New Classical Tracks: Soprano Angela Gheorghiu is back 'for all eternity'

Angela Gheorghiu: Eternamente (Warner Classics)

Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu was born to sing opera. She never imagined herself doing anything else. This year marks her 25th anniversary with the Royal Opera House and 150 performances on the stage.

"It's one of my favorite theaters, like the Metropolitan or Vienna or other theaters. They did fantastic work for me in time. I did recordings with them, you know. ... We have a long, long love story and a relationship and friendship.

"So I am very, very lucky because to start my career at the Royal Opera House and still to be in the same position as an opera singer to sing the most important repertoire and then to have the possibility in my career to record everything I wish with who I want, where I want. So I choose everything in my career and in my life, an artistic life, all the time I'm responsible for everything I did and I was right to do it."

It's been six years since Angela's last studio recording. Her newest release is titled, "Eternamente." It means, "I love you for all eternity." The recording features verismo arias and songs that Angela has always loved and wanted to record.

I wanted you to help us understand — for people who don't know what verismo is — what it means and what that expression allows.

"Verismo to make more understandable really for everybody is like a soundtrack of a movie. And when you hear, you can also imagine everything because it's so pictorial.

"It's like also the Puccini operas or Cavalleria, all the arias I choose. They are very, very theatrical, you know? This is very, very important. And but as music is not all the time very easy to listen, or because it's very, very, very dramatic actually. And that's why I record also songs. They are more like 'Eternamente,' more soft, more sweetness and more tender, you know?

"It's very, very important so you must have a little experience of life to feel and to say that's music. So that's Verismo, and you need to have experience of life."

You can hear that in the expression that you offer. One of those tender pieces — it's "Ombra di nube." You sing it so softly.

"Oh I love it. You can see it, you can you can see it on my face, ... It's fantastic. And I listened with Claudia Muzio. The composer wrote it for her. It's like a prayer, but it doesn't matter your religion. It's not that, it's something, it's a prayer for your soul, you see. I mean it's a moment where you are thinking about you, where you love yourself and because if you love yourself, you can also share your love or give your love to others."

We can hear why Puccini is one of your specialties with "Vissi d'arte." The dramatic range is so incredible, and your phrasing is so beautiful. Tell me about this piece and what it means to you.

"'Vissi d'arte,' it's me. She's an opera singer and this aria, the composer, Puccini, wrote specially for Hariclea Darclee, a Romanian soprano, because she was asking for it. And during the rehearsal, Puccini wrote this aria for soprano. He said, 'You wanted aria for you? Here you are.'"

What would you like us to know about Angela Gheorghiu, the person?

"That whoever was disappointed because I was canceled many times in my life because of my private life. I was unhappy. Each performance cost me a lot. I am a very emotional person and I dedicate the entire life from when I was in kindergarten till today, my life to sing. And I think not to judge Angela too much. Voila."

Click above for the extended interview, or download the podcast, to hear Angela reveal more about this recording and how her personal life impacted her career over the years.

Resources

Angela Gheorghiu (official site)
Angela Gheorghiu: Eternamente (Warner Classics site)

Angela Gheorghiu: Eternamente (Amazon)