The "Musical Timișoara" International Festival, now in its 49th edition, takes place between May 2nd and May 30th, 2025. Regarded as the most significant local event of its kind, the festival is organized by the Romanian National Opera in Timișoara and the "Banatul" Philharmonic. Cristian Rudic, manager of the Romanian National Opera in Timișoara, offers more insight into the festival's lyric section in a conversation with Ioana Țintea.

Mr. Cristian Rudic, the "Musical Timișoara" International Festival has been a symbol of the city's cultural life for nearly five decades. What does this continuity represent for the Romanian National Opera in Timișoara?

Above all, it represents respect for the generations that came before us. It was the dream of the two institution directors at that time-Maestro Ion Românu, head of the "Banatul" Philharmonic, and Maestro Nicolae Boboc, director of the Opera. I often refer to Maestro Boboc's directorship as the "Periclean Age" of our opera house, because in terms of vision, programming, and artistic foresight, we can only dream of what they achieved-even in the context of a national communist regime. Back then, the Philharmonic and the Opera moved forward together; their paths diverged around the 1990s. But for the past four or five editions, we have managed to ensure that these two "musical lungs" of the city breathe in unison once again, making the month of May a time dedicated to the "Musical Timișoara" Festival.

Which titles are featured in this year's lyric section of the festival?

We begin with Rigoletto by Verdi on May 9th, under the baton of Guido Mancusi. Among our guests is Dragutin Matic from the Belgrade Opera. Next comes Turandot by Giacomo Puccini, with Edith Adetu making her stage debut in the title role, Mihaela Marcu as Liu, and Bogdan Zaharia as Calaf. On May 18th, we present La Bayadère for the first time, featuring invited soloists Ada Gonzalez and Roberto Enache from the Bucharest Opera. On May 20th, we've dedicated a performance to young audiences: Little Dorothy by Marius Țeicu. Then on Friday, May 23rd at 7:00 PM, we uphold the Timișoara tradition of operetta with Countess Maritza, featuring guest Renata Vari in the title role. On May 25th, we offer an evening of lied, because although we are an opera house, chamber music reflects the quality and artistic standards of an institution. This recital will feature Milița Pantin, Antonela Bârnat, and Cosmin Ifrim. The festival's lyric section concludes with Aida, likely one of the final performances of the current production by Ognian Draganoff-if not the final one-before we stage a new version. Lăcrămioara Cristescu will sing the title role alongside Adorjan Pataki as Radamès. That, in essence, is this year's lyric program.

As you mentioned, the May 30th performance of Verdi's Aida will be one of the final showings of the current staging, before a new production is mounted to mark the 80th anniversary of its Timișoara premiere in 1947. What can you tell us about this new production?

It is a beautiful dream. We owe this cornerstone work urbi et orbi-to the people of Timișoara and beyond. In 1946, a dream was realized: His Majesty King Michael I, before being forced into exile, managed to establish the very institution we serve with such devotion today. This came through a royal decree issued in 1946, and the first production followed in 1947-Aida by Giuseppe Verdi. We owe it to the nations, as I said, to honor that legacy with a new staging.

Looking ahead, what would you hope the anniversary edition next year will bring, when the "Musical Timișoara" Festival celebrates its 50th edition?

Together with the Philharmonic, we would like to share the same artistic breath-at least for one event. We are hoping to present one of the major titles of the universal repertoire as a joint production, likely on an outdoor stage, since neither our opera house nor the Philharmonic can physically accommodate us all on one stage. We have not yet settled on the title, so we'll let the element of surprise do its work.