Clemensa Barberis was born in
Iași, the daughter of Giuseppe Barberis and Marguerita Cazaban. She began to improvise on the piano at an early age. When an aunt transcribed one of the pieces, composer
George Enescu recommended that Barberis take theory lessons. She studied with Italian professors in Iași and later studied violin, voice, and composition at the
George Enescu Conservatory. Barberis graduated from the Conservatory in 1922. She married surgeon Gheorghe Plăcințeanu, taking the surname
Barberis-Plăcințeanu, and had a daughter, which she left with her parents so she could continue her studies in
Berlin. She returned to Romania after a year and took professional employment, but later continued her studies in
Paris during three sessions, studying voice, conducting, opera, composition and orchestration. In 1936 she also studied voice briefly in
Vienna with
Max Reger. Her opera were performed at the
Romanian National Opera, Bucharest and by the Opera Company of Iași. Her music was also recorded and broadcast on
Romanian Television (RTV). She was awarded the
Enescu Prize in 1925, 1934, and 1941 and the in 1969. ==Works==