Romanian Vasile Chisiu trades farming for music to become National Opera baritone

Romanian Vasile Chisiu, a former award winning Romanian farmer at international congresses became an acclaimed baritone on the international opera scene. He will have his debut in the 'Rigoletto' by Giuseppe Verdi on February 8 at the National Opera in Bucharest, where he's been singing since 2005.

In 1996, Vasile Chisiu won the youngest farmer in Romania award given by the Farmer Foundation. Later he was invited to various international conferences in the field, and one in Brussels in 1997 marked the beginning of his international career.

„Each participant had to promote his country and I was dressed in a national costume. I sang "O Sole Mio", even though I did not know the words too well. At the end of the song, Rai 1 television journalists came to me and congratulated me. Then other European Councillors told me that I must become an opera singer and I should not waste my talent,”says Vasile Chisiu. In 2006, Vasile Chisiu graduated the National Music University of Bucharest, the canto section. He received a Socrates scholarship at the Conservatory Antonio Scontrino in Trapani, Italy and studied canto with Cornelius Fanateanu and Eduard Tumagian. Among the awards he received include: Grand Prix offered by Oder-Spree, Germany, and Darclée Foundation Award at International Canto Competition Hariclea Darclée from Braila. Alex Camburu, alex.camburu@romania-insider.com (photo source: Arhivafoto.ro and National Opera)