Viorica Cortez (Iasi 1935) In Bucharest, Viorica Cortez was a student of Arta Florescu, the Romanian soprano and teacher after the war (in addition to Cortez, some of his apprentices were important Marina Krilovici, Eugenia Moldoveanu, Slătinaru-Maria Nistor, Leontina Văduva and even Angela Gheorghiu). Strongly he encouraged the young mezzo to consider international competitions. Cortez took his advice, and he ran the International "George Enescu of Bucharest (1964), where he finished only fourth. The same year, he won the Song of Toulouse International Competition, along with fellow Romanian tenor Ludovic Spiess. Le Monde the well-known critic Jacques Lonchampt praises his dark half and velvety, his art and his technique, as well as its sparkling beauty to the scene. This victory in Toulouse was immediately followed by a contract in the famous Théâtre du Capitole in the city for the 'next year. in the final gala, Cortez sang the air of Leonora from La favored by Donizetti, who would become one of his concert pieces and recitals.Also in 1964, Cortez graduated from the Conservatory of Bucharest, making his debut in an opera production - Orphée et Eurydice by Gluck. The following year he won the Great "Kathleen Ferrier Award" in the competition's-Hertogenbosch International Vocal. [2] He made his debut in Samson et Dalila in Saint-Saëns alongside Ludovic Spiess in Cluj and then in Toulouse in the same year, and returned a year later as Carmen. Cortez has since established itself as one of the most respected and recognized young Romanian opera singers, even though in his hometown appeared mainly in concerts and recitals. After being hired Romanian National Opera of Bucharest in 1967, the situation changed since toured the country and Europe (former Yugoslavia, France, Greece and above all Ireland), debuting in Mignon by Ambroise Thomas, Don Carlo, Aida and Il trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi, La Favorita by Gaetano Donizetti and Werther by Jules Massenet.In 1967, he won the Grand Prize and the Gold Medal International Competition "George Enescu of Bucharest, ending his tour of competitions. Already established in Romania, he goes on tour in France alongside Arta Florescu (Aida) and debuts at Chorégies d'Orange (as Amneris in Aida). the same year, he auditioned for the first and only time in his career to Sir Georg Solti, who was looking for a Carmen in the new production of the Royal Opera House in London. apparently, upon hearing the Cortez, he declared: "This is the Carmen we were looking for. We found HER. "His debut was in 1968 and, although the critics were not unanimously in favor of her performances were hailed as one of the most remarkable events of the season. For Cortez, this meant not only launching a new dimension his professional career, but also the meeting with Sandor Gorlinsky, the agent that he added to his star rose.They came other capital debuts. While maintaining a special relationship with the French opera houses (Toulouse, Rouen, Bordeaux, Avignon, Nice) and always a member of the Opera of Bucharest, the Cortez sang his first performances in Barcelona (Gran Teatre del Liceu, The favorite, 1969), Vienna (Staatsoper, Don Carlo, 1969), Salzburger Festspiele (Carmen, 1969), Naples (San Carlo Theater, Norma and Aida with Leyla Gencer), and Paris (Grand Opera, Carmen, 1970).Portrait photo, hand-signed, the mezzo-soprano in the role of Carmen. Photography; 21x15 cm Excellent condition