UN AMORE COSI GRANDE – a dream evening with classical music and pop-opera alongside

tenor Ştefan von Korch and soprano Nicoleta Maier

November 10, 2025, 7:00 PM

  National Athenaeum of Iași

The music-loving public is invited to an exceptional concert, in which the romanticism of classical music intertwines with the emotion and brilliance of pop-opera. Under the title "Un Amore Così Grande", the event brings to the forefront Ștefan von Korch (tenor) and Nicoleta Maier (soprano), two remarkable voices of the Romanian lyrical scene, accompanied by the talented pianist Adina Alupei.

The concert offers a spectacular repertoire, which includes famous arias and duets from established operas, but also highly popular pop-opera pieces, in an elegant and emotional atmosphere, perfect for an evening dedicated to love and art.

Tenor Ștefan von Korch, host soloist and artistic coordinator of Musical Extravaganza details: "We will musically explore love, in all the guises in which classical and non-classical music composers have made it known: from the fulfilled love in "The Merry Widow" to the forbidden and desperate love in "Romeo and Juliet", or the romantic and naive love in "Let Me Sing." We will plant in the audience's heart a multitude of states, feelings and emotions, in a concert in which emotion will reach high levels, as always happens in opera performances."

The event promises an intense musical experience, in which the passion of the interpretation will intertwine with the refinement of the repertoire, offering the audience memorable moments.

Sequences traversed by love, passion and the joy of rediscovery will be interpreted by the two soloists, in a program of arias and duets that will make the audience forget about everyday life and get lost in the meshes of love and in the sound universe of famous operas and operettas, but also in the chords of pop opera pieces of absolute romanticism.

Tickets in physical format can be purchased from the Spectacole Iași ticket office at the House of Culture of Students.

About the protagonists

** Ştefan von Korch – Tenor  **

With an exponential evolution, both nationally and internationally, Ştefan von Korch began the year on the stage of the Transylvania State Philharmonic, in Carmina Burana, his "signature" work, continued at the National Opera in Iași in the role of Camille de Jolidon from "The Merry Widow 2.0" directed by Andrei Şerban, but also in the Musical Extravaganza concert series, for which he is the soloist-host and artistic coordinator.

Ştefan von Korch concluded 2024 with notable appearances at the Ion Dacian Operetta and Musical National Theatre, at the Sala Palatului and at the Philharmonic Orchestras in Târgu-Mureş and Timișoara, and during the summer he debuted in Carmina Burana at the Palermo Clasica Festival and in a grandiose concert spectacle in Spain. Also during last year he performed on the stage of the Philharmonic in Târgu-Mureş the vocal-symphonic work Stabat Mater by G. Rossini, considered a demonstration of virtuosity for any tenor, and the work Lobgesang by F. Mendelssohn, was invited to the Opera in Iași, in the sparkling role of Camille de Jolidon, from The Merry Widow 2.0 directed by Andrei Șerban and at the Romanian Opera in Timișoara in the staging of The Merry Widow signed by Mario Di Carlo.

In 2023, the tenor made the hearts of the spectators vibrate with masterful interpretations of the score specific to his voice from Carmina Burana, for which he is considered a benchmark and was the only Romanian soloist in a tour of 27 cities in China. Other landmarks in his career include leading roles in operas and operettas presented on the biggest stages in Romania: "The Barber of Seville", "The Elixir of Love" and "Falstaff" (Bucharest National Opera), "Rigoletto," “Don Pasquale," "The Merry Widow" and "The Merry Widow 2.0" (Iași National Opera), "I Puritani" (national premiere) "Rigoletto" and "The Barber of Seville" (Romanian Opera Cluj-Napoca) and others.

Nicoleta Maier – Soprano

With a refined presence and lyrical qualities that impress the audience, Nicoleta Maier is a soloist at the National Opera in Iași, where she can be applauded in "The Merry Widow 2.0," "The Barber of Seville," "Carmen" and many others. She is a graduate of the bachelor's and master's studies of the "Gheorghe Dima" Music Academy in Cluj-Napoca, also being the beneficiary of the "Lucia Stănescu" scholarship. Subsequently, she continues her improvement within the "Odeio Athenaeum Maria Callas" Conservatory in Athens, in the class of the legendary soprano Marina Krilovici. The debut was on the Cluj opera stage from the first year of her master's degree in the role of Nedda from the opera Pagliacci by R. Leoncavallo, followed by roles such as Mimi from La Boheme, Liu from Turandot, Hanna Glawari from The Merry Widow, etc.
The awards enrich the artistic repertoire, being awarded with the First Prize at the "Sabin Drăgoi" Competition; the "Union of Composers and Musicologists" Prize from Romania at the Romanian Lied Festival; the Melos Prize at the "Vox Artis" International Singing Competition, the Jury Prize at the "Hariclea Darclee" Festival, etc.
She has collaborated with profile institutions from the country and abroad: the Philharmonics from Sibiu, Cluj, Bacău, Botoșani, Iași, the Opera from Nuremberg, Chișinău, the Goldoni Theater - Livorno, the Bucharest Opera, the Cluj Opera, the Hungarian Opera, the Nae Leonard Theater - Galați, the Romanian Athenaeum, etc.

Nicoleta Maier followed intensive vocal studies with the famous soprano Marina Krilovici at the Odeio "Maria Callas" Athenaeum under the care of a devoted professor, university professor Dr. Elena Andries in the master's years at the "Gheorghe Dima" Music Academy in Cluj. Soprano Nicoleta Maier acted as Soprano I at the "Nae Leonard" National Opera and Operetta Theatre from June 2013 to February 2018 in Galați, Romania.

Adina Alupei – pianist

Versatile and dedicated to her art, Adina Alupei works as a rehearsal pianist within the Iași National Opera, is a core collaborator of the "Moldova" Philharmonic, from Iași, both with the orchestra and with the "Gavriil Musicescu" Academic Choir, and throughout her rich professional career she has accompanied renowned artists including mezzo-soprano Viorica Cortez, tenor Giuseppe Pastorello, baritone Alfio Grasso, or mezzo-soprano Lucia Papa.

About the Musical Extravaganza season

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.