site.btaOpera Singer Angela Gheorghiu: A True Artist Gives Their Whole Life to Other People

“In my career, I have said more no's than yes's. I probably refused more performances than the ones I accepted. This is the reason why I am still performing today,” says international opera singer Angela Gheorghiu in a BTA interview, only hours away from an opera gala with the Sofia Philharmonic conducted by Nayden Todorov. The concert will take place at Bulgaria Hall on November 10.

„I prefer quality over quantity and was always very conscious to leave a strong testimony in all of my roles, I am a very responsible artist and aware that my performances will rest as references to the new generations of singers and audiences,” the singer says.

Angela Gheorghiu recounts too her unforgettable encounters with Bulgarian opera singers. “First of all, I have to mention Ghena Dimitrova, I sang Liu opposite her Turandot at the Metropolitan Opera. I adored her and we got along very well. I met Nicolai Ghiaurov, too. He was a true gentleman and what a voice! Orlin Anastassov is another Bulgarian singer I like very much and with whom I have shared the stage. And with Vesselina Katsarova I have performed in Falstaff at the Vienna State Opera, she is a great colleague.”

To a question if there is a word that best describes her as a person, Gheorghui says “a big heart”, adding: “I think all true artists are living and giving their whole life to other people, always putting others first and then thinking about themselves. At least that is how I feel and how I live my life.”

Angela Gheorghiu speaks to BTA‘s Dahnyelle Dymytrov about aristocratism and her roots, about the roles that she will never accept and those that she will always return to, about her encounters with Ghena Dimitrova and Nicolai Ghiaurov, cinema and her upcoming anniversary.

Mrs. Gheorghiu, when I saw you live for the first time, I was amazed not only by your voice, but also by your aristocratic style on stage. Is this something you learn or is it innate?

Thank you for your compliments. I was born with my voice and with my talent, and when I am on stage, either in operas or in concerts, I am the most sincere artist, I give my best, my everything at that moment, vocally and artistically. Of course, I studied a lot at the music high school and at the University of Music in Bucharest, but everything artistically comes from inside, it's never something calculated or learned. It's my way of being. I also have to mention the education and the advices I have received from my mother, all concerning the feminine attitude and the dignity, which come naturally from the inner being.

Are you returning to your roots? What is the best thing you inherited from your life in Adjud?

I still go to my hometown, Adjud, because my mother still lives there. From my life in Adjud, I inherited the way of always dreaming to achieve the greatest possible result in everything I do. I am forever grateful to my family, to my teachers, to my neighbours, because they were the firsts who noticed that I have a special talent, my voice, and they did everything they could to support me and to let me leave my hometown at only 14 years old, in order to go to the high school of music in Bucharest. One of the most valuable lessons I learned is to genuinely help others, always, and never for something in exchange, just for the well-being of others. 

Have you ever been told you can't sing?

Never. I knew I can sing since I was six years old or before and I knew from early childhood that my destiny was music and that I was to become an opera singer. 

Is there a role you would never step into?

Not only one role, several roles. In my career, I have said more no's than yes's, I probably refused more performances than the ones I accepted. This is the reason why I am still performing today. I prefer quality over quantity and was always very conscious to leave a strong testimony in all of my roles, whether we are talking about Violetta, Mimi, Tosca, Juliette, Marguerite, Adina, Amelia, Nedda or Adriana Lecouvreur. I am a very responsible artist and aware that my performances will rest as references to the new generations of singers and audiences. 

Can it be said that Puccini is "your" composer, and his music is the one you will always return to?

I think Puccini suits my voice perfectly and my voice was made to sing Puccini, it's a mutual relationship. I wish Puccini was alive to listen to me and to have his opinions, I hope he would be proud of how I have performed his genial scores, his wonderful female characters. Of course, I love singing other composers music too, but there is always a soft spot for Puccini. 

In 2018 you said: "I need applause like people need water." Has your attitude towards the audience changed over the years?

I believe an artist in general needs applause, needs appreciation from the audience and not only. The first ones who judge me as an opera singer are our colleagues, musicians, starting with the orchestra, the chorus and the other artists in the cast, that listen to me first, during the rehearsals. If I have their approval and their admiration, I know the audience will be conquered. I think all true artists are living and giving their whole life to other people, always putting others first and then thinking about themselves. At least that is how I feel and how I live my life.

And if we talk about roles in life, are choices easier to make there?

Choices are never easy, generally. I was born with an instinct, and particularly artistically I have always followed my instinct. It seems that I was always right, and even if I would be wrong, I accept that, I prefer to be myself and never copy someone else. You have to be lucky too, to meet the right people at the right time, in life and during your career. Life is complex, so is the career of an international artist, but I am grateful for everything and for the people in my life, who love and support me with all their heart. I am blessed to have them in my life.

Are you tempted by the world of cinema? What kind of film would you like to star in?

I am lucky to have had the opportunity to headline two opera films, one is Tosca and the other one Romeo et Juliette. Today, nobody does opera films anymore, and I think it's a pity. I love cinema, I am very passionate about movies and actors, some of them are also my friends. The world of movies, just like the opera world, is a fascinating world, with no boundaries and a multitude of interpretations. I never thought of starring in a film other than an opera film, but if I were to star in one I wish it would be a romantic and historic movie. 

Do you have any unforgettable, exciting meetings with Bulgarian singer colleagues?

Yes, I do! First of all, I have to mention Ghena Dimitrova, I sang Liu opposite her Turandot at the Metropolitan Opera. I adored her and we got along very well. What a wonderful cast at that time! I met Nicolai Ghiaurov too, he was a true gentleman and what a voice! Orlin Anastassov is another Bulgarian singer I like very much and with whom I have shared the stage. And with Vesselina Kasarova I have performed in Falstaff at the Vienna State Opera, she is a great colleague. 

How will you celebrate the beautiful anniversary that is coming up next year?

I don't know yet, probably on stage and together with my beloved ones. I never think of numbers, I take very day as it is and am thankful for everything in my life. 

Is there a word that best describes you as a person?

A big heart.

How would you continue the sentence "I am a person who loves..."?

I am person who loves to love. 

Angela Gheorghiu was born on September 7q 1965, in Romania. She began her rise to international fame with her debut at the Royal Opera House in London in 1992, where she sang Mimi in La Boheme. In the same year she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera, in New York, and at the Vienna State Opera. At Covent Garden in 1994 she sang for the first time her highly acclaimed role of Violetta in La Traviata, when for the first time in television and opera history the BBC made changes to its programming to broadcast the opera live. At one rehearsal, conductor Georg Solti says: "My tears flowed. I had to come out. This wonderful girl can do anything." The performance was filmed and recorded by Decca Records. The media wrote that "a star was born". Since then, Angela Gheorghiu has been performing on opera stages and in concert halls around the world.