Alexandru Grăjdan and Ștefan Condrea. This is the first Eurovision entry for both the performer and the songwriting team. The song is performed entirely in English.
Currently, Romania is ranked 8th in the betting tables ahead of Eurovision 2026.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Romania’s 25th participation in Eurovision. Romania joined the contest in 1994 and achieved its best result both in Eurovision 2005 and Eurovision 2010 when Romania finished in third place.
