My country
So, I come from Bulgaria. And of course, my country is an essential part of me. But not only: it‘s my interior climate, my interior voice…
Allowing to be pathetic, I just have to say some words about Bulgaria. The place, which gave me so much… You may ask me, is it really necessary to talk about? -Yes, I think, there are reasons enough…
A small country, central situated on the Balkan peninsula, Bulgaria has an ancient history and keeps the vestiges of the past carefully. The Greek myths ascribe a Thracian origin to Orpheus and the Muses, a heritage which Bulgaria’s singers still take very seriously.
Orthodox religious chants convey the mysticism of regional fables and legends, whereas the spontaneous folk songs and dances of the villages meld classical origins with a Turkish influence. International interest in Bulgarian vocal music was ignited by groups such as Le Mystere des Voix Bulgaires, who have taken Bulgaria’s polyphonic female choir singing to a world audience.
It‘s a privilege to be Bulgarian at the territory of the Opera, where a plenty of world famous Bulgarian names have a “VIP”-place reserved. I‘m sure, you‘ve heard enough about Elena Nikolai, Boris Christoff, Ghena Dimitrova, Nicola Ghiuselev, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Kaludi Kaludov, Dimitar Petkov, Raina Kabaivanska, Anna Tomova-Sintova, Alexandrina Milcheva, Wesselina Kasarowa, Boyko Tzvetanov, Emil Ivanov, Darina Takova, Krassimira Stoyanova… And a numerous names of young Bulgarian singers, making an extraordinary career at the most prestigeous opera stages our days…
I believe, “The Bulgarian Opera School” is not just a definition of internal use or a successful trade mark. There must be a secret behind, apprehending the special taste to the Italian Belcanto and the Russian classical opera… Situated on the Balkans – as a crossroad between the Asian East and the European West, the small Bulgaria established in 1890, after the Liberation from Ottoman domination, it‘s own opera theatre and created it‘s own musical tradition. And more than a century many and many singers made their first steps from the Sofia stage to the European opera centres - Italy, Germany, Russia, Austria, France, England, etc. The international prestige of the Opera House is multiply confirmed both by the guest tours of the Theatre in many countries all around the world as well as the guest performances in Sofia of world-renowned artists of high rank. The Bulgarian spectator, not necessarily being at performances in “La Scala”, “Grand Opera” or “Covent Garden”, can enjoy the performances at the National Opera with the participation of honoured members of the Theatre: Anna Tomowa-Sintova, Ghena Dimitrova, Raina Kabaivanska, Nikolai Ghiaurov, Nicola Ghiuselev, Alexandrina Milcheva, Boyko Tsvetanov, Kaludi Kaludov, Stoyan Popov, Dimitar Petkov……
