Mansi (Clemensa) Barberis (March 12, 1899–October 11, 1986) was a Romanian violinist, music educator, conductor, and composer.

Life

Clemensa Barberis was born in

Iași Iași ( , , ; also known by other alternative names), also referred to mostly historically as Jassy ( , ), is the second largest city in Romania and the seat of Iași County. Located in the historical region of Moldavia, it has traditionally ...

, the daughter of Giuseppe Barberis and Marguerita Cazaban. She began to improvise on the piano at an early age. When an aunt transcribed one of the pieces, composer George Enescu recommended that Barberis take theory lessons. She studied with Italian professors in Iași and later studied violin, voice, and composition at the George Enescu Conservatory. Barberis graduated from the Conservatory in 1922. She married a physician and had a daughter, which she left with her parents so she could continue her studies in Berlin. She returned to Romania after a year and took professional employment, but later continued her studies in Paris during three sessions, studying voice, conducting, opera, composition and orchestration. In 1936 she also studied voice briefly in Vienna with

Max Reger Johann Baptist Joseph Maximilian Reger (19 March 187311 May 1916) was a German composer, pianist, organist, conductor, and academic teacher. He worked as a concert pianist, as a musical director at the Paulinerkirche, Leipzig, Leipzig University ...

. Her opera were performed at the

Romanian National Opera, Bucharest The Romanian National Opera, Bucharest ( ro, Opera Națională București) is one of the four national opera and ballet companies of Romania. The company is headquartered in Bucharest, near the Cotroceni neighbourhood. History In 1877, Romanian ...

and by the Opera Company of Iași. Her music was also recorded and broadcast on Romanian Television (RTV). She was awarded the

Enescu Prize The Enescu Prize is a prize in music composition founded by Romanian composer George Enescu, awarded from 1913 to 1946, and afterwards by the National University of Music Bucharest. Enescu is regarded by many as Romania's most important musician. W ...

in 1925, 1934, and 1941 and the in 1969.

Works

Barberis' music is strongly influenced by Romanian folk music. She wrote over one hundred art songs, symphonic music, four opera, instrumental music and choral works. Selected compositions include: *''Itinerar dacic'' (1976) to verses by playwright Dominic Stancu *''Destin de poet'' (1981) to verses by

Mihai Eminescu Mihai Eminescu (; born Mihail Eminovici; 15 January 1850 – 15 June 1889) was a Romanian Romantic poet from Moldavia, novelist, and journalist, generally regarded as the most famous and influential Romanian poet. Eminescu was an active membe ...

*''Kera Duducea'' (1963) opera *''Apus de soare'' (Sunset) (1961) opera *''Rondelurile rozelor'' (1982) song cycle to verses by Alexandru Macedonski Barberis published an autobiography, ''Din zori până în amurg'' (From Dawn until Dusk). She died on October 11, 1986 in Bucharest.

References

External links

Catalog of works
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Barberis, Mansi 1899 births 1986 deaths Musicians from Iași 20th-century classical composers Romanian classical composers Romanian music educators Romanian women composers Romanian women classical composers Romanian people of Greek descent Romanian people of Italian descent Romanian women educators Romanian women music educators 20th-century women composers George Enescu National University of Arts alumni Enescu Prize winners Recipients of the Order of Cultural Merit (Romania)