Bieshu, Mariia Lukianovna

Bieshu, Mariia Luk’ianovna 

Born May 5, 1934, in the village of Volontarovka, Moldavian SSR. Soviet Moldavian singer. People’s Artist of the USSR (1970).

Bieshu first began singing in amateur groups. In 1961 she graduated from the Kishinev Conservatory. From 1965 to 1967 she went through a probationary period at La Scala Theater in Milan, Italy. In the years 1958–60, Bieshu performed with the Fluerash Moldavian Orchestra of Folk Instruments. Since 1961 she has been a soloist with the Moldavian Theater of Opera and Ballet, where she made her debut in the role of Tosca (in Puccini’s Tosca). She has performed a number of roles in operas by Western, Russian, and Moldavian composers and won first prize at the First International Competition for the Best Performance in the Role of Cio-Cio-San (1967, Japan). Bieshu was a deputy to the seventh and eighth convocations of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. She won the State Prize of the Moldavian SSR in 1968 and has been awarded the Order of the Badge of Honor.