On Wednesday, January 19^th 2011, Georgeta Stoleriu, the soprano - member of the Old Music Studio group, professor at the National University of Music in Bucharest - is celebrating her birthday. On musical encounters, building a career and projects - in the following interview.

Happy birthday, Mrs. Georgeta Stoleriu! Each life is touched by important events and great encounters, especially that of an artist. What public figures have left their inspiring marks on your rise in the world of music ?

First of all, it was Mrs. Iolanda Mărculescu, my professor. I have been fortunate enough as to collaborate with some great musicians - the Musica Rediviva group, lead by Ludovic Bacs; I have had the opportunity to work with composers of great talent - without wanting to upset anyone, I shall mention one name: Felicia Donceanu. And last, but not least, please believe me that I have been constantly learning from my students. They have learned from me and I have learned so much from them.

You are the founder of the Iolanda Mărculescu annual scholarship, through which you help the young musicians on their artistic path. How does one build a solid career as a result of having obtained a scholarship ?

I do not think that it is through a scholarship that you can build a sturdy career; it may help on auditions, but otherwise, you can only build such a career through unceasing work.

You have dedicated your career entirely to concert music as opposed to opera. What were the reasons for this choice that seems a bit strange, at least from the outside?

Allow me to make a comment: what about those who have dedicated themselves exclusively to the opera, don't they seem strange? I did not work in opera because I preferred concert music; I have sung a lot of opera when I was a Music University student, I am part of a generation which has sung many hours of opera and which had remarkable directors. I chose to stay away from the boards of opera, although I have sung operas in concert.

What are your projects in the near future ?

What is coming up next is a portrait by Felicia Donceanu on January 28^th; in March, a new performance with the Old Music Studio group in a concert at the Athenaeum. But the nearest event is my recital on Sunday, January 23^rd, at the Athenaeum, in the Great Hall, accompanied by Verona Maier, the pianist, and where I shall perform lieds and symphonic poems by Lizst, Mahler and Felicia Donceanu.