The National Opera Prima Donna Maria Biesu is a symbol and a treasure of the nation, MPs said Thursday, stressing that Moldova lost a great person, but she will remain forever in the hearts of the generations, Info-Prim Neo reports. “She is the heart and soul of our nation. She is also our pride and a piece of the cultural and spiritual patrimony. Owing to her, Moldova became known abroad. Her death is an irrecoverable loss for the national opera,” said Speaker Marian Lupu. The leader of the Liberal-Democratic parliamentary group Valeriu Strelet said that Maria Biesu is a national symbol. “She is a star of whom we were and will be proud. I have had the Cio-Cio San in my memory since childhood, even if I did not know what this name meant. She will remain in our memory forever,” he sated. The head of the Liberal group Ion Hadarca said that the death of Maria Biesu is a great sorrow as this woman was the image of this country and this people. “She is one of the rare jewels of the people and one of the greatest artists of the world,” he stressed. Maria Biesu died at the age of 76. She will be buried on May 19, but before the funeral her coffin will be laid at the National Opera House, where everyone can bid farewell to her. May 19 was declared a national mourning day.