Angela Gheorghiu

A Life for Art

Angela Gheorghiu

Angela Gheorghiu is one of the most passionate and talented artists working in opera today, a larger-than-life figure whose intensity and drive, on stage and off, have commanded the attention of the opera world. Largely composed of exclusive interviews with the artist, this authorized biography of the internationally acclaimed soprano, covers Gheorghiu’s life and career from her childhood in Communist Romania to her spectacular Covent Garden debut in 1992 and up to the present day. In it, Gheorghiu shares new insights into the performance of many of her iconic stage roles and her collaborations with opera’s leading lights. Also featured are commentaries and reminiscences by such celebrated figures in the music and art worlds as Grace Bumbry, José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, Marilyn Horne, Bryn Terfel, and Franco Zeffirelli.

Cloth: $35 | E-book: $29.99

ISBN-13: 9781611689129

Pages: 248 | Size: 6 in. x 9 in.

Date Published: September 4, 2018

Imprint:

ForeEdge

Gheorghiu doesn’t disappoint with her story of becoming a world-class opera star.

Publishers Weekly

Reviews

Gheorghiu doesn’t disappoint with her story of becoming a world-class opera star.

Publishers Weekly
An instant blaze of vitality, talent, and beauty-like lightning! And she has extraordinary professionalism. You cannot reach that position that is so high unless you work hard. She started with a wonderful voice, of course, but the talent has to be developed by discipline and intelligence, and she has that. This is why-and I must say this with respect to all the other singers-she is unique today. There is one Angela Gheorghiu.

Franco Zeffirelli
[Hers] is a voice that acts by itself, and as well as being a fine stage actress there is a special performing quality in her voice. Sometimes you hear a beautiful voice but you don’t feel the performer in it. In Angela’s voice you hear the performing actress.

Placido Domingo
Angela is elegant, she has fire, she has a wonderful voice-what more could you possibly want from a singer!

Grace Bumbry
I first heard Angela in the autumn of 1993 when she came to the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels to sing Micaëla in Carmen... The beauty of the voice, and not only the beauty but the individuality, just sent people into raptures.

Sir Antonio Pappan
Music Director, Royal Opera House
There will doubtless be subsequent books on Gheorghiu, without her involvement or imprimatur. Until then, this provides a lot of worthwhile material. Straight from the diva's mouth.

Opera

About the Author

Angela Gheorghiu

Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu made her Royal Opera debut in 1992 singing Mimì (La bohème). She shot to international fame in 1994 when she sang Violetta Valéry (La traviata) under Georg Solti for The Royal Opera. Her roles since for The Royal Opera have included Liù (Turandot), Micaëla (Carmen), Adina (L’elisir d’amore), Juliette (Roméo et Juliette), Antonia (Les Contes d’Hoffmann), Magda (La rondine), Nedda (Pagliacci), Amelia Grimaldi (Simon Boccanegra), Marguerite (Faust), Tosca and Adriana Lecouvreur.

Gheorghiu was born in Adjud. She began singing at an early age and trained with Mia Barbu in Bucharest. She sings regularly for the world’s leading opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera, New York, La Scala, Milan, Vienna State Opera, Liceu, Barcelona, and Paris Opéra, and in many concert performances worldwide. Her appearances in film include singing the title role in Benoît Jacquot’s Tosca, and Juliette (Roméo et Juliette).

Browse Other Titles

Founded in 1971, Brandeis University Press is a nonprofit publisher dedicated to publishing innovative, high-quality books for a general audience, as well as scholarship that advances knowledge and promotes dialogue in the humanities, arts, and social sciences around the world.

© Copyright 2025, Brandeis University Press

Stay In Touch!

Main Office

Brandeis University Press
Goldfarb Library 69-235, MS 046
Brandeis University
415 South Street
Waltham, MA 02453

(781) 736-4547
pressinfo@brandeis.edu