"SOUS LE CIEL DE PARIS" – French National Day concert with tenor ŞTEFAN von KORCH and soprano OANA MARIA ŞERBAN on July 12 at Dalles Hall

Near the French National Day, the host tenor Ştefan von Korch and the guest soprano Oana Maria Şerban celebrate the musical richness of Voltaire's country, through a special musical program, entirely dedicated to selections from works in French. The ample harmonies of classical operas and the nostalgic chords of chansons intertwine in the concert "Sous le ciel de Paris" in a special musical program, performed entirely in Voltaire's language, as vibrant as a day in the heart of France.

Tenor Ştefan von Korch, soloist, host and artistic coordinator of Musical Extravaganza details: «Music is the soul of Paris. From the vibrant chords of a violinist on the Pont des Arts to the great concert halls, where the delicate sounds of classical music intertwine with the echoes of immortal operas, every corner of the city resonates with art and emotion. And this is the state of grace that we will musically recreate in the concert "Sous le ciel de Paris"»

From seductive classical chords, like a walk under the moonlight on the quays of the Seine, to fiery chansons that complete the bohemian atmosphere of Parisian cafes, or famous duets that were sung on the grand stage of the Paris Opera, the event will be more than a concert, it will be a state of mind, inspired by the refined and passionate French lyrical repertoire, but also by the romantic and colorful horizon of chansons.

About the protagonists

 About  ** Ştefan von Korch – Tenor, host soloist  **

Tenor Ştefan von Korch is monthly appreciated by the public as the host soloist and artistic coordinator of the Musical Extravaganza season, a pioneering cultural project carried out in the capital, with extensions on the stages of Braşov, Piteşti, Sibiu and Craiova. 

With a dynamic presence in national and international cultural life, Ştefan von Korch will be present in February on the stage of the Iași National Opera in "The Merry Widow 2.0," directed by Andrei Şerban.

In 2025 he was the only Romanian soloist in the traditional "Los Tres Tenores" concerts in Central America, alongside soloists from Spain and Honduras, he debuted at the Romanian Athenaeum in "Concert at the Imperial Court," opened the Arad Philharmonic season with "Carmina Burana", his "signature" work, in which he also began the year on the stage of the Transylvania State Philharmonic.

He is the unmistakable voice for the tenor line in Carmina Burana – a passage at the limit of the male voice's capabilities, through whose interpretation he navigates with overflowing ease. Thanks to the manner of interpreting this work, he was invited to over 40 performances of Carmina Burana, in the Philharmonic Orchestras and Cultural Institutions in the country, but also abroad, in 2024 he was honored to open the Palermo Classica Festival in this work, with an acclaimed appearance in the press in the peninsula and in Romania alike.

 His name is also linked to over 15 performances at the Bucharest National Opera, where he was invited over time in "The Barber of Seville," "The Elixir of Love" and "Falstaff," but also to the national premiere of the opera "I Puritani," by Vicenzo Belinni, one of the highest scores written for male voices.

The year 2024 ended with notable appearances at the Ion Dacian National Operetta and Musical Theatre, at the Sala Palatului and at the Philharmonic Orchestras of Târgu-Mureș and Timișoara. 

 In 2023, he was the only Romanian soloist in the China Tour 2023, alongside the Reino de Aragon Orchestra from Spain.

 He delighted the audience with his voice in 3 national premieres: "I Puritani" and "La Sonnambula," both by Vicenzo Bellini, the vocal-symphonic work "Messa di Gloria" by Rossini, but also in the European premiere of "Traiano in Dacia."

 Over time, she has interpreted the roles specific to her voice from the very well-known operas: "Rigoletto", "The Barber of Seville", "The Elixir of Love", "Don Pasquale", on the stages of the Operas in Bucharest, Cluj and Iași and is a constant presence on the stages of national philharmonics, Mozart's "Requiem", Bach's "Christmas Oratorio" and Mendelssohn's "Longesangt".

Internationally, she has performed at the Metropolitan Concert Hall Tokyo, Zhuhai Opera House, Nanjing Poly Grand Theatre and Chongqing Grand Theatre, Opera Kaiserslautern Germany, Teatro Verdi Padua Italy, Zurich Academy of Music Concert Hall, National Theatre Bratislava.

Oana Maria Şerban – ** Soprano **

With a warm smile and a voice that combines sensitivity with strength, Oana Șerban conquers stages in the country and abroad. Her unique timbre has the power to transform each song into a story and each note into an emotion. From the energy of opera roles, to the delicacy of pop-opera and the joy of musicals, Oana experiences each appearance on stage as a meeting with her beloved audience.

In 2025, soprano Oana Maria Şerban was "Elle" - the only character in "The Beautiful Indifferent" and "The Human Voice," on the stage of the "Ion Dacian" National Operetta and Musical Theatre, she played the character Miss Honey in "Matilda," the musical of the Comic Opera for Children awarded at the UNITER Gala and debuted in the role of Rosina from "The Barber of Seville" by Rossini, a production of the National Opera of Bucharest.

 In 2024 the talented coloratura soprano sang in the Gardens of the Palace of Versailles, on the occasion of the opening of the Paris Olympic Games, performed at the Musikverein in Vienna in the role of Dochița from the Operetta "Crai nou", alongside the National Opera of Bucharest and debuted at the National Opera of Bucharest in 2023 in the roles of Olympia from the opera The Tales of Hoffmann, by J.Offenbach, Gilda from the opera Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi, and Susanna, from the opera The Marriage of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

She is the favorite heroine of the little ones in memorable roles on the stage of the Comic Opera for children, where she was, among others, Rosina from the opera The Barber of Seville, Clorinda from the opera Cinderella, both by Gioachino Rossini, Norina from the opera Don Pasquale and Adina, from the opera The Elixir of Love, by Gaetano Donizetti.

About the Musical Extravaganza season

The concerts aim to offer the public the joy of meeting representative names of the lyrical scene, in a more intimate setting, which offers a different perspective on the artistic act compared to that of the imposing opera stage, but also to bring the classical genre closer to audiences of all ages.  Spectators are invited to admire their favorite soloists in a select atmosphere, complemented by a chamber accompaniment, which highlights the performers in a warm and personal light.

The first two Musical Extravaganza seasons, conducted under the artistic guidance of tenor Ştefan von Korch, included over 20 successful concerts, in which they delighted the audience, together with the host soloist: soprano Cristina Maria Oltean, soprano Daniela Bucşan and Oana Maria Şerban, baritones Adrian Mărcan, Lucian Petrean and Fang Shuang, pianist Alexandru Burcă, accordionist Emy Drăgoi, pianist Bogdana Cocîrlea, and the Pitești Philharmonic Orchestra – the most avant-garde in the country.