Romania’s House of Deputies speaker on a visit to Czech Republic
The speaker of Romania’s lower house in parliament is expected to sign an interparliamentary statement aimed at fighting antisemitism and hate crimes. House of Deputies Speaker Valeriu Zgonea left for Terezin where he wpuld sign an official statement on the matter along with Czech and Israeli counterparts, and delegates from the European Council of Jewish Communities. The event in the Czech Republic is seen as an alarm against terrorism also intended to point out that the atrocities 70 years ago should never happen again, Mr. Zgonea told reporters while at the airport on Monday. Terezin, also known as Theresienstadt, was the site of a Nazi concentration camp during the WWII. Tens of thousands of Jews died there. A so-called Terezin Declaration was initially signed in 2009 by prime ministers of more than 40 countries.
Raids in Harghita county
Anticorruption prosecutors in the Romanian central county of Harghita raided a number of homes, institutions and trading companies on Monday as part of a larger investigation concerning corruption-related crimes. Sources say suspects also include Jánós Mezey, mayor of the town of Gheorghieni. Officers of Romania’s Intelligence Service and special brigades of the country’s Geandarmerie provided support for the operation.
Bellini’s „Norma” in the Romanian Radio „Opera in Concert” series
„Norma”, the famous opera by Italian composer Vincenzo Bellini, is to be performed at the Radio Concert Hall in the capital Bucharest on Friday, January 30. Seen as a notable example of the Italian bel canto, „Norma” was brought to renewed fame in the 20th century by the widely-acclaimed soprano Maria Callas. In the Bucharest performance it is the Romanian-born Swiss soprano Elena Moşuc who will sing in the title role. Other opera singers in the performance include Teodor Ilincăi, Iulia Merca, Emanuela Pascu, and Nicolae Simonov. Tiberiu Soare is expected to conduct the Radio National Orchestra while the Radio Academic Choir is conducted by Dan Mihai Goia. Ms. Moşuc began a career as international opera singer in Zurich, Switzerland, before appearing in the title roles of Norma and Maria Stuarda at Zurich and Staatsoper Berlin. Other Ms. Moşuc’s performances include Violetta in Verdi’s „La Traviata” at la Scala in Milan and Arene di Verona, the title role in Donizetti’s „Lucia di Lammermoor”, Gilda in „Rigoletto” at Wiener Staatsoper and again la Scala in Milan, etc.
The „Norma in Concert” performance follows other opera titles such as Ravel’s „Spanish Hour”, and Richard Strauss’ „Ariadna of Naxos”.
