Book about famous Moldovan folk singer launched at National Library

Chisinau, 28 February /MOLDPRES/ - A book of dialogues with a folk music singer, People’s Artist Mihai Ciobanu, made by journalist Tatiana Slivca, was launched at the National Library of Moldova today.  

The volume appeared with the support of the Education, Culture and Research Ministry and comprises 312 pages: dialogues, memories from the life of the distinguished singer, references and an album of photos.

Contacted by MOLDPRES, journalist Tatiana Slivca said that she had written this book during one year, along with Mihai Ciobanu and his family. “This book is about the human and artistic world of singer Mihai Ciobanu, about the faith, which represents the barometer of balance in all aspects of his life and work, about the paths on which he moved seeking texts which had not been heard before and songs which had not been sung.  He is a model for the young generation of singers, both through the way he could sing his songs to people and through the way he turned to account the treasure of our folklore,” Tatiana Slivca said.  

For his part, Mihai Ciobanu said that he had worked on this book with all his heart. “In fact, many other people have worked – Tatiana Slivca, my wife, Valentina Ciobanu, - who made me happy at my 65th birthday anniversary.” Mihai Ciobanu said. The singer thanked everybody for the book.    

Attending the event, the state secretary in the culture sector, Andrei Chistol, stressed that the aforementioned book was exceptional, a bedside book, through which the life and work of the singer goes like a red thread. “I was quite happy that, last year, Mihai Ciobanu got the prize of the Education, Culture and Research Ministry for substantial contribution to the promotion of the immaterial culture heritage. I am glad of this special event and of the fact that the activity of Mihai Ciobanu is highly appreciated by all our fellow countrymen of Moldova and from abroad,” Andrei Chistol said.     

Mihai Ciobanu was born in the Bujor village, central Hancesti district, 20 February 1953. He studied vocal music and choral conducting at the Stefan Neaga Music College (1974-1978) and afterwards - at the Gavriil Muzicescu State Institute of Arts, department of choral conducting (1980-1985). He worked in the folk music orchestras Mugurel (1987-1989), Folclor (1989-2012), cooperated with the folk music orchestras Lautarii (The Fiddlers), Joc, Tara Vrancei (Focsani, Romania), Ciprian Porumbescu (Suceava), Rapsozii Botosanilor (Botosani, Romania), etc. During more than ten years, he has been fruitfully cooperating with the municipal folk music orchestra of brothers Vasile and Vitalie Advahov. Mihai Ciobanu was awarded the honorific titles of Arts Master, People’s Artist, Civic Merit medal, Gloria Muncii (Labour Glory) order, Order of the Republic and the medal Saint Nicodim of the Orthodox Church of Moldova. He is honorary citizen of the Hancesti district. Mihai Ciobanu launched five vinyl discs, ten audio cassettes, 18 CDs, 20 DVDs, as well as several books.