Rodica Sutzu facts for kids

Rodica Lucia Sutzu (born April 15, 1913 – died May 8, 1979) was a talented Romanian composer and pianist. She learned music from famous teachers like Nadia Boulanger. For almost 20 years, she was the main piano player for the Romanian Radio.

Who Was Rodica Sutzu?

Rodica Sutzu was born in Iași, a city in Romania. Her mother, Elena Jules Cazaban, came from a family of artists and musicians. This included the composer Mansi Barberis. Rodica's father, Rudolf Sutzu, was a writer for newspapers and magazines. He was also from an old, important family called the Soutzos family.

Rodica later married Radu Diamandi Demetrescu. He worked for a high-ranking government official in Romania.

Her Musical Training

Rodica Sutzu studied music at two important schools. She went to the Iasi Conservatory in Romania. She also studied at the Ecole Normale in Paris, France.

She had many excellent teachers who helped her become a great musician. Some of her teachers included Diran Alexanian, Nadia Boulanger, Alfred Cortot, George Dandelot, and Lazare Levy.

A Career in Music

Rodica Sutzu was the main piano soloist for the Romanian Radio from 1937 to 1955. This means she played the piano for radio broadcasts. She performed with famous musicians like George Enesco and Theodor Lupu. She also played as a soloist with big orchestras.

In 1959, she became a piano professor at the George Enesco Music School. She also taught at the Bucharest Pedagogic Institute until 1968.

Rodica Sutzu received awards for her musical talents. She won the George Enesco Composition Prize in 1933. In 1953, she was given the Workers’ Medal.

Rodica Sutzu's Compositions

Rodica Sutzu wrote many different kinds of music. Here are some of her works:

Chamber Music

Chamber music is written for a small group of instruments.

• Piece, opus 4 (for cello and piano)
• Prelude, opus 28 (for oboe and piano)

Piano Music

These pieces were written for the piano.

• Ballad in c minor
• Concert Waltz (for two pianos)
• Etude, opus 12
• Five Miniatures, opus 27
• Five Pieces
• Obsession, opus 1
• Perpetuum Mobile, opus 11
• Rondo, opus 13
• Sonata in C Major, opus 7
• Suite, opus 25
• Suite for Children
• Three Nocturnes, opus 10
• Toccata, opus 23
• Two Preludes, opus 5
• Virtelnita, opus 21

Music for Theatre

Rodica Sutzu also wrote music for plays and puppet shows.

• Allons y d’un pas Flaneur (a play based on a text by L. Delesco)
• Ghici-ghici (a puppet theatre show based on a text by N. Stroescu)
• Tu Comprendras (a play based on a text by E. Peretz)

Vocal Music

These pieces were written for voices, sometimes with instruments.

• Ballad (for six voices, two pianos, and orchestra)
• Divertisement, opus 22 (for chorus)
• “Five Love Songs” (based on texts by Armenian troubadours)
• “Gazel, opus 15” (based on a text by Mihai Eminescu)
• “Imi Sint Ochii Plini de Soare” (for two voices)
• “Prayer, opus 20”
• “Songs to verses of Eminescu and Otilia Cazimir”
• “Three Miniatures, opus 16” (text by Cazimir)
• “Waltz for Voice and Piano, opus 24”