Nicolai Karnolsky

Born in Sofia, Bulgaria, on the 4th of August, 1971.

Secondary education: The National High School for Ancient Languages and
civilizations, Sofia.

Musical education: Violin study from 1976 to 1985.

Higher musical education:
The State Academy “P. Vladigerov”, Sofia, Bulgaria,
from 1992 to 1996.

Concert appearances:

1986-1994:
- soloist in the choirs of Bulgarian Ancient Church Orthodox Music “Konstantin Cyril-The Philosopher” & “Johan Kukuzel”;
- concert participations in Greece, Italy, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland.

1994:
- Opera and Church recital in Innsbruck with Anna Rehtuur;
- Opera and Church recital in Vienna, Cathedrals “Maria am Geschtade” and “St.Stefan”;

1995:
- concerts under the patronage of Pope John Paul II in Rome in “St. Peter”, “St. Ignazie”, “St. John” and “St. Paul” cathedrals;
- records for The Golden Fond of Bulgarian National Radio.

Stage appearances:

1996:
- Don Alfonso in “Cosi fan tutte” by Mozart in Varna State Opera;

1998-1999:
- Il Re and Ramphis in “Aida” by Verdi in Varna State Opera;

1999:
- Zuniga in “Carmen” by Bizet in National Palace of Culture, Sofia, with Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, under conducting of Emil Tabacoff;
- Monterone in “Rigolleto” by Verdi in Varna State Opera;

2000:
- With Philippo II in “Don Carlos” by Verdi in Sofia National Opera won 2 special prices at The 12-th International Opera Competition “Boris Christoff”;
- concert participation in Moskow with “Moskow Philharmonic Orchestra” under conducting of Dymitri Orlov;

2000-2001 - as a guest in Ensemble Theater der Regionen Biel/Soloturn, Switzerland:
- Abimelech in “Samson et Dalila” / Camille Saint-Saens;
- Sparafuccile in “Rigoletto” / Verdi;
- Don Ruy Gomez da Silva in “Ernani” / Verdi.

As a soloist at Musiktheater im Revier, Gelsenkirchen:

Season 2001-2002:
- Zaccaria in “Nabucco” / Verdi;
- Kaspar & Eremit in “Freischutz” / Weber;
- Varlaam in “Boris Godunov” / Mussorgsky;
- Don Pedro in “Beatrice et Benedict” / Berlioz;

Season 2002-2003:
- Timur in “Turandot” / Puccini;
- Rocco in “Fidelio” / Beethoven;
- Don Prudenzio in “Il viaggio a Reims” / Rossini;
- Heraut II in “Jeanne d’Arc au bucher” / Honegger im Ramen der Ruhr Triennale 2002-2004;
- Massimiliano & Mose in “I Masnadieri” / Verdi;

Season 2003-2004:
- Sparafuccile in “Rigoletto” / Verdi;
- Titurel in “Parsifal”/Wagner;
- Clifford in “Rosmonda d’Inghilterra”/Donizetti;
- Alidoro in “La Cenerentola” / Rossini;
- Simone in “Gianni Schicchi” / Puccini.

Season 2004-2005:
- Le Pape Clement VII in “Benvenuto Cellini” / Berlioz;
- Attila in “Attila” / Giuseppe Verdi;
- Don Basilio in “Il Barbiere di Siviglia” / Rossini;
- Angelotti in “Tosca” / Puccini;
- Aladino in “Il crociato in Egitto” / Meyerbeer.

Season 2005-2006:
Awarded with the special prize for season 2004- 2005 by Musiktheater Gelsenkirchen.
- Gesler in “Guillaume Tell” /Rossini;
- Nourabad in “Les Pecheurs de Perles” / Bizet;
- Figaro & Bartolo in “Le nozze di Figaro” / Mozart
- Ferrando in “Il Trovatore” / Verdi;
- Orosmane in “Zaira” / Bellini.

As a guest:
- in Glocke Saal, Bremen: “Nabucco”/Verdi - Zaccaria, 2002;
- Varlaam in “Boris Godunov”/Mussorgsky in Staatstheater Braunschweug, 2003;
- Zaccaria in “Nabucco”/Verdi in Staatstheater Hannover, March 2004;
- Attila in “Attila”/Verdi in Glocke Saal, Bremen, 2005;
- Der Sprecher in “Die Zauberflöte” /Mozart in Opera Ireland, Dublin, 2005
- Simone in “Gianni Schicchi” /Puccini in Opera Ireland, Dublin, 2005

Repertoire