Independant Woman

In two recent Interviews, Angela Gheorgiu has set the record straight about being a Primadonna or Diva. She could well recall the days, she mentioned to Austrian Paper Der Standard, when she had to cue up all night in front of stores in her home Romania just to get some sugar. The hardships of her past, she said, have led her to enjoy every single second of her present life (which is, just to be clear, filled with riches, luxury and fame). Still, modern times were not her cup of tea: Too many singers were afraid to voice their opinion and too many opera houses were intent on ruining singers, instead of helping to build their careers. One of the conductors she singled out as being destructive and selfish, was Ricardo Muti, who, according to Gheorgiu, didn't mind "destroying everything around him, just to take center stage."
In a second conversation, this time with daily Kurier, Angela found some strong words against modern directors: A piece was supposed to take place in the time it was conceived. Only directors without ideas would actually move the story over to present times. Even though she admitted liking Mozart ("A genius"), she basically turned down any ideas she might be a part of the worldwide celebrations next year (unless she were offered the role of Don Giovani...). She also reveiled that a new CD with romanian music was being planned and that a new "Romeo and Juliette"-movie had just been completed.

Source: Der Standard
Source: Kurier
Homepage: Angela Gheorgiu