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At the initiative of soprano Simona - Nicoleta Jidveanu, the project Opera Rara Universalia was born, a concept that aimed to represent on first audition in Romania some creations from the universal lyrical musical literature. Unknown to the Romanian audience, these creations are not even mentioned in the permanent seasons of the opera houses, although they were successful at the time of the first stage performances. Enlightening for the belcanto style practiced in all the National Universities of Music, the series of rare operas contains masterpieces that can be classified into musical romanticism, a period known to the specialists as beginning at the end of the eighteenth century (the birth of Gioacchino Rossini) and extending throughout the nineteenth century. In this case, the titles of rare works belonging to the romantic composers of Belcanti bring into the foreground roles of high psychological, cognitive, empathetic and aesthetic importance. Along with the original compositional qualities by which they acquired their universality - G. Rossini, V. Bellini, G. Donizzetti, G. Charpentier, Ch. Gounod, G. Meyerbeer, A. Thomas, G. Verdi, R. Strauss, P Mascagni, all generations of composers of the nineteenth century have deepened their national specificity, retaining belcanto reminiscences. Inspired by the dramaturgical talent of renowned librettists: Felice Romani, Salvatore Cammarano, Eugene Scribe, Jules Barbiere, Michael Carre, Andrea Maffei, Francesco Maria Piave - the brilliant melody blends harmoniously into the dramatic plot due to the higher rank performances of the solo voices.

The first wish of the project manager, soprano Simona-Nicoleta Jiveanu, was the purchase of the musical material in the vocal-piano version. Then followed the psychological stage of coagulation of the solo micro-collective on Belcanto vocal considerations and finally, for the stage representation in the form of opera in concert, she paid special attention to the aesthetic aspect of attracting and sensitizing the music loving audience to the opera creation.

"I Masnadieri" Opera by Giuseppe Verdi

The project "Opera Rara Universalia" commences with the melodrama "I Masnadieri" by Giuseppe Verdi, on the libretto of the poet Andrea Maffei, after Friedrich Schiller's drama entitled "Die Räuber" (The Robbers).

The conflict underlined by the text and the music of the work is generated by the contrasting experiences of the characters: Carlo - the leader of the revolutionary brigades whose struggle for social justice degenerates into the miserable life of a thief, Amalia - Carlo's lover, the eldest son of Count Massimiliano Moor, Francesco - brother usurper. In the Romantic style, the conflictual state is dissolved by assuming the sacrifice meant to save love, with the hope and belief that it will be fulfilled in another lifetime. Dr. Simona - Nicletta Jidveanu

Soloist cast

Carlo - Liviu Iftene, tenor

Amalia - Simona Nicoletta Jidveanu, soprano

Francesco - Fang Shuang, baritone

Massimiliano - Florin Mircea Ganea, bass

Tenor Liviu Iftene celebrated his stage debut in January 2009 at the Opera in Brasov, in the difficult role of Tonio in "La Figlia del Reggimento" by Gaetano Donizetti. This role, bypassed by most tenors due to the exigency of the vocal requirements, also marked his international debut, on the Großes Festspielhaus stage in Salzburg. Addressing the difficult roles from a vocal point of view has remained one of his defining attributes as a lyrical artist. Performing with the same pleasure and artistic experience both lyrical and dramatic roles, the young tenor has achieved a performance worthy of envy in the richness of his vocal repertoire, consisting of about 30 opera roles to which the operetta and musical roles are added, as well as the musical parts of the vocal-symphonic or chamber creation.

The opera stage in Brasov, where he has worked for over eleven years, is not the only cultural landmark where Liviu Iftene is applauded by Brasov music lovers. They can often follow him in various recitals or concerts at the Patria Hall, the Casa Mureșenilor Museum, the Aula Magna of the Transilvania University or in the Piata Sfatului. At national level, he was always received with intense applause by the audience of prestigious cultural institutions from Romania such as: the Bucharest National Opera, the National Opera Theatre and the Oleg Danovski Ballet from Constanța, Cluj Napoca National Opera, the Nae Leonard National Opera and Opera Theatre of Galați, the Romanian Athenaeum, the Târgu Mureș State Philharmonic, the Paul Constantinescu Philharmonic of Ploiești, the Sibiu Philharmonic, the Romanian Tinerimea Palace in Bucharest, etc. The thirteen years of solo activity have brought him many satisfactions at international level as well, by participating in several European tours, in countries such as Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, France, Italy, Poland. The 2013 encounter with Ioana Gherman, the ambitious coordinator and conductor of the La Muse choir in Montreal and the president of the "La Muse Héritage Musical" association, set the stage for a close artistic collaboration, materialized in European tours and concerts in Canada (Montreal, Ottawa ). Since 2018, he has beenan ardent supporter of the Opera Rara Universalia programme, initiated by soprano Simona-Nicoletta Jidveanu.

Simona-Nicoletta Jidveanu is the winner of the Grand Prize for Interpretation of a Contemporary Creation, of the prestigious “Concours du Chant Georges Enesco”, Paris (2015), award granted by the composer, artistic director, of the Competition - Henri Nafilyan. She is also the winner of the Grand Prize of the National Song Contest "Mihail Jora" and of the Special Awards "Crețoiu-Tassian" for Mozart and "Ludovic Spiess", Bucharest (2007). Simona achieves world premieres of contemporary music, with the same technique, musicality and intelligence whereby she emulatesVerdian roles such as Violetta from "La Traviata", Gilda from "Rigoletto", Amalia from "I Masnadieri" ... Simona is invited to international festivals: "International Week of New Music SIMN"  International Festival (Bucharest), "Mărțișor" International Music Festival (Kishinev), "Contemporary Music Days" International Festival (Bacău), "New Music Days" International Festival (Kishinev), “George Enescu” International Festival (Bucharest). She is applauded on reference stages from Romania, Republic of Moldova, Holland, Italy, Austria, France. Simona Nicoletta Jidveanu holds the scientific title of "PhD in Music", published the book entitled "The Chant: Method and Revelation". She is the initiator of the "Opera Rara Universalia" project, in order to promote the creations of rare music in Romania as well as the valuable performers.

Lidia Butnariu attended the "Dinu Lipatti" High School of Music and graduated from the Faculty of Musical Interpretation, the piano section of the National University of Music Bucharest. She is also a graduate of the training courses within the StudiOpera project organized by the Bucharest National Opera in partnership with the Teatro alla Scala Academy and the SVASTA ICG in Romania. Since 1992, she has been a teacher at the UNMB and from 2007 until now she is a master accompanying pianist at the ONB. She gives recitals and concerts both as a soloist and as an accompanying pianist in Bucharest, Brașov, Bacău, Timișoara, Piatra-Neamț, Sibiu. She was appointed official pianist of the master classes from Piatra-Neamț in 2003, within the “Rusalka” international project, during the 2004 theatre festival and the Darclee Competition - 2010, 2012 and 2015 editions, as well as in the projects: The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni, Missa Solemnis, organized by Tempus Collection. She collaborated as a pianist with Viorica Cortez, Nelly Miricioiu, Marina Krilovici, Eduard Tumagian, Mariana Nicolesco, on the occasion of the master's courses held by them. For the ability to collaborate musically and scenically with the singers and to create emotional moments of high intensity, Lidia is a valuable team member of the project-programme "Opera Rara Universalia".

Florin Mircea Ganea graduated from the Faculty of Music in Oradea, later replenishing his talent by attending various Mastery courses in the country and abroad, under the guidance of: Leontina Văduva, Marius Vlad Budoiu, Carmelo Agnello, Marian Pop, Alfio Grasso, Julian Smith and others. He participates in the Gutt Immling Festival Germany and debuts in roles such as Bauer in "The Moon" or Mago in "Rinaldo", Jailer in "Tosca", then participates in the Operacademy Project, where he debuts in the roles: Sarastro - "The Magic Flute '' and Bartolo - "Le nozze di Figaro". In 2016, he made his debut in the role of Endre II "Bank Ban" at the Csokonai theatre in Debrecen, in 2018 he debuted at the Bucharest National Opera with the role of the Commander in "Don Giovanni" and the role of Sarastro in "The Magic Flute" within the "Ludovic Spiess" Experimental Opera Studio, as well as Bartolo in "Figaro’s Wedding", in the "Lyrical Hunedoara" festival 2018. Since November 2018, he has been active in the "Stage Managers"  Association. He collaborates with the Bucharest National Opera in the "Ludovic Spiess" Opera Studio and with the "Opera Rara Universalia Association".

Translated by Simona Nichiteanu