The Romanian National Opera House in Iasi is joining the European circuit of lyric institutions through affiliation with Opera Europa, an international organisation bringing together around 250 theatres worldwide, the institution's manager, Andrei Fermesanu, said earlier this week.

According to him, affiliation with Opera Europa gives the Iasi Opera access to thematic conferences, training sessions and exchanges of best practices, including in the field of innovative stage design solutions.

'Opera Europa is an international forum bringing together 250 theatres, from category A to category D - a European tradition in the world of opera. At last, the Romanian National Opera House in Iasi aligns itself with this network of lyric theatres that facilitates institutional cooperation, international co-productions, exchanges of experience and access to training programmes,' Fermesanu told AGERPRES.

He noted that one of the most important benefits is the possibility of developing co-productions among several lyric theatres in Romania and abroad, and cited as examples potential joint projects with the Bucharest National Opera, similar institutions in Prague, or Teatro di San Carlo in Naples.

'All of Europe is facing financial contraction, so solutions must be found. (...) Four or five institutions can contribute financially to producing a show, which is then staged, in turn, at the partner theatres, according to a jointly agreed calendar. I am thinking primarily of co-production. The fact that four institutions contribute funds to an opera production is extraordinary and also a guarantee of quality. Because the San Carlo Opera House, for instance, would never stage a production that is not at a certain level - otherwise it would lose its audience. Therefore, what you can see in Europe will inevitably also be presented at the Iasi Opera House,' Fermesanu said.

According to him, the first meeting in which the Iasi Opera will participate under the new partnership is scheduled for November, in Brno, Czech Republic.

'It will be a debut moment for us, so we will see how matters are addressed in these councils. (...) The exchange of experience is essential for an institution with 70 years of existence, given that some of the theatres the Iasi Opera will interact with have traditions spanning several centuries. Before embarking on new paths, we want to draw from the experience of those who are successful, internationally validated and who essentially set the standard in opera practice worldwide,' the manager added.

In his view, affiliation with Opera Europa may also facilitate young artists's access to training programmes, internships and projects developed by member institutions.

'A young artist from the Iasi Opera House, whether collaborator or employee, can benefit, thanks to these partnerships, from musical training within a studio operating alongside European opera houses,' Fermesanu explained. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniela Malache; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)