Mourning in Romanian music: maestro Aurelian-Octav Popa died, composer and conductor pursued by the Securitate and admired by Sergiu Celibidache
The clarinetist, composer and conductor Aurelian-Octav Popa, one of the emblematic figures of contemporary Romanian music, died at the age of 88.
Aurelian-Octav Popa passed away at the age of 88. PHOTO: KILL
The clarinetist, composer and conductor Aurelian-Octav Popa passed away at the age of 88, the news was announced by the Romanian Musicians' Performing Creation Union (UCIMR).
“The Romanian Musicians' Performing Creation Union regrets the passing away of the eminent artist Aurelian-Octav Popa, a prominent personality of Romanian musical life, clarinetist, composer and conductor. (…) UCIMR sends its sincere condolences to the family, colleagues, disciples and all those who knew and admired him. May God rest him in peace!”, conveyed the UCIMR in a message published on Facebook, marking the loss of one of the most important personalities of Romanian classical music in recent decades.
Throughout an impressive career, Aurelian-Octav Popa was instrumental soloist of the “George Enescu” Philharmonic, conductor of the “Marea Neagră” Philharmonic from Constanta and one of the most appreciated Romanian performers of the modern and contemporary clarinet repertoire.
The artist won numerous international awards at competitions and festivals held in Prague, Budapest, Birmingham, Utrecht and Geneva, contributing decisively to the affirmation of the Romanian school of interpretation on the world's big stages. Through his artistic rigor and generosity, he influenced entire generations of musicians and remained a benchmark for Romanian clarinetists.
His death caused numerous reactions in the cultural environment. The TV producer and writer Marilena Rotaru evoked him as “a warm, excessively modest man, with a vast culture”, recalling the collaborations they had for two decades.
“The clarinetist and conductor Aurelian Octav Popa rose to stardom. For 20 years he was a constant presence in my music and poetry shows and performances. I owe him the interview with Celibidache. He took me to the master and his recommendation mattered to Celibidache. “Do you know who brought you to me? This man is the greatest of all wind players in this world. Clarinetists, flutists… It's over Jean Pierre Rampal, the flutist, who was the greatest until I heard him…»”, wrote Marilena Rotaru on the same social network.
She also recalled the numerous shows performed together at the Romanian Athenaeum, as well as the meeting in the summer of 2000, in Los Angeles, when Aurelian-Octav Popa participated, along with Ion Caramitru, Valeria Seciu and Ovidiu Iuliu Moldovan, in a show dedicated to Mihai Eminescu for the Romanian community in the United States.
“Now the poster of that show is in Heaven,” the TV producer also wrote.
Marilena Rotaru also spoke about the artist's discretion, about his refusal to turn his performances into a reason for self-promotion and about the way he looked at music and life.
The parental home of conductor Sergiu Celibidache, on the road to rehabilitation. The great musician was born in Roman
“I used to argue with him when I presented him in shows with his track record. “Don't say so much, if you know who I am and why we are here together, that's enough… I'm Aurelian-Octav, the rest is music…” You only met him in the artistic space of the elites. “False notes are not only in music…”, he said. “The tuning must be done in all areas of life.” Thank you, Master Aurelian-Octav, for all the moments of deep learning and great music!”, sent this.
The historian and political scientist Stejărel Olaru also mourned the disappearance of the musician, recalling the meeting he had with him last summer.
“The clarinetist, composer and conductor Aurelian-Octav Popa has passed away. He played the clarinet like no other, with impeccable technique and such rich expressiveness that it is said that he turned the clarinet into a symphonic instrument, expressing all kinds of emotions, from delicate lyricism to intense drama”. wrote Olaru, also recalling the special relationship between Aurelian-Octav Popa and the great conductor Sergiu Celibidache.
“Among the Romanian musicians, Sergiu Celibidache loved and appreciated him the most, even if the two – equally stubborn and proud – sometimes quarreled”, noted the historian.
Stejărel Olaru also related the episode of his meeting with the artist, describing him as a man full of humor and deeply attached to his instrument.
“I met him in the summer of 2024, introduced by Paul Cozighian to the Popa couple, who happily welcomed me into their home. Master Popa, then about 87 years old, was into jokes and didn't let go of the clarinet. Paul was inspired to film a few minutes.
May your dust be light, Master!”, he wrote.
In his message, the historian also referred to the period when the artist was pursued by the Security, after a tour held in Greece, in the 70s.
“The security took him into their sights in March 1974, after Aurelian-Octav Popa complained to some Greek musicians in Athens, during a tour, that “in Romania, great artists are deprived of the opportunity to realize themselves to the extent of their talent”. And so began the informative pursuit”. Olaru explained.
According to him, the artist was suspected of trying to stay abroad, and even the Security documents recognized his exceptional value.
“Even the Securitatea described him, in its reports, as “the most talented Romanian instrumentalist, the best clarinetist at this time in the country and even in Europe”, affirming that “if the prestigious situation he won among musicians and the Romanian public, as well as abroad, is not resolved, he cannot give total guarantees that he could never be determined to settle abroad”. also transmitted the history.
With the disappearance of Aurelian-Octav Popa, Romanian music loses not only an exceptional performer, but also an artist who decisively influenced the international prestige of the Romanian clarinet school.
