The diary of a love

The diary of a love, a theater-dance show inspired by the real story between the composer George Enescu and his beloved princess – Maria Cantacuzino (Maruca)

"Diary of a Love" is a theatre-dance and multimedia show, with music by George Enescu and starring the well-known Romanian actors: Irina Movilă, Gavril Pătru, Armand Calotă, together with the dancers of the Bucharest National Opera. The show is made through the project "Theater Strike at the Opera", a project that aims to promote Romanian artists and Romanian culture, in various artistic formulas.

The show, inspired by the diary of Maria Cantacuzino – Enescu, has as its starting point the real love story between the composer George Enescu and his great love, princess Maria Cantacuzino, a story that the director and choreographer Andreea Tănăsescu brings to life through images and sounds. The artists made a valuable contribution to the realization of the project: Cristina Barbu - set designer, Dana Fries - clothing designer, Vali Chincișan - visual artist, Cătălin Crețu - composer, Armine Vosganian - assistant director, Andreea Vălean - ballerina of the Bucharest National Opera, assistant project choreography, George Pleșca – project choreography assistant, independent choreographer.

A unique production, at the limits of the possible, which combines performance choreography with the theater of bodily expression, in images. The project was created through a new program initiated by the Bucharest National Opera, called "Theater at the Opera", program dedicated to Romanian creative artists.

Synopsis:

The structure of the show revolves around six main characters: Maria Cantacuzino (Maruca), George Enescu, Mr. Ionescu, Mr. Şeitan, Mihai Cantacuzino and Nellie (Maruca's sister). The scenes inspired by real events unfold quickly, the "frames" change almost like in a movie; the text of the performance proposes an x-ray of the souls of these otherwise remarkable personalities, who were before anything else – people. The lines and actions are wrapped around the metaphysical nucleus, constituted by the existence of "D-lui Şeitan" - shadow and alter ego, (the term "sheitan" being a term originating from the Turkish language and meaning: devil, devil). The devil guides, confuses and reduces the options of the characters, forcing them to self-analyze and evaluate themselves, while also evaluating their own world. Mister. Şeitan charges the inconsistency and slippages in love life - Maruca's escape from self, but also the strength of the social world that will sink with the arrival of communism. The only one who notices the degradation and feels the radical change that will follow is Constantin, the son of Maruca, an innocent young man. (The story boils down to the time period between 1890 and 1935).

The show is built like a symbolic journey, starting from the real story: Maria Tescanu Rosetti, future princess Cantacuzino, goes to Florești to meet her promised future husband - Prince Mihai Cantacuzino, but she is betrayed by her own sister who has a blind passion for prince. Faced with the horror and betrayal she experienced, (she finds her own sister in bed with her husband) Maruca transforms from the shy and timid woman into a modern and independent woman, takes revenge and lives under the same roof with her husband only from the eyes of the world. Meanwhile she finds refuge in the arms of other famous men for whom she has devastating passions. Mihai dies in a car accident, and Maruca understands that the freedom she has been looking for can only be found in her own heart. Enescu, the great composer loved him sincerely even though she was unable to be truly loyal to him. Maruca is constantly accompanied by the shadow that sucks her life force, haunts her. Both her freewheels and her shadows are rendered through the choreographic structure.

"The show, inspired by the diary of Princess Maria Cantacuzino - Enescu, is a tribute to love and women. It aims to revive specific pages of history from a new perspective, without pretending to be a documentary, but basically remaining only an artistic achievement - a work of art and like any work of art - a subjective interpretation of history . In this way, I would like to thank the management of the Bucharest National Opera, especially Mr. Daniel Jinga, for the real support given in the realization of this soulful project", Andreea Tănăsescu director, choreographer of the performance and author of the text.