The soprano and teacher Virginia Zeani, one of the reference personalities of the world lyric scene, passed away. Her name has been spoken for many decades with special appreciation of performance, admiration and gratitude.
I had the privilege of being near Virginia Zeani at one point, so I feel a duty of conscience to contribute to the eternalization of her memory. I do it as succinctly as possible by repeating the speech I gave as rector of Babeș-Bolyai University at the ceremony dedicated to the great artist in the Aula Magna of the institution (archived under no. 10032/ May 23, 2011, published in the “UBB Bulletin”, no. 20/2011, pp. 12-13), in her presence.
„Conform Babeș-Bolyai University Charter (2003), the institution’s honorary titles are awarded to personalities with top achievements in science, philosophy, theology, art, who have most enhanced the prestige of our culture.
In 2006 the Senate of the University decided to grant the title of honorary professor to the greatest opera soloists raised from the lands of Transylvania. Then, among others, Mariana Nicolesco, Niculina Mirea, Carmen Oprișanu, Lya Hubic, Lucia Stănescu, Ioan Piso, Ionel Pantea were distinguished. Nicolae Herlea, Dan Iordăchescu, Julia Varadi, Angela Gheorghiu are yet to come to Cluj-Napoca to receive their award.
Among those honored was, of course, the soprano and then professor at Indiana University in Bloomington (USA), Virginia Zeani. Today we have the immense satisfaction of being able to welcome the famous soprano and singing teacher in the Aula Magna of our University, to pay her a sincere and profound tribute.
I confess that in order to launch the cooperation between Babeș-Bolyai University and the University of Bloomington – which led, among other things, to the establishment of the “Oral History Institute” of our university and to the installation of cultural studies programs – I made the trip to the famous university, and the president of Bloomington University put me in touch with the renowned professor Virginia Zeani. I knew from a few records and especially from reading Virginia Zeani’s place in the history of world opera from the fifties-seventies. Meeting her was for me, including as an opera enthusiast, an extraordinary event, which I wrote about at the right time. An invariably beautiful, highly cultured, always eloquent lady made the visit to the villa that bore the traces of the disappearance of her illustrious husband, the bass Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, unforgettable. Today we have the opportunity, this time quite extraordinary, to meet Virginia Zeani here, in Cluj-Napoca, and to remember her.
We have the opportunity to remember the amazing journey of a young woman from Transylvania, who left a village near Reghin, passing through the Faculty of Philosophy in Bucharest, to the singing school in Milan and then going on to the biggest opera stages of the world . On this route, Virginia Zeani gained recognition as the soloist partner of the great tenors and baritones of the era – Benjamino Gigli, Carlo Bergonzi, Nicolai Gedda, Alfredo Kraus, Jan Vickers, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Tito Gobbi, Boris Cristoff, and Giulietta Simionatto , Fedora Barbieri, among the mezzo-sopranos.
We have the opportunity to remember that, in 1952, Tullio Serafin, who, as we well know, was the conductor of Maria Callas, requested Virginia Zeani to replace her in the role of Elvira in the performance of Bellini’s “The Puritans” . The success was huge.
I want to fix here and now also a historical testimony. The other day I called the baritone Nicolae Herlea on the phone, to invite him to today’s event. Being in Munich, the master could not come to be present now, but he told me like this: “you know, my dear, Virginia Zeani, in fact, was the only one who could actually compete with Maria Callas then.” Shouldn’t it be remembered that being in front, in the company of the other contestants, in fact Joan Sutheland or Renata Tebaldi, is more than exceptional?
We have the opportunity to remember Virginia Zeani’s prestigious career as a singing teacher – at the University of Bloomington, then in Florida, on the news Florida Grand Opera Young Artist Program and Palm Beach Opera Young Artist Program. This activity also earned Virginia Zeani, in 2010, the title of “Teacher of the Year”, awarded by “Classical Singer” magazine. In the end, during the teacher’s classes, some of the best opera soloists of the time passed.
We have the opportunity to remember – because we are at a ceremony initiated by one of the faculties of our university, the Faculty of Greek-Catholic Theology – of Virginia Zeani’s steadfast connection with the places, the people, the church from which she rose”.
I said these words at the ceremony, in the introduction. From the words of other occasions, I only add here that Virginia Zeani was not only the soprano and the teacher with all the laurels that one can aspire to in these careers. Always beautiful and of a lively intelligence, of a naturalness and elegance of attitude that will be written about, Virginia Zeani was an up-to-date and formidable discussion partner. You quickly moved with his lordship from addressing issues of current life, including civic and political, to demanding philosophical and theological topics. He was at home in everyone. The discussions with his lordship were impressive. The answer that Virginia Zeani sent after the visit to Babeș-Bolyai University was the same and remained not only in the archives (see no. 22, June 2011, p.41), but also unshakable in the minds of many: “Dear Mr. Professor Andrei Marga, When I got home I have to thank you for the honor you gave me! I feel honored and proud all my life! The meeting in Cluj is unforgettable and the warmth that surrounded us is immeasurable. Please convey my love and gratitude to all the teachers present, as well as the audience. Yours for eternity. Virginia Zeani (June 4, 2011)”.
