Beloved Operatic Arias and Lieder

Masterfully Presented by Soprano Mădălina Stan and Pianist Lidia Butnariu

On Tuesday evening, the Romanian Cultural Institute in London had the pleasure of welcoming two distinguished Romanian musicians to Belgravia– soprano Madalina Stan and pianist Lidia Butnariu. They presented a thrilling programme of arias and lieder by Mozart, Puccini, Verdi, Debussy, and celebrated Romanian composers Enescu, Dendrino, and Calin Huma.

We are grateful to H.E. Laura Popescu, the Ambassador of Romania to the UK, for her attendance, and to Director Aura Woodward for hosting it so warmly.

This excellent recital was organised in partnership with Art In Conversation, established by composer Calin Huma, who, over the last seven years, has been one of Romania’s honorary consuls in the United Kingdom, based in Winchester. As a culture enthusiast, Calin has supported numerous initiatives promoting Romanian artists in the UK. This recital was his farewell gift, as he is leaving the UK to start a new chapter in his life and career.

🗓️ When: Tuesday 29 April, 7 pm

📍 Where: RCI London, 1 Belgrave Square

The vocal-symphonic concerts held on the stage of the Romanian Athenaeum offered soprano Mădălina Stan the opportunity to distinguish herself through her interpretation of famous works under the baton of Maestro Cristian Mandeal (The Abduction from the Seraglio by Mozart, in the role of Blonde) and Maestro Jin Wang (Mass by Leonard Bernstein). In 2007, she performed as a soloist in Bernstein’s Mass during the “George Enescu” International Festival, conducted by Wayne Marshall. Together with the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, she took part in performances of Mozart’s The Impresario, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Requiem, the concert performance of Un ballo in maschera (in the role of Oscar) by Giuseppe Verdi, and numerous other vocal-symphonic concerts. She made her debut as the Narrator in de Falla’s opera El retablo de maese Pedro at the Radio Hall, conducted by Adrian Morar. In 2012, she gave an aria concert with the Sibiu Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Iurie Florea. At the Romanian National Opera in Bucharest, she participated in the performance “An Evening of Gershwin.” She performed arias and duets at the Marcello Giordani Gala at the National Opera of Bucharest. The 2016–2017 season brought her a series of concerts, including Mozart’s Requiem, a French music recital at the Romanian Athenaeum, the Opera Gala at the Palace of Culture in Bistrița-Năsăud, and the Grand Lodge of Romania Awards Gala, conducted by Daniel Jinga. She was also invited to perform at the 2019 edition of the same Gala, this time under the baton of conductor Constantin Grigore. In January 2018, she sang in Verdi’s Rigoletto, conducted by Maestro David Crescenzi at the Radio Hall. In 2019, she performed the role of Ines in Il trovatore, again conducted by David Crescenzi. Works such as Mozart’s Exsultate, jubilate, conducted by Alexandru Ganea, and Pergolesi’s Salve Regina, under the musical direction of conductor Tiberiu Oprea, were interpreted by the artist in collaboration with the Pitești Philharmonic between 2019 and 2021. She participated in the “Classics for Pleasure” Festival in Sibiu, an event designed to showcase Romania’s artistic, musical, and cultural heritage. Between 2022 and 2024, soprano Mădălina Stan performed at the Romanian Athenaeum as part of the “Music Made Simple” project, at the “Autumn Symphonies” Festival, and at the University of Winchester in England, where she gave a recital of arias, canzonettas, and zarzuelas. She welcomed the year 2025 with a special concert alongside tenor Jonathan Tetelman, conductor Constantin Grigore and the Pitești Philharmonic.

Pianist Lidia Butnariu graduated from the Faculty of Music Performance - Piano at the National University of Music Bucharest. She is also a graduate of advanced courses within the StudiOpera project, organised by the Romanian National Opera in Bucharest in partnership with Accademia Teatro alla Scala and SVASTA ICG Romania. Since 1992, she has been a faculty member at the National University of Music in Bucharest, and between 2007 and 2019, she served as the official accompanist at the Romanian National Opera. She has held recitals and concerts both as a soloist and as an accompanying pianist in Bucharest, Brașov, Timișoara, Piatra Neamț, Sibiu, and Pitești. She has collaborated with conductors such as Jin Wang, David Crescenzi, Adrian Morar, and Iurie Florea. She was designated the official pianist for the master classes in Piatra Neamț in 2003, as part of the international project Rusalka, the Sibiu International Theatre Festival in 2004, and the Hariclea Darclee Competition (2010, 2012, 2015), as well as for the "The Magic Flute", "Don Giovanni", and "Missa Solemnis" organised by Tempus Collection. She has collaborated as an accompanying pianist with Viorica Cortez, Nelly Miricioiu, Marina Krilovici, Eduard Tumagian, Mariana Nicolesco, and Maria Diaconu. She participated in the musical preparation of the musical "The King and I" by Richard Rodgers and the opera "Belisario" by G. Donizetti, both presented as national premieres during the opera class students' exams at the National University of Music Bucharest.

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Photography by Alex Cociobanu