Government officials, artists and music lovers rendered homage to the best Cio Cio San of the world in the opening of the 23rd International Opera Festival “Maria Biesu” in the evening of September 4. Prime Minister Valeriu Strelet said that owing to this cultural event, Chisinau became a center of opera music, IPN reports.
“It’s hard to speak about Maria Biesu in the past. The National Opera Prima Donna will remain a symbol and a value of our people and we all have the obligation to protect her and to make sure that Maria Biesu will continue to be honored,” stated Valeriu Strelet.
The 23rd International Opera Festival “Maria Biesu” is held between September 4 and 13. This is one of the most prestigious cultural events in the country. The program includes four opera and three ballet performances that will involve great opera singers from Poland, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Serbia, South Korea, and the United Sates and national artists who built an impressive career abroad.
The People’s Artists Maria Biesu was conferred numerous awards, including the Order of the Republic of Moldova and the National Oder “Star of Romania”. The soprano died on May 16, 2012. Shortly afterward, the Government decided to give the name of Maria Biesu to the National Opera Theater. This year the Prima Donna would have turned 80.
