Istrati Anastasia

About

Anastasia Istrati was born on November 23, 1942, in the village of Sireți, Strășeni district, and became one of the most appreciated performers of folk music in the Republic of Moldova. After graduating from the Slobozia Music School between 1959 and 1963, where she studied choir conducting under the guidance of Professor Petre Stroiu, she began her artistic career in the Doina choir of the Chisinau Philharmonic. Her distinct voice and magnetic stage presence attracted the attention of specialists and the public from the very first years of her activity. Her artistic career culminated in the period 1966-1977, when she was a soloist in prestigious folk music orchestras: Mugurel (1966-1974) and Fluieraș (1974-1977). In 1967, director Emil Loteanu chose her as the protagonist for the musical film Frescoes in White, which consolidated her status as a star of Moldovan folk music. Alongside the Mugurel orchestra, Anastasia Istrati undertook numerous international tours in cities such as Budapest, Berlin, Madrid, and Brussels, and was applauded in several republics of the former Soviet Union. Some of her songs recorded at Radio Moldova, such as "Neicuță, să nu mă uiți," "Mie-n roșu-mi șade bine," and "Hai, poftim la mese mari," are documented at [radiomoldova.md](https://radiomoldova.md/p/28565). Her talent was recognized through numerous awards and distinctions throughout her life. She was awarded the First Prize at a Folk Music Festival in Moscow, and in 2010, the President of the Republic of Moldova, Mihai Ghimpu, conferred upon her the honorary title of Master of Arts. Although her artistic career was meteoric but short, going through a quieter period after the dissolution of the Mugurel orchestra in 1974, and then continuing to work at the Chisinau National Opera and Ballet Theatre, Anastasia Istrati left a lasting musical legacy. She passed away on September 26, 2016, and was buried in her native village of Sireți.