Cristina Radu – Short presentation (pdf)
Cristina Radu began early her musical training, taken classes of violin and piano and singing in the Romanian Radio Children’s Choir where she had several musical experiences in the scope of Concerts and Vocal-Symphonic performances at the Romanian Radio Concert Hall in Bucharest, and also in international musical tours – in Belgium, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Finland and USA.
She studied voice under Emilia Petrescu, Maria Slătinaru-Nistor, Mariana Stoica and Bianca Manoleanu, graduating the National Music University in Bucharest in 2003. She also participated in several Master Classes with prestigious singers like Ileana Cotrubaş (2004, 2007, 2008), Virginia Zeani (2003), Felicity Lott (2003), Ionel Pantea (2007), Denice Graves (2003).
Cristina Radu is the winner of several national and international competitions: First Prize in the International Competition „Joseph Schmidt”, Romania (2007), Premier prix de Finaliste in “Verviers International Singing Competition” – Belgium (2005), Great Award in the National Competition “Mihail Jora”, Romania (2001), Second Prize and the Special prize of the Jury at the National Competition „Martian Negrea”, Romania (2002), The Prize of the Union of Romanian Composers and Musicologist at „The National Competition of Romanian Song”, Romania (2003), The Prize of the Foundation “Fratii bucovineni Sarghie”, The National University of Bucharest, Romania (2003).
Cristina Radu made her professional debut in 2003 as Donna Elvira in Mozart’s Don Giovanni at The National Opera House from Bucharest, Romania. In Romania literara, the musicologist Valentina Sandu-Dediu wrote after this performance: „Cristina Radu seems to be an ideal Donna Elvira. Her vocal qualities together with her intelligence guide her to versatility in every musical score she performs. Her success as a mozartian dramatic soprano is only to certify a brilliant career debut.”
From 2003 Cristina Radu is engaged in Brasov Opera Company where she developed her artistic personality and she undertook tours of performances on European stages (in Great Britain, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Spain) with great success. After a performance with Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, Henry Ford wrote in Herefordshire: ”But it is over the characters of Clorinda in Cenerentola and Norina in Pasquale that the magician’s wand has passed, for both are played by Cristina Radu. When, in the near future, La Radu is being fought over by La Scala, the Met and Covent Garden, we happy few in Malvern will be able to say: Ah, but we saw and heard her first.”
Her lyrical repertory comprises operas of Mozart (“Don Giovanni”, “Le Nozze di Figaro”, “Cosi fan tutte”), Bizet (“Les Pecheurs des perles”, “Carmen”), Offenbach (“Les Contes d’Hoffmann”), Bellini (“Norma”), Puccini (“La Boheme”), Leoncavallo (“I Pagliacci”) etc. In 2007 Cristina Radu performed in the first world audition of the Spanish opera „La Casa de Bernarda Alba” of Miguel Ortega (with the role of Angustias).
She also participate in concerts with The New Europe Symphony Orchestra – conducted by Silvio Wyler; The Romanian Radio Chamber Orchestra – conducted by Vlad Conta; The Contemporary Music Ensemble „Profil” conducted by Tiberiu Soare; The „Philarmonia Orchestra” conducted by Nicolae Iliescu and “Camerata Valahica” conducted by Mikis Mihailidis.
Cristina Radu is performing recitals with the cellists Alexandru Morosanu, Laura Buruiana; the organists Steffen Schlandt, Marcel Costea and the pianists Alexandru Petrovici, Tatiana Moroşanu, Eugen Dumitrescu, Corina Răducanu, Luminita Berariu, in the Concert halls in Bucharest (The Romanian Atheneum, The Radio Concert Hall, The National Opera, The Cotroceni Palace, The Cantacuzino Palace, St.Iosif Cathedral) and in Braşov, Sinaia, Galaţi, Iaşi, Suceava, Râmnicu Vâlcea, Târgovişte.
She also participated in Radio broadcasts and TV shows (TVR Cultural – 2003, 2005, 2008; TVR1 – 2005; TVRM – 2003, 2005; TVS & RTT Brasov – 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011).
Excerpts from national and international publications:
”Cristina Radu seems to be an ideal Donna Elvira. Her vocal qualities together with her intelligence guide her to versatility in every musical score she performs. Her success as a mozartian dramatic soprano is only to certify a brilliant career debut.” (Valentina Sandu-Dediu – “Youth in profile. Composers and sopranos” – “Romania literara” nr.25/ 25 June – 1 July 2003, Bucharest)
”But it is over the characters of Clorinda in Cenerentola and Norina in Pasquale that the magician’s wand has passed, for both are played by Cristina Radu. When, in the near future, La Radu is being fought over by La Scala, the Met and Covent Garden, we happy few in Malvern will be able to say: Ah, but we saw and heard her first.” (Henry Ford – “La Radu – we saw her first” – Herefordshire 2 June 2004) – http://archive.thisisherefordshire.co.uk/2004/5/27/18489.html
”As Leila, the young soprano Cristina Radu gave her best performance by now, demonstrating that she is permanently concerned with improving her technical condition, as an indispensable support for valuing and complete affirmation of her vocal qualities: an attractive colour voice, with a precious cover and éclat of the whole register.” (Costin Popa – ”Drawing with arms” – “Melos” – March 2005, Bucharest)
”For the voice of the soprano Cristina Radu, it is the time for a more ample bevy. The most appreciated soloist of the Brasov Opera has, by stateliness and naturalness of her singing, the capacity to confront with important Mozart’s roles: Fiordiligi, Donna Elvira to whom she pointed her attention. Surrounded by the public’s affection, the ascension of her career reveals the valences towards an undoubted success, for which she is, intelligently and willingly, heading to.” (Grigore Constantinescu – “Adevarul”, Bucharest 2 July 2005)
”Die Rolle seiner Gemahlin (Grafin Almaviva) sang Cristina Radu. Bei ihrem innig gesungenen Selbstmitleid am Beginn des zweiten Akts, die Cavatine ‘Porgi amor’, wusste sie mit wohlklingendem Sopran den Opernsaal zu fullen. Besonders schon waren das Brief-Duett ‘Che soave zefiretto’ im dritten Akt.” (Georg Kirschner – “Die Hochzeit des Figaro” – Waldkraiburger Nachricker 11.05.2006)
”Gut besetz war die Rolle der Donna Elvira, die Don Giovanni liebt und von ihm aufs Ubelste getauscht wird mit Cristina Radu. Sie gab der Figur ein wurdevolles Profil und eine klare Stimme.” (Gabriele Muller – Leonberger Kreiszeitung 13.05.2006)
„Sehr erfreulich war auf die Vorstellung von Cristina Radu als Margarete. Äußerst agil und emotional spielte sie das unschuldig liebende Mädchen und die Betrogene bis hin zu Verzweiflung und Wahnsinn. Dabei gefiel auch ihre schöne Sopranstimme sehr gut, so zum Beispiel in ihrer differenzierten Interpretation der Arie am Spinnrad, den mit Leichtigkeit ausgeführten Koloraturen in der Juwelen-Szene und auch den bezauberenden Liebesduetten mit Faust. In der Schlussszene schließlich präsentierte sie sich mit kraftvoller Stimme nochmals als große Opernsängerin könnte. Alles in allem also ein gelungener, packender Opernabend, für den es zum Schluss viel Beifall gab.” – (Pirmasens, march 2011 – „Packende Oper mit schönen Stimmen. Gounods „Faust” in gekürzter Fassung glänzt besonders durch die Gesangsleistung”).
