On Friday, March 6th, 2026, mezzo-soprano Ramona Zaharia will take center stage in the concert entitled "Toujours, Carmen!". The musician will perform alongside the National Radio Orchestra and the Academic Choir, under the baton of conductor Anastasios Symeonidis. About her return to the stage of Sala Radio, Ramona Zaharia spoke with Ioana Țintea.

You have performed the role of Carmen in more than 20 different productions on the great stages of the world. What does Carmen mean to you today?

Someone once told me that she has already become an alter ego of mine. I love the role and I love every new production because it gives me the opportunity to see the character from a different perspective.

Does this character still surprise you today?

Yes. Just as I sometimes surprise myself, the character surprises me as well. And whenever I discover new facets of her, I find it extraordinary, because that is exactly what keeps me from ever getting bored of this role.

Are there major differences in the way audiences in different countries perceive this character?

Certainly, but at the same time we return to the human essence, I could say. When you shape the character in a human way, anyone can find something of themselves in it, something closer to their own feelings and way of thinking.

The press release announces an "incendiary" concert. What can the audience at Sala Radio expect, and what kind of atmosphere would you like to create on this evening entitled "Toujours, Carmen"?

I hope it will be a wonderful evening with French music. The melodies I will sing - after all, we are talking about melody - will hopefully remain in the audience's minds even after they leave the concert.

Last month you made your debut in the role of Azucena in Verdi's opera Il Trovatore. How was the reunion with the audience in Timișoara?

Very pleasant. There is a certain chemistry between us. They have known me since the beginning of my career as a soloist, and I felt - and they confirmed - that they wanted to hear and see me again, this time in a different role, one they were not used to seeing me perform. Most people think that the only role that suits me is Carmen, or generally the femme fatale type of role. This time it was a different kind of role, above all a very dramatic one, both in its writing and in its psychological depth.

After the concert at Sala Radio, what does your schedule look like? I know that in the last interview you gave me you mentioned a new role.

Yes, I will have a new role in my repertoire and I am extremely happy about it. It is called Zia Principessa, the Princess Aunt, from Puccini's Il Trittico, which includes the three operas Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica, and Il Tabarro. I will perform the role of Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica, a negative role, small in size but very important.