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Romanian Soprano's Dramatic Force Remembered
11 Sep
Summary
- Her voice combined inner strength with touching vulnerability.
- She excelled as an actor, embodying wounded female characters.
- Cotrubas was celebrated for her roles in La Traviata and Mélisande.
The renowned Romanian soprano Ileana Cotrubas has passed away at the age of 87. She was celebrated internationally for her ability to imbue her characterizations with dramatic force, combining a tightly focused vocal quality with touching vulnerability.
Cotrubas made a significant impact on the operatic stage, notably with her portrayal of Violetta in La Traviata and as the frail Mélisande in Debussy's Pelléas et Mélisande, her Glyndebourne debut role in 1969.
Her career also included notable performances at Covent Garden from 1971, where she sang roles such as Violetta and Tatyana. She was a company favourite at the Vienna State Opera from 1971 to 1990, performing 109 times.
Born in Galati, Romania, Cotrubas studied in Bucharest and Vienna. She was known for her selective repertoire, focusing on lighter roles that optimized her talents, and for her strong opinions against directorial excesses in opera.
