Maria Tănase

Background

Born in the Bucharest suburb of Cărămidarii de Jos, Maria Tănase attended Primary School number 11 from Tăbăcari. Her father, Ion Coanda Tănase, was a master gardener and florist whose nursery employed women from various regions of Romania; they shared traditional folk songs and tales that deeply influenced her. She made her stage debut in Cărămidarii de Jos at the 'Ion Heliade Rădulescu' High School, and in 1934 joined the 'Cărăbuș' Theatre of Constantin Tănase with the help of newspaper writer Sandu Eliad. Her real debut took place on 2 June 1934 under the stage name Mary Atanasiu.

In the fall of 1937 she recorded her first folk songs at the Columbia studio in Bucharest, and her voice was first heard on the radio on 20 February 1938. She represented Romania at the 1939 New York World's Fair. During the first months of the National Legionary State, she was banned from performing and her recordings were destroyed.

During World War II, she sang for injured soldiers alongside George Enescu, George Vraca, and Constantin Tănase. In December 1943, she sang at the Royal Cavalry Regiment's Christmas festivities in the presence of King Michael I, Ion Antonescu, and others. After the war, she performed in various theatres and took parts in plays and films, including 'Ciulinii Bărăganului' (1958).

She also toured extensively, making over forty trips to New York City. In 1952 she was offered a position at the Music School No. 1 in Bucharest, and in 1962 she guided 'Taraful Gorjului' in Târgu Jiu. On 1 May 1963, after a concert in Hunedoara, she canceled her tour due to sickness, and died of cancer on 22 June 1963. She was buried at Bellu Cemetery in Bucharest.