Angela Gheorghiu: A Life for Art

Gheorghiu candidly recalls pivotal moments in her life, from her 1960s childhood in Romania to her later success with the Royal Opera House in London and the New York Metropolitan Opera in this enjoyable memoir. She describes her progression from a local singer in the small city of Adjud to a music conservatory within Romania’s Communist regime: “As we grew older, things began to get worse in the country, and shortages of all kinds appeared—especially the simple things: food, clothing and footwear, everyday things.” Gheorghiu tells of her life in the High School of Art in Bucharest, which she describes as a “prison” due to the watchful eye of government security guards; it was there, however, that she began to feel “more and more confidence in the gift God bestowed on me—my voice.” At 25 she was performing for the National Opera of Bucharest. Shortly after, she auditioned for the Royal Opera House and was immediately cast in several productions, debuting there in 1992 as Zerlina in Don Giovanni. Gheorghiu fondly recalls such mentors and colleagues as Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, and producer Franco Zeffirelli, yet also tells of her clashes with, for example, Metropolitan Opera manager Joseph Volpe­, who insisted she wear an oversized wig during a performance (she protested by refusing to go on stage). Gheorghiu doesn’t disappoint with her story of becoming a world-class opera star. (Sept.)