Soprano Mariana Nicolesko died at the age of 73, News.ro and TVR reported. The soprano was hospitalized in a hospital in Bucharest.

“This evening brings us closer to the moment of parting with the memorable star of the lyrical world! It is with sadness that we say goodbye to the Primadonna Absolute: Mariana Nicolesko. Described by such words as Regina del Belcanto, Prima Donna Assoluta or Diva Divina, Mariana Nicolesco leaves behind a universe that she has greatly enriched with her presence in this world,” said representatives of the Romanian National Opera in Cluj-Napoca.

Proclaimed Queen of Bel Canto, Prima Donna Absolute, Divine Virgin on the most prestigious stages and major concert halls of the world, including Teatro La Scala in Milan, Metropolitan Opera in New York, Bavarian State Opera in Munich, Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Teatro Municipal in Rio- de Janeiro, Liceu Grand Theater in Barcelona, ​​Lyric Opera of Chicago, Zemperoper Dresden, San Francisco Opera, in Tokyo, Nagoya, Osaka, Pretoria, at the Salzburg Festival, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino or the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, at Carnegie Hall in New York, the Royal Festival Hall in London, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Salle Pleyel in Paris, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, the Academy of Santa Cecilia in Rome, soprano Mariana Nicolesko seduced the audience with her voice, with her mastery in the art of singing and with her stage personality, brilliantly handling a wide repertoire ranging from baroque to contemporary works, according to the published biography of the artist by the Romanian Academy.

He performed the world premiere of Krzysztof Penderecki’s masterpiece “The Seven Gates of Jerusalem” at the celebration of the 3000th anniversary of the Holy City.

At the invitation of Pope John Paul II, Mariana Nicolesco sang beautiful Romanian carols at the First Vatican Christmas Concert, broadcast by Mondovisione and watched by over a billion people.

The research shows that in the history of La Scala Theater in Milan, it was the soprano who performed in the most absolute premieres. The great Italian critic and musicologist Paolo Isotta considers the interpretations of Mariana Nicolesco to be true “miracles of expression, vocal technique, lyrical transformation, starting with her mythical debut of La Traviata at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, the opera in which she shone. for over 200 or on world stages – or with Vincenzo Bellini’s majestic masterpiece Beatrice di Tenda.

A CD recording of Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata was published in America in the famous Historical Performances series, and the Beatrice di Tenda recording was hailed as a “milestone in Bellini’s discography” by London’s Gramophone magazine.

Honorary Member of the Romanian Academy, Honorary Doctor of the Music Academy “Gheorghe Dima” in Cluj-Napoca, also Honorary Member of the International Academy “Mihai Eminescu” in Craiova, Honorary Professor of the “Babes-Bolyai” University in Cluj-Napoca, Honorary Professor and also Doctor Honoris Causa of the University of Transylvania in Brasov, Doctor Honoris Causa of the Academy of Arts in Chisinau, where he held a conference on “Celebrating the Centenary of the Great Union through the Sacred Art of Singing”. “, a member of the European Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters from Paris. Receives the Konstantin Brankovianu award “for the entire exceptional career”.

Commander of the Italian Republic, Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in France, she was awarded the National Order of the Star of Romania in the Grand Cross “for exceptional service, as a sign of high appreciation throughout her career”, recognized as the first successful woman in Romania, Mariana Nicolesco, “distinguished the voice of our time”, received a special award and medal of the Kulturpreis Europa “for his artistic performances, for his quality as a mentor and trainer of the younger generation and for the exceptional role, crowned with success, that he plays in the relations of Romania with Europe and Europe with Romania”.

A recipient of the UNESCO Medal for Artistic Merit, Mariana Nicolesko was named a UNESCO Artist for Peace “in recognition of her commitment to musical heritage, artistic creativity, dialogue between cultures and her contribution to the promotion of the ideals of the Organization” and Honorary Ambassador of UNESCO.

She dedicated herself, among other things, to activities related to the great events she created: the Romanian Lied Festival and National Competition or the Hariclea Darclée International Singing Festival and Competition, an event in which more than 2,900 young talents have participated since 1995 in 50 countries and 5 countries. continents, between one edition and the next there are artistic mastery courses offered to a large number of Romanian artists and artists from various other countries. Darkle’s events received high patronage from UNESCO.

“One of the most important competitions in the world,” writes the prestigious Italian daily Corriere della Sera in the anniversary issue of the Hariclea Darclée International Singing Competition in an article entitled “Constantin Brancusi, Giorgio Enescu, Mariana Nicolesco, or the Cult of the Country.” for his glory.”