Barbu Ștefănescu Delavrancea

Barbu Ştefănescu Delavrancea (Romanian pronunciation: [ˈbarbu ʃtefəˈnesku delaˈvrant͡ʃe̯a]; pen name of Barbu Ștefan; April 11, 1858 in Bucharest – April 29, 1918 in Iași) was a Romanian writer and poet, considered one of the greatest figures in the National awakening of Romania.

Early life and studies

Barbu Ștefănescu Delavrancea was born on April 11, 1858 in the village of Delea Nouă, now a suburb of Bucharest. He was the ninth child of Ștefan Tudorică Albu and Iana (Ioana). His father originates in Vrancea. Assigned to Sohatu, Ilfov, he leaves Vrancea for Bucharest and becomes guildmaster of carters transporting grain from the scaffolds of Giurgiu and Oltenița. Barbu's mother was the daughter of widow Stana from Postovari, on the Filipescu estate.

He spent the first years of life with his father, then learned to read and write with deacon Ion Pestreanu from St. George the New Church. In 1866, Barbu is enrolled in the School of boys no. 4 directly in the second grade. Educator Spirache Dănilescu add the father's surname suffix "-escu", and thus the future writer bears the name Barbu Ștefănescu. In 1867 he transfers to the Royal School, where will follow the third and fourth classes. He follows high school at Gheorghe Lazăr, first class, and the other seven at St. Sava. In 1878 is enrolled in the Faculty of Law in Bucharest. After sustaining license (1882) goes to specialization in Paris, but fails to get his doctorate.

Cella Delavrancea

Cella Delavrancea (December 15, 1887 – August 9, 1991) was a Romanian pianist, writer and teacher of piano, eldest daughter of writer Barbu Ștefănescu Delavrancea, sister of architect Henrieta Delavrancea-Gibory, Niculina Delavrancea and "Bebs" Delavrancea, member of the circle of Eugen Lovinescu. She was married to diplomat Viorel Tilea during World War I (divorced), to Aristide Blank (divorced), to Philippe Lahovary, and was one of the intimate friends of Queen Marie of Romania. She's also known for her romantic relationship with Nae Ionescu, Romanian logician and politician, spiritual mentor of "Eliade generation".

Biography

Daughter of writer Barbu Ștefănescu Delavrancea and Maria Lupașcu, she studied piano first with his mother, then at the Conservatory of Bucharest and Paris. She was considered by Ion Luca Caragiale, after hearing her singing a waltz by Chopin, at 14 years old, in Vienna, "a wonder child, Cella Delavrancea, who tames a wild monster: the Art". She was deeply influenced by family, as she said herself, "I was raised in an atmosphere in which they spoke only of literature, art and music". She concerts throughout Europe alongside great artists, often in duet with George Enescu. Between 1950 and 1954 she worked as a teacher at the School of Music in Bucharest, and since 1954, at the Conservatory, where she launched a series of famous pianists as Nicolae Licăreț, Dan Grigore or Radu Lupu.