The Romanian Cultural Institute in London presents, as part of the Enescu Concert Series, on Thursday, April 4, from 19:00, a concert performed by the soloists of the Bucharest National Opera, Marta Sandu – soprano and Daniel Magdal – tenor, accompanied on the piano by Alexandru burqa The program of the event will include famous arias from the creation of the composer Giacomo Puccini – in celebration of 100 years since his passing away, as well as lieders by George Enescu, Nicolae Bretan and Dan Dediu. The evening will begin with an introduction supported by the musicologist Oltea Șerban Pârâu, who will present the 2023 edition of the Bucharest Opera Festival, as well as this year’s edition which will take place between June 7-16. Also, during the event, a short documentary about the Bucharest Opera Festival, 2023 edition, will be screened.
Now in its third edition, Bucharest Opera Festival contributes decisively to the inclusion of Bucharest in the circuit of major cities organizing international festivals, aiming at consolidating a platform for the presentation of the most valuable opera and ballet companies in the country and abroad. In this sense, the event organized at ICR London is an opportunity to create new bridges of connection with the British musical environment, offering an important opportunity for representatives of the Bucharest National Opera to meet with the artistic director of the English National Opera – Bob Holland, as well as with Oliver Mears, artistic director of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden.
Soprano Marta Sandu studied at the National University of Music Bucharest. She continued her studies in London at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, under the guidance of soprano Nelly Miricioiu, who remains her mentor. She also attended masterclasses with soprano Luciana Serra, vocal technique teacher at Accademia Teatro alla Scala in Milan, and was invited to perform a series of concerts in Italy. In addition, she was invited by soprano Marina Krilovici to the Kefalonia Music Festival in Greece, where she participated in a master class and performed a concert at the festival. Being a finalist and laureate of the “Marcello Giordani” (Taormina) and “Hariclea Darclée” (Brăila) competitions, Marta Sandu frequently gives concerts both in Romania and abroad. On the stage of the Bucharest National Opera, she performed the roles of Elsa in “Lohengrin”, Violetta Valéry in “La Traviata”, Nedda in “I Pagliacci”, Marguerite in “Faust”, Zoe in “A Lost Letter”, Susanna in “The Marriage of Figaro ”, Musetta in “La Bohème” and others. For the role of Pamina in “The Enchanted Flute” by WA Mozart, Marta Sandu was awarded the Soprano of the Year Award at the VIP Awards Gala. He participated in the recording of the world premiere of the entire collection of George Enescu’s Lieds, coordinated by soprano Mariana Nicolescu, and toured to promote this project in Prague, Rome, Paris, Japan and the United States.
tenor Daniel Magdalene is the Artistic Director of the National Opera in Bucharest. He graduated from the “George Enescu” Arts Academy in Iasi, studying under the guidance of Master Octavian Naghiu-Alba. After graduation, he became a soloist of the National Opera in Iasi, debuting in roles such as Almaviva in “Il Barbiere di Siviglia”, Ernesto in “Don Pasquale”, Nemorino in “L’Elisir d’Amore” and others. In the 1990s, he moved to Germany and performed at Deutsche Oper Berlin, Semperoper Dresden, Staatsoper Saarbrücken, Staatsoper Hannover, Theater Klagenfurt, Theater Innsbruck, Oper Essen, Staatsoper Prague, Oper Maribor, Sofia National Opera and many others. In 2004, he debuted at the Bucharest National Opera in the role of Radames in the opera “Aida”. This marked the beginning of a fruitful collaboration, culminating in his appointment as soloist at the Bucharest Opera and as Artistic Director. Throughout his career, he performed leading roles in operas such as “Aida”, “La Traviata”, “Il Trovatore”, “Don Carlo”, “Otello”, “La Boheme”, “Tosca”, “Madama Butterfly” , “Turandot”, “Lohengrin”, “Carmen”, “Mephistopheles”. He also gave vocal-symphonic concerts and recitals in New York, Berlin and Bucharest.
Alexandru Burca he is a pianist at the National Operetta and Musical Theater “Ion Dacian” (TNO) and an associate professor at the National University of Music Bucharest. Laureate of numerous international competitions, he performed concerts in Morocco, France, Spain, Germany, Moldova, Portugal, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Italy, Canada, Ireland and Greece, representing Romania in successful projects that promote Romanian values and culture. In Romania, he performed as a soloist or with renowned musicians and artists at the Romanian Athenaeum, at the George Enescu Festival, at Romanian Television, the Romanian Broadcasting Society, the Philharmonic Orchestras of Bacău and Brăila – his hometown. As a pianist, composer and musical director, he collaborated with the National Theater in Bucharest in the show “Mecanica”, directed by Alexander Hausvater, and with the Metropolis Theater in the production “The Secret of Doctor Honigberger”. He is the musical director of the show “Normalitatea danulu” at TNO and “The Full Monty” at Teatrul Wonder Bucharest. He recently finished composing the soundtrack for the ballet “Ileana Căpitanul”, a production staged at TNO under the guidance of Corina Dumitrescu.
More details about ICR London’s ongoing projects can be found on the institute’s social networks and websites:
https://www.rcilondon.co.uk/
www.facebook.com/ICRLondon
twitter.com/RCILondon
https://www.instagram.com/rcilondon/
