The Bucharest National Opera today stands as one of Romania’s most powerful cultural symbols. With a history spanning over a century, the institution has undergone numerous transformations, yet it has remained a permanent landmark of artistic excellence—a place where entire generations of musicians, singers, and dancers have brought to life some of the most beautiful pages of the world’s operatic repertoire. Its story is linked not only to the passion of artists but also to the vision of individuals who understood the importance of opera as a tool for public education and refinement. Among them, Minister Octavian Goga and his wife, Veturia, played a decisive role in founding the institution, while its inauguration was honored by the conducting presence of George Enescu, Romania’s greatest musician.

The beginnings of lyrical music in Bucharest

The first attempts to introduce opera to Bucharest date back to the late 18th century, during a period when the city was modernizing and beginning to adopt Western cultural customs. Itinerant Italian, German, and French troupes would stop in the Wallachian capital to perform the era’s most famous works. Their repertoire included pieces by composers such as Vincenzo Bellini, Daniel Auber, and Adolphe Adam.

In 1843, Bucharest took a decisive step toward professionalizing the operatic scene with the opening of its first Italian theater, staging masterpieces like Bellini’s Norma and Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia. While the principal artists were often invited from Milan, students from Bucharest’s Philharmonic School had the opportunity to perform, thus joining a European artistic tradition.

From the second half of the 19th century, alongside foreign troupes, Romanian companies began to emerge, led by figures such as Matei Millo, Costache Caragiale, and N. Luchian. They helped cultivate a domestic audience capable of appreciating the subtleties of great operatic compositions. During this period, Romanian singers also made a name for themselves on European stages—Elena Teodorini, Dimitrie Popovici-Bayreuth, and Rozalia Bodea shone in Paris, London, and Vienna.

Octavian Goga approves the construction of the Romanian Opera

At the beginning of the 20th century, the need for a state institution dedicated to opera became increasingly evident. Bucharest’s lyrical troupe, active since 1855, had consolidated its presence with substantial performances from the Italian, French, and German repertoire. Yet, the absence of a permanent institution and consistent support limited the development of this art form.

Octavian Goga, then Minister of Arts and Cults, understood that Romania needed a national opera house. A poet, publicist, and politician, Goga saw opera as an expression of the country’s cultural identity. His initiative was supported by his wife, Veturia Goga—nicknamed the “Nightingale of Transylvania”—a renowned soprano. The couple succeeded in securing state funding so that Bucharest could finally have a European-class opera house.

Thus, in 1921, the Romanian Opera was officially recognized as a state institution, marking a pivotal moment in Romania’s cultural history.

Inauguration under the baton of George Enescu

The first official performance of the Romanian Opera took place on December 8, 1921. The choice of Richard Wagner’s Lohengrin was deliberate: it was a grand opera suitable for the spectacular inauguration of such an important institution. The production was directed by Adalbert Markowski, while the podium was commanded by none other than George Enescu.

Enescu’s presence added symbolic weight to the event. He was not only Romania’s most important musician but also an internationally renowned figure, lending credibility and prestige to the new institution. For contemporary audiences, the event was not merely an opera performance but a true national celebration.

From temporary theaters to the National Opera building

In its early decades, the Romanian Opera did not have a dedicated building. Performances were held in the halls of other institutions, including the old National Theater. Unfortunately, the theater was destroyed during the 1944 bombings, which intensified the need for a permanent home for the National Opera.

After the war, the communist authorities decided to construct a modern building befitting the institution’s importance. The project was entrusted to architect Octav Doicescu, who designed a monumental yet elegant structure. The new Bucharest National Opera building was inaugurated on January 9, 1954, with Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades.

The main hall accommodates 952 spectators and features a stage of impressive dimensions: 24 meters wide, 20 meters deep, and 30 meters high. Above the audience hangs a massive chandelier with 100 gilded crystal arms, symbolizing artistic refinement. The building’s façade is adorned with four statues of muses, while in front stand statues of George Enescu and a bust of George Stephănescu, composer and conductor regarded as the founder of the Romanian opera school.

Artists and international careers

Over the decades, the stage of the Bucharest National Opera has hosted exceptional artists. During the interwar period, figures such as Maria Cebotari, Viorica Ursuleac, and Dimitrie Onofrei captivated audiences. After 1950, the institution became a true talent incubator, producing distinguished performers like Arta Florescu, Nicolae Secăreanu, and Dinu Bădescu.

Following 1990, the National Opera continued to launch renowned singers. Felicia Filip, considered the “queen of Traviata,” enjoyed a spectacular international career. Other prominent names include Roxana Briban, Mariana Colpos, Ionel Voineag, and Sever Barnea. Romanian artists such as Ruxandra Donose, Elena Moșuc, and Alexandru Agache have also performed on the world’s most prestigious stages, from New York’s Metropolitan Opera to Milan’s La Scala.

The Romanian Opera today—a bastion of culture

Today, the Bucharest National Opera remains one of Romania’s most important cultural centers. Its stage hosts opera, ballet, symphonic concerts, and large-scale events. The repertoire blends classical masterpieces with modern works, and the institution maintains ongoing international collaborations.

The Opera building, with its sober elegance and historic symbols, remains an urban landmark in Bucharest. Yet for audiences, its value lies not only in architecture but in the emotions evoked by each performance. Here, the voices of great soloists meet directorial vision and orchestral excellence to create the unique experience that defines opera.

A monument to cultural identity

The history of the Bucharest National Opera is, in essence, the story of Romania’s efforts to assert its cultural identity on the European stage. From 18th-century itinerant troupes to the 1921 inauguration under Enescu’s baton and the monumental postwar building, it reflects a continuous passion for lyrical art.

Opera is not merely a venue for performances; it is a space where tradition and modernity, past and future, intersect. Built through the vision of Octavian Goga and his wife and consecrated by George Enescu’s artistic gesture, the Bucharest National Opera remains a living monument to the Romanian spirit.