Laura Muncaciu: Music and love in Cagli
by Kim Alba
A great singer can wrench the hearts of her listeners, even when the words are sung in a different language. While singing a French song in the belle époque style, Laura Muncaciu transports listeners from her gorgeous, red living room to a realm of dreams.
Her husband, Alessandro Petrolati, accompanies her on the shiny black piano that dominates the room. A potted green plant spills over the piano, and the balcony looks out over the verdant hills of Acquaviva di Cagli. On one red wall hangs a large, framed portrait of the famous Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini. Opposite Puccini’s portrait, sheet music for Richard Strauss’ opera “Salome” lies on a desk. “Salome” is the opera that Laura is working on. Folders filled with sheet music are stacked in the bookshelves, and some sheets spill out onto the sofa; it is from this pile that Laura chose the aria she is singing, “Si Mes Vers Avaient Des Ailes.”
A native of Romania, Laura originally wanted to become an actress. Her parents wanted her to have options, so she studied classical philology – the study of Greek and Latin – and received her baccalaureate degree. Music became a new pursuit because it was an extension of her desire to become an actress. “I thought (acting was) better with music,” she says. When she was 23 years old, she had her first theater audition. She won a small part in an Italian opera. Laura says she has always tried out for lead roles and has been successful.
“Singing was a surprise for me,” she says. 
She pursued her studies in Italian opera by coming to Italy. She graduated with her degree in music at the Conservatorio Gioachino Rossini in Pesaro. Afterward, she moved to Cagli to study at the Accademia del Teatro Città di Cagli. Laura says it was important for her to come to Italy, especially to Cagli, so she could study bel canto at the academy.
At the time, Puccini was a great favorite of hers, and Laura’s musical debut at the Cagli teatro was in the role of Lauretta in “Gianni Schicchi.” Other roles Laura played include Mimi in Puccini’s “La Boheme,” Gildo in Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” Fidelia in Puccini’s “Edgar,” and Violetta in Verdi’s “La Traviata.” While preparing for “La Boheme,” Laura painted the portrait of Puccini that now hangs in her home.
It was in Cagli, 11 years ago, that Laura met Alessandro, who was studying piano music at the academy. “When he meet me, he started studying opera for accompanying me,” Laura says, smiling at Alessandro. They laugh together, and he agrees with her story. The couple has performed in concert together in Cagli.
“He played with me in a concert,” Laura says, adding her life was forever changed.
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eseguito dall'Orchestra Filarmonica Marchigiana il 14-05-11 a Pesaro presso l'Auditorium "Pedrotti"
Direttore Svetlana Priimak ( http://www.priimak.it )
