MILAN IS MEMORY. THE MEMORY OF HARICLEA DARCLÉE, THE FIRST MAGNIFICENT TOSCA

Milan remembers Hariclea Darclée with a plaque in via Cernaia

  • place

    Via Cernaia, 2 - 20121 Milan MI

  • date
    17 Oct 2023
  • clockwise
    11:30
Milan remembers Hariclea Darclée with a plaque in via Cernaia

MILAN IS MEMORY. THE MEMORY OF HARICLEA DARCLÉE, THE FIRST MAGNIFICENT TOSCA
The city of Milan and the Romanian community together in memory of the soprano Hariclea Darclee.
On Tuesday 17 October, at 11 am, in via Cernaia 30, a commemorative plaque dedicated to the famous opera singer of Romanian origin was unveiled at the Milanese residence where she lived from 2 to 1890.

Upon proposal of Italian-Romanian Cultural Center, as part of the project "Milan is Memory", the municipal administration has decided to dedicate a visible sign to Hariclea Darclée, who for three decades was considered the most prestigious Primadonna of the world's opera theatre, the first ever performer of the opera “Tosca” by Giacomo Puccini.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the City of Milan,Embassy of Romania and Department of Romanians Abroad - Romanian Government, Bucharest.

The text of the plaque contains these words:

The house stood here
in which he lived
between 1890 and 1910
Hariclea Darclee
(Brăila 1860 - Bucharest 1939)
Soprano who sang at the Teatro alla Scala from 1890
“the brilliant artist, my first and splendid Tosca”
(Giacomo Puccini)
In collaboration with the Italian - Romanian Cultural Center 

After the ceremony, the event dedicated to the soprano continued at Palazzo Moriggia, in via Borgonuovo 23, with institutional greetings from Diana DeMarchi, city councilor and President of the Equal Opportunities Commission; Sandra Pralong advisor and head of the Department for Romanians Abroad, Administration of the Presidency of the Republic; Gabriela Dancău, Ambassador of Romania to Italy.
Following are the messages from foundations and musical institutions with: Luigi Viani, President of the Giacomo Puccini Foundation of Lucca; Maestro Adriano Bassi, President of the Dante Alighieri Society, Milan section; Maria Pia Ferraris, Ricordi Historical Archive of Milan; Chiara Renino, Director of Casa Musicale Sonzogno Milan,

Following the presentation of the book: “Hariclea Darclee. The Diva who enchanted artists and audiences. About her Her international fame and her love for Milan” (Rediviva editions). Speeches by: Vittoria Licari, musicologist and Ida Garzonio, Vice President, Nuova Polifonica Ambrosiana Choir of Milan.
The event was closed by an opera concert with the participation of: Rodica Vică soprano, Sinziana Mircea; piano and Mariana Preda, pan flute. Moderator of the meeting: Ioana Hadarig, musicologist.