Florin Cezar Ouatu

Florin Cezar Ouatu (Romanian pronunciation: [floˈrin ˈt͡ʃezar oˈwatu]; born 18 February 1980), known professionally as "Cezar The Voice" [Vocea][1] or simply "Cezar", is a Romanian opera countertenor, singer, and pianist.[2][3]

Cezar
Cezar at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013, in Malmö
Background information
Birth nameFlorin Cezar Ouatu
Born (1980-02-18) 18 February 1980
Ploiești, Romania
OriginRomanian
GenresOpera, operatic pop, jazz, disco opera
Occupation(s)Singer, pianist
Instrument(s)Vocals, piano
Years active2004–present
LabelsHaHaHa Production

Son of the late flautist and former teacher at Mozarteum University of Salzburg, Florin Ouatu, he was born into a family of musicians in Ploiești.[4] Cezar began playing piano at six years of age.[4] He graduated from the "Carmen Sylva" School of Arts in his hometown and the Milan Conservatory.[4] In Italy, Cezar graduated the bel canto classical singing section with maximum mark.[5] He has also studied Baroque music.[6] In 2001, Ouatu was accepted to the Giuseppe Verdi Music Academy in Milan, and graduated in 2004. In the 2003 International Singing Contest Francisco Viñas and in the 2005 International Voice Competition organized by the Renata Tebaldi Foundation in San Marino he won the "Best Countertenor" prize. Cezar made his professional opera stage debut in 2007 at La Fenice, Venice.[7] He has since appeared in further opera performances in Baroque opera roles.[8]

Ouatu released his first pop-opera single "Cinema Paradiso" on Christmas Eve, 24 December 2012. In May 2013, Cezar represented Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 with the song "It's My Life",[9] and finished in 13th place with 65 points at the end of the contest. A week later, on 25 May 2013, he performed alongside Andrea Bocelli and Angela Gheorghiu at Bocelli's concert in Romania at the Romexpo,[5] which led to a collaboration with Vangelis.[10]

In 2018, he auditioned for the UK X Factor.[11]

References
  1. Mirela Dinica (2013-05-11). "Cezar Florin Ouatu, contratenorul care va reprezenta România la concursul Eurovision: 'Nu sunt gay, sunt bărbat 100%'". Libertatea. Archived from the original on 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2015-01-23.
  2. "Ziua lucram în supermarket și seara mă duceam la Conservator" (in Romanian). Adevărul. 4 March 2013. Archived from the original on 11 May 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  3. "DAS INTERVIEW: FLORIN CEZAR OUATU" (in German). Das Opernglas. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  4. "Cine este Cezar Ouatu, câștigătorul Eurovision România 2013" (in Romanian). Adevărul. 10 March 2013. Archived from the original on 1 July 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  5. "Angela Gheorghiu și Cezar Ouatu vor cânta la concertul pe care Andrea Bocelli îl va susține la București" (in Romanian). România Liberă. 11 March 2013. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2013.
  6. "Eurovision Song Contest: Romania". BBC One. 2013. Archived from the original on 2019-09-06. Retrieved 2015-01-23.
  7. Sinziana Boaru (2011-02-23). "Un contratenor vine în ajutorul lui Iustin Ianău". Adevărul Moldova. Archived from the original on 2015-01-23. Retrieved 2015-01-23.
  8. Bruce Scott (2010-01-29). "'Agrippina,' Handel's Unlikely Comedy". National Public Radio - World of Opera. Archived from the original on 2015-01-23. Retrieved 2015-01-23.
  9. "Află unde poți să-l asculți LIVE pe Cezar "The Voice" Ouatu, reprezentantul României la Eurovision!". Libertatea. 2013-05-13. Archived from the original on 2015-01-25. Retrieved 2015-01-23.
  10. "Eurovision 2013: Vangelis îl apreciază pe Cezar Ouatu". Romania TV. 2013-05-19. Archived from the original on 2015-01-23. Retrieved 2015-01-23.
  11. "Who is X Factor hopeful Cezar Ouatu?". September 22, 2018. Archived from the original on September 22, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2018.
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