This Romanian tenor, born in Kostanza (1935) debut at age 21; then quickly graced opera stages around the world with a solid and very exciting spinto voice. His international breakthrough as a voice to be reckoned with came 1972, as Edgardo in Hamburg. This performance prompted him to be invited to Munich, Berlin, Vienna, Chicago, London, Zurich, Monte Carlo, Rome, Dresden, and the MET. He sang the thankless role of Don Carlo, opposite Renata Scotto’s Elisabetta, to immense acclaim.
His repertoire of choice was the Italian fach: Turridu, the Duke, Alfredo, Rodolfo, des Grieux, Calaf, Cavaradossi, et al.
His recorded aural posterity is scarce; two recital LPs were once available from Intercord, released in 1976 and 1978 respectively. We fortunately also have a terrific Cavalleria of his:
DG has recently re-relased MET performances of his Gabriele (Simon Boccanegra) and Luigi (Il Tabarro). Here he is with Renata Scotto, singing “Folle di Gelosia”:
He’s definitely another one of those singers, of which can safely be said that today (keep in mind, he sang alongside Domingo, Pavarotti, and Carreras), he would be a superstar. Incidentally, Moldoveanu, is also the name of the tallest peak in Romania, amid the Făgăraş Mountains.
It is a disgraceful shame that neither in Romania he is not very well known. Just saw his Simon and some videos on YouTube, Moldoveanu was resembling somehow with Franco Corelli, isn’t he?
yes, I suppose the mettle of his voice was corelli-like
like Corelli, he was not always polished, and did not always follow the composers intentions, but the sheer involvement and passion eschewed by his vocals are undeniable