Aura Twarowska, you return to the Romanian Cultural Institute in Vienna only a month and a half after your last concert, for a recital dedicated to the memory of one of the most remarkable Romanian mezzo-sopranos: Elena Cernei. The gesture of paying homage to the personality of another artist is very nice and I congratulate you for it! But I have the impression that you are doing it for the first time. And so I ask, why specifically for Elena Cernei?

It is true, I have not done a recital dedicated to an opera artist so far, but Elena Cernei occupies a special place in my artistic and professional training. She has been present - unfortunately only through the recordings bequeathed to us - since I fell in love with classical music and opera. I have kept her with me throughout my studies, in the years that followed, and even today, as my intention to pay tribute to her on this anniversary proves.

What have you always admired about Elena Cernei?

As a mezzo-soprano, I have always admired her impeccable vocal technique, her extremely wide vocal range, her correct pronunciation in the various languages in which she has sung and, above all, the intelligence and sensitivity of her interpretation. As mezzo-soprano to mezzo-soprano, I have always considered her the best mezzo voice in Romania. And, therefore, it is with joy, enthusiasm and honour that I have conceived this anniversary recital "Elena Cernei 100".

I was absolutely sure that while you were thinking and preparing this recital, you were also listening to Elena Cerna's recordings. In what role or aria do you consider Cernei perfect, unparalleled?

As I said, I consider her perfect in absolutely everything - in terms of vocal technique and pronunciation, but first and foremost I appreciate her for the role of Semiramide in Rossini's Semiramide. And especially in the aria "Ah! Quel giorno".

How did you put together the recital at the ICR? Do we find any of these preferences in the recital?

Of course! I have thought and built the recital at the ICR only on the repertoire performed by her. Namely, we chose arias from Samson and Delilah, Carmen, Adriana Lecouvreur, The troubadour, Paris and Elena, La Gioconda and a Romanian song, "Bagă, Doamne, luna-n nori" by Tiberiu Brediceanu.

Basically, you took care to represent somehow, by areas, obviously, the most important roles in Ms Cerna's career.

That's right. That was my intention, that in this recital, Elena Cernei would be in the first place. Elena Cernei will be the star of the evening! By no means Aura Twarowska or Adriana Paler - the pianist who will provide the piano accompaniment. It is precisely because of this, by choosing arias from her repertoire, that we want to give her the importance and respect she deserves!

@ Lois Lammerhuber