Queen Elisabeth of Romania in “Tempting Mission”
We Celebrated Romanian Royalty Day with a theater show based on the vast correspondence of two giants of Romanian history, the first royal couple of Romania: King Carol I and Queen Elizabeth. This tour de force by and with Liana Ceterchi brought to the fore the immense personality of Queen Elizabeth of Romania, known under the pseudonym Carmen Sylva, a prolific author, skilled musician, patron of the arts and "mother of the Nation" during the difficult times of War of Independence (1877-1878).
Liana Ceterchi took us all on a journey of an extraordinary life. The Enescu Room at the Romanian Cultural Institute in London was packed with British friends and members of our own community. The emotion was at times palpable as the play unpacked some of the key moments of Queen Elisabeth's life, including the great loss of her only child, Princess Maria, at the age of 3.
Many thanks again to the wonderful Liana Ceterchi and to Leo Bacica for his technical support.
Photography by Alex Coman
The Tempting Mission, by and with Liana Ceterchi tells the story of the first Queen of Romania, Queen Elisabeth, wife of the monarch Carol I. Beyond her royal duties, Queen Elisabeth was also an accomplished artist. Under the pen-name of Carmen Sylva, she published dozens of novels, children's stories or essays. She was a generous patron of the arts, supporting some of the greatest classics, such as Romania's national poet Mihai Eminescu or our greatest composer, George Enescu. Queen Elisabeth of Romania also established some of the biggest charities in the country, visiting hospitals and helping those in need.
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