Birth

:

September 7, 1965 in Adjud, Romania

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Vocal

 

Angela Gheorghiu is a Romanian soprano who has become one of the most celebrated classical music artists of her generation. Born on September 7, 1965, in Adjud, Romania, Gheorghiu grew up in a family of musicians. Her father was a cello player, and her mother was a piano teacher. From a young age, Gheorghiu showed a talent for singing, and she began taking voice lessons at the age of 14. Gheorghiu studied at the National University of Music in Bucharest, where she trained under the renowned Romanian soprano Mia Barbu. After completing her studies, Gheorghiu made her professional debut in 1990 at the Cluj-Napoca Opera House in Romania, where she performed the role of Mimì in Puccini's La bohème. Her performance was a critical success, and it marked the beginning of a career that would take her to some of the world's most prestigious opera houses. In 1992, Gheorghiu made her debut at the Royal Opera House in London, where she performed the role of Zerlina in Mozart's Don Giovanni. Her performance was widely praised, and it helped to establish her as one of the leading sopranos of her generation. Over the next few years, Gheorghiu continued to perform at the Royal Opera House, where she became known for her interpretations of roles such as Violetta in Verdi's La traviata and Micaëla in Bizet's Carmen. In 1994, Gheorghiu made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, where she performed the role of Mimì in La bohème. Her performance was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to establish her as one of the leading sopranos of her generation. Over the next few years, Gheorghiu continued to perform at the Metropolitan Opera, where she became known for her interpretations of roles such as Mimi in Puccini's La bohème and Magda in Puccini's La rondine. In addition to her performances at the Royal Opera House and the Metropolitan Opera, Gheorghiu has also performed at some of the world's other leading opera houses, including the Paris Opera, the Vienna State Opera, and the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. She has worked with some of the world's leading conductors, including Sir Georg Solti, Sir Colin Davis, and Riccardo Muti. Throughout her career, Gheorghiu has received numerous awards and honors for her performances. In 1995, she was awarded the Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera for her performances at the Royal Opera House. In 2001, she was awarded the title of "Commander of the Order of Cultural Merit" by the Romanian government. In 2018, she was awarded the "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the International Opera Awards. Despite her success, Gheorghiu has also faced criticism for her behavior offstage. In 2013, she was criticized for canceling a performance at the Royal Opera House at the last minute, citing illness. However, she was later seen attending a fashion show in Paris on the same day. In 2014, she was criticized for canceling a performance at the Metropolitan Opera, again citing illness. However, she was later seen attending a gala dinner in New York on the same day. Despite these controversies, Gheorghiu remains one of the most celebrated sopranos of her generation. Her performances are known for their emotional depth and technical precision, and she has become a beloved figure in the world of classical music.

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