TANGO MEETS OPERA
Opera Brasov
October 20, 2026 at 7:00 PM
TANGO MEETS OPERA (Argentine Tango Gala) arrives for the first time at the Brasov Opera on October 20, 2026, starting at 7:00 PM.
The premiere of this show took place in Cluj-Napoca on the International Argentine Tango Day, in the presence of the Ambassador of the Argentine Republic in Romania, and it was a resounding success.
An original and delightful concept at the same time, which features the well-known international star tenor HECTOR LOPEZ MENDOZA! 🔥🔥🔥
A sensitive, powerful, and refined voice, the tenor of South American origin, a connoisseur of Argentine tango music, invites you to listen to the most beautiful works of the genre, a tribute to Argentine tango music in all its splendor.
In the orchestra's repertoire, you will find the famous tangos that have seduced entire generations, a tour de force through the most beautiful works of the golden age and up to the mysterious tango nuevo of Astor Piazzolla.
Our show is in partnership with the Romanian National Opera from Cluj-Napoca and supported by the Embassy of the Republic of Argentina in Romania and the Republic of Moldova.
"Cluj Tango Orchestra" is composed of professional Romanian musicians, members of the National Opera of Cluj-Napoca, the Hungarian Opera, the "Sigismund Todută" College of Music, and the "Ghe. Dima" National Music Academy.
Already well-known to the Romanian public, Cluj Tango Orchestra is already a benchmark for the musical genre with over 270 shows staged throughout the country.
GALA SOLOIST:
HECTOR LOPEZ MENDOZA – tenor (Romanian National Opera Cluj-Napoca)
He began his studies at the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City, where he studied cello, saxophone, conducting, and voice (under the guidance of vocal professors Francisco Araiza and Irma Gonzalez). He received a scholarship from SIVAM (International Society for Mexican Artistic Values), which offered him the opportunity to study with masters such as Renata Scotto, Enrique Patrón, Teresa Rodriguez, Nico Castel, Denise Massé, and Joan Dornemann. He has sung in Mexico, the United States, Spain, Italy, and other countries with conductors such as Plácido Domingo, Enrique Patrón, Alfredo Silipigni, Enrique Ricci, Cristian Mandeal, and Christian Badea.
In 2003, he won the Carlo Morelli International Singing Competition, obtaining a scholarship for the Portland Opera Performance Institute, where he worked with Tito Capobianco, Justino Díaz, Shirley Verret, Daniel Orlando, and David Lofton, among others.
His teachers at the Accademia alla Scala in Milan included Dante Mazzola, Enza Ferrari, Umberto Finazzi, and Marco Gandini.
In 2004, at the invitation of the renowned Romanian tenor Ludovic Spiess, he began working at the Bucharest National Opera, where he has been invited ever since and debuted in Europe in "La Traviata".
He was also a regular guest at the Chisinau National Opera of Moldova, at Opera na Zamku (in Szczecin, Poland), at the Bucharest Radio Orchestra, at the George Enescu Philharmonic, and elsewhere. In addition to his studies with Spiess in Bucharest, he also studied with Cornel Stavru, another great Romanian tenor, and participated in masterclasses with Viorica Cortez, Ion Piso, Ionel Pantea, Eduard Tumagian, Nelly Miricioiu, Kaludi Kaludov, and Sorina Munteanu.
CLUJ TANGO ORCHESTRA 🎼🎵🎼🎹🎻🪗
IRINA INDREI – piano (Sigismund Toduță Music College and Cluj-Napoca Hungarian Opera)
A graduate of the National Music Academy in Cluj-Napoca, with a diverse stage career, a lover of tango music and passionate about the works of Astor Piazzolla, Irina is the harmonic and rhythmic "engine" of the orchestra. She is a complete instrumentalist, with extensive stage experience, currently being a tenured professor at the "S. Toduță" College of Music, piano department, and a repetiteur pianist at the Hungarian Opera Cluj-Napoca, also a doctoral student at the "Gheorghe Dima" Music Academy in the specialization of Argentinian Tango Music.
Piano arrangements – Julian Agustin Caeiro (arranger for the Filarmonica del Tango BsAs), Iulia Merca (Romanian National Opera Cluj-Napoca and Wim Wurman (Tango Department of Rotterdam-Netherlands).
SORIN ROBERT INDREI – bandoneon
A graduate of the Faculty of Music in Bucharest, founding member of the "Cluj Tango Orchestra" Association, Robert is the first Romanian to play the bandoneon in an orchestra. He constantly specializes in the art of the bandoneon, being a student of Professor Yvonne Hahn – France and Master Adelin Pais – Argentina, having a beautiful evolution in recent years on the stages of Argentinian tango festivals in Romania. For over 6 years, he has been the musician responsible for the orchestra's management, with an impressive number of over 270 concerts staged throughout the country.
Plays on the instrument specially built in Argentina by master Taller Galvan (Buenos Aires).
EMANUEL ELCEAN – double bass (Cluj-Napoca Music Academy)
With a master's degree in double bass from the National Music Academy "Ghe. Dima" in Cluj-Napoca, he has been a regular on stages and in concert halls since high school. With a beautiful and precise technique, he fulfills the harmonic support of the orchestra. He says he wouldn't see his life any other way than with his double bass.
A collaborator of internationally renowned Philharmonics such as "Transilvania State Philharmonic", "State Philharmonic Sibiu", "Brasov Philharmonic", or "Târgu Mureș State Philharmonic", Emanuel is a cornerstone of our tango orchestra. He is also part of the Royal Youth Orchestra.
He performs with it in China and Japan.
ADRIAN LUP – cello (Sigismund Toduță Music College – Cluj Napoca)
Began instrument studies at the age of 9. Graduated from the "Sigismund Toduță" High School of Music in Cluj-Napoca, as well as university and master's studies at the "Gheorghe Dima" National Music Academy in Cluj-Napoca. During his artistic training, he studied with professors such as Gabriel Rîpă and Maria Mărginean, while also benefiting from the artistic guidance of cellist Octavian Lup. He participated in numerous masterclasses held by renowned cellists, including Marin Cazacu.
His artistic activity includes collaborations with orchestras such as the New Hope Orchestra and the Young Famous Orchestra, as well as a two-year collaboration with the Satu Mare State Philharmonic. He is a laureate of several national and international competitions and a participant in specialized olympiads. He currently works as a cello teacher at the "Sigismund Toduță" High School of Music in Cluj-Napoca.
MILENA VĂDAN – Violin (Cluj-Napoca Music Academy)
A graduate of the "Gh. Dima" Music Academy in Cluj-Napoca, she is a lover of tango music, having delved into this musical genre in recent years, and leaving her own mark within the Cluj Tango Orchestra. Daughter of a luthier, she became acquainted with music from a young age, having three other siblings, all musicians. Milena says about herself that she makes music from the heart every time she goes on stage.
Also performs within the Royal Youth Orchestra, with stage appearances in China and France.
SARA VĂDAN - violin (Sigismund Toduță Music College, Cluj
Despite her young age, her artistic activity includes appearances as a soloist, chamber recitals, and participation in orchestral projects, being concertmaster of the Symphony Orchestra of the "Sigismund Toduță" Music College and a member of the Royal Youth Orchestra of the Transilvania State Philharmonic, as well as the Junior Orchestra within the Romanian Youth project.
She has performed concerts and recitals in numerous artistic projects and festivals, including concerts at the Konzerthaus Berlin alongside the YMTE Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Sebastian Weigle, appearances with the SoNoRo Musikland String Orchestra conducted by Diana Ketler, recitals within the SoNoRo Interferențe program, as well as concerts as a soloist alongside the Cluj Chamber Orchestra and the Symphony Orchestra of the "Sigismund Toduță" Music College. She also participated in the Mozart Festival, the Young Famous Orchestra project, and recitals within the IconArts masterclass in Brașov.
She is a laureate of numerous national and international competitions, including the International Competition „Città di Massa”, the National Competition „Lira de Aur”, the „Timotei Popovici”, „Do-Mi-Sol”, „Viva la Musica”, „Șansă Egală”, „Tinere Talente”, „Ada Ulubeanu” competitions, and the international competition „Master of Strings”. Within the National Instrumental Performance Olympiad, she obtained the 1st Prize at the county level and the 3rd Prize at the national level in 2024, and in 2025, the 1st Prize at the county level and an Honorable Mention at the national level. She was awarded the SoNoRo Interferențe Scholarship (2025) and is the winner of the excellence gala „10 pentru Cluj” in the Individual Arts category.
Professional Argentine tango dancers of national and international level will take the stage.
This show is organized by the Cluj Tango Orchestra Association in partnership with Spectacole Brasov, the Romanian National Opera Cluj-Napoca, and under the auspices of the Embassy of the Argentine Republic in Romania.
