Maria Cebotari, golden voice of Bessarabia

On 10 February 1910, in Chisinau, the fifth child of the twelve of teacher Ion Cibotaru and Maria was born. No one could have imagined that his daughter, Maria Cebotari, would become the greatest voice of European opera.

Maria begins to sing in the ensemble of the Metropolitan Choir of Chisinau and very early she performs arias from Tosca, by Giacomo Puccini and Aida, by Giuseppe Verdi. Soon, there is an opportunity to participate in a tour in France with a group of singers and dancers led by Count Alexandr Vîrubov.

In 1928, the Romanian Government, at the insistence of specialists in the field, awarded her a scholarship to study at the Paris Conservatory.

For a short time she was employed as an actress at the Moscow Art Theater, then went to study in Berlin. She finishes the music institution with Magna Cum Laude.

The press around the world has written articles full of admiration.

In 1942, she starred in the film dedicated to the life of the famous French mezzo-soprano of the early nineteenth century, Maria Malibran, directed by Guido Brignone. In Romania and Italy she played as well.

The geography of the concert tours is vast, and the theaters that hosted it are among the most select. Vienna, Brussels, Stockholm, Prague, Paris, Rome, Milan, Antwerp, Copenhagen, Florence, London, Geneva, Zurich, Salzburg, Riga, Bucharest and other prestigious cultural centers hosted the performances with the primadona of European opera.

Maria Cebotari reached the highest peaks of celebrity very early, as if she knew that fate had given her a short life. At only 24 years old, he received the highest honorary title in Germany and Austria, "Kammersängerin", and for her special merits, the Romanian state awarded her the Crown of Romania in the rank of Commander.

There are many streets in the world named after the great singer. A memorial plaque was unveiled at the artist's home in Berlin, Hessenallee 12, Westend district in 2000.

In Chisinau, a street is named after the famous compatriot, and the director Vlad Druc and the screenwriter Vlad Olărescu created a splendid film about the life and work of Maria Cebotari.

More books will be written and films will be made about our great representative in universal culture. But one thing is certain: after the death of Maria Cebotari, the land of Bessarabia did not give birth to a voice that would conquer the Olympus of European music in such a fascinating way.