Marina Voica

Marina Voica Biography

Marina Voica is one of the most important and beloved pop and light music soloists in Romania. With a career spanning over five decades, she is recognized as a star of Romanian popular music and entertainment. Marina has a vast repertoire, with around 850 songs released across discs, cassettes, and CDs, and she is known for her distinctive crystalline and delicate vocal timbre. Her work includes numerous TV appearances, concert tours at home and abroad, and she has won multiple national and international awards. Marina Voica is also an actress with significant stage and film credits, making her a multifaceted artist in Romanian culture.

Childhood

Marina Voica was born as Marina Alexandrovna Nicolskaia on September 3, 1936, in Ivanovo, RSFS Russian SFSR, then part of the Soviet Union. She grew up in a modest background but was passionate about music from an early age. Her upbringing in Ivanovo set the stage for her eventual international career and her deep connection to both Romanian and Russian cultural influences.

Education

Marina Voica pursued higher education in Moscow, where she graduated from the Faculty of Finance and Credit. During her university years, Marina balanced academic pursuits with her love for music, performing at numerous artistic events. It was also during this time in Moscow that she met her first husband, Marcel Voica, a Romanian, which later influenced her relocation and career development in Romania.

Career

Marina Voica's professional music career began gaining momentum after her debut on Romanian television in the "Tinere talente" show hosted by Valeriu Lazarov in 1960 with the song "Pe aripa vântului." She quickly became a beloved figure in Romanian pop music, known for her versatility in styles including disco-pop, soul, Latin American rhythms such as samba and cumbia, and more. Over the decades, she recorded approximately 850 songs, released through 27 discs, 3 cassettes, and 6 CDs. Marina's presence extended to over 300 TV shows and multiple artistic collaborations. She also acted for nine seasons at the Constantin Tănase revue theater and had a lead role in the film "Țărmul n-are sfârșit." Despite challenges during the communist era, including political censorship and a period of exile in Germany, Marina Voica returned to Romania, continuing to influence the music scene.

Family Life

Marina Voica's personal life saw significant moments that affected her career. She married Marcel Voica early on, which played a part in her moving to Romania. Later, she was married to Dr. Viorel Teodorescu. In 1980, she and her then-husband left Romania intending to settle in Germany. However, following Dr. Teodorescu's serious illness and subsequent passing, Marina returned to Romania alone. She currently leads a more private life, residing in Breaza, where she reflects on her career and personal memories.

Achievements

Throughout her illustrious career, Marina Voica garnered numerous awards and accolades for her outstanding contributions to music and entertainment. She won prizes at national and international music competitions and was honored with excellence awards by prominent TV stations, radio, record labels, and respected publications in Romania and abroad. Her signature songs became hits across generations, securing her place as a legend of Romanian pop music. She inspired many younger artists through her mentorship and by helping launch other talented musicians.

Controversies

Marina Voica's career was not without its difficulties, particularly under Romania's communist regime. After attempting to emigrate to Germany in 1980, the political authorities imposed a severe boycott on her artistic presence, restricting her appearances on television and radio. For example, when she won the Grand Trophy at the Mamaia Festival in 1983, her victory was censored and not broadcast to the public. These hardships reflected the tense political environment of the time and impacted her visibility in the music scene for years.

Marina Voica Summary

Marina Voica remains a towering figure of Romanian pop and soul music, celebrated for her extensive and diverse repertoire, her unique vocal qualities, and her resilience in the face of political adversity. With thousands of songs recorded and a prolific career in both music and acting, she has shaped the cultural landscape of Romania and continues to be remembered fondly by fans and peers alike. Today, she lives a quieter life, but her artistic legacy endures across generations of music lovers.