Opera-Operetta

• The National Opera in Bucharest

The name "Romanian Opera" had been used long before a building with the destination of a lyrical theatre in the Romanian capital. The Romanian composer, conductor, singer and professor George Stefanescu was the intellectual who continuously fought for the foundation of this artistic institution. Eventually he created the Romanian Opera Company.

The lyric company started its activity in May 8^th 1885, presenting progressively a richer and richer repertoire. At the beginning, they presented plays from Italian and French popular operas, but also vaudevilles and comic plays belonging to the Romanian creation, in which the great Romanian voices appeared for the first time.

Although the existence of a opera is related to 1885 , it became institutionalized as the Romanian Opera , financed from the budget only in 1921. The absolute premiere was the Lohengrin, conducted by George Enescu.

• The National Opera in Cluj Napoca

The Romanian Opera in Cluj was founded on 19th September 1919, being considered the oldes lyric & dramatic institution in Romania. Run by some great personalities such as the tenor Constantin Pavel, the Italian conductor Egisto Tango, the composer Tiberiu Bradiceanu, the baritone Dimitrie Popovici Bayreuth, the difficulties related to the effective composition of the group of artists were overcome.

The first shows were two symphonic concerts, on 13^th and 14^th of May 1919, conducted by Oskar Nedbal. The inaugural show was held on 25^th of May 1920 with Aida  by Giuseppe Verdi, conducted by Alfred Novak.

The building of the Romanian Opera from Cluj Napoca belongs to the national cultural heritage, being a historical and art monument, closely considered by UNESCO for special protected monuments. It was built at the beginning of the 20^th century by the well known company from Vienna, Felnner & Helmer, a company who was specialized in projecting and building theatres, being, from an architectural point of view an attempt of introducing the secessionist style, a bit Baroque. The Opera has 900 seats, being a classic model of the Baroque theatre.

If you want to go to opera here is a list that might be of a real help:

• Romanian National Opera - Bucharest, 70 -72, M.Kogalniceanu St., Bucharest, Phone: +40-21-313.1857, 314.6980

• Operetta Theatre "Ion Dacian" - Bucharest, Location: 2, N.Balcescu Blvd., Bucharest. Phone for Reservations: +40-21-313.6348

• Romanian Opera Constanta, 97, Mircea Blvd., Constanta, Phone/fax: +40-241-615.080

• Romanian Opera Cluj-Napoca, 24, Piata Stefan cel Mare, 3400 Cluj-Napoca, Phone/fax: +40-264-117.129

• Romanian Opera Timisoara, Str. Marasesti nr. 2, cod 1900, Timisoara

• Romanian Opera Iasi, 18, Agatha Bîrsescu St., Iasi