Awards   Biography   

Musical  studies

  The opera singing phenomenon Ghena Dimitrova is created as a composition of God-given voice and health, stable  and  resistant  psychics and physics, perfect musical education and enormous work on the major world opera scenes.

  The start is in the choral singing where the first teacher of music of Ghena Dimitrova - Ivan Ghenkov discovers her talent and her great  future. He encouraged her to apply for the Bulgarian State Conservatory /High School of Music/. So from 1959 till 1964 Ghena Dimitrova was a student in the Conservatory. She received her musical education in opera singing the style of the famous Bulgarian School, established at the beginning of the 60’s of the past century. Her Maestro was the incredibly popular prof. Hristo Brambarov, a famous Bulgarian opera singer. The Bulgarian Opera Singing School has formed many world famous opera singers as Nicolay Gyaurov, Boris Christoff, Nicolaj Ghiuselev, Nicolaj Nikolov, Nicola Usunov, Rajna Kabaivanska and many others, and thus becoming one of the leading Opera singing Schools in Europe and worldwide.

Specializations

  To obtain one of the most perfect opera voices worldwide Ghena Dimitrova has followed  lots of specializations in different singing styles. She was taught and advised by the leading opera singing pedagogues. The most important periods were:

1964  -  1966 -  master class in the Bulgarian State Conservatory.

1966 -               Specialization  in the “La  Scala” Theater of Milan, Italy - first acquaintance with the famous Italian Opera Singing School

1970 -               Specialization in the “La  Scala” Theatre School, professors Renato Pastorino, Enza Ferari, Renata Corosio.

Opera singing  competitions

At the beginning of her career Ghena Dimitrova  won a number of competition:

1970 - winner in the International Competition for Young Opera Singers, Sofia.

1987 - winner of opera singing competition in Turandot, Metropolitan, New York, USA.

Most  important  singing  career  milestones

27.12.1967 - debut as Abigail in “Nabucco” by G.Verdi, Sofia National Opera House.

1971 - 1972 - on tour in France with the opera “The Power of the Destiny“ by G.Verdi

1972 - winner of the competition for opera singers in Treviso, Italy, with the role of Amelia in “Masked Ball” by G.Verdi.

1972 - Parma, Italy, in the role of Amelia in “Masked Ball” by G.Verdi with José Carreras and Piero Capuccili

1973 - The “La  Scala” Theatre, Milan, in the role of Amelia in “Masked Ball” by G.Verdi with Placido Domingo.

1978 - Staatsoper of Vienna, in the role of Tosca, in  “Tosca “ by G.Puccini.

1980 - Arena di Verona, Verona, Italy, debut in “La Giocconda” by Ponchielli with L.Pavarotti.

1983 - Arena di Verona, Verona, Italy, in the role of Turandot, “Turandot” by G.Puccini.

1983 - The “La Scala” Theatre, Milan, in the role of Turandot, “Turandot”by G.Puccini, director Franco Zefirelli, conductor of the orchestra Lorin Maasel.

1984 - The “La Scala”Theatre, Milan , “Lombards”, conductor Gianandrea Gavazeni in the role of LadyMcBeth, “Macbeth” by G.Verdi, conductor Claudio Abbado, director Giorgio Strehler.    In the role of Amneris in “Aida” by G.Verdi with L.Pavarotti, production of Luca  Ronconi.

1984 - 1985 Festival of Zaltzburg, Lady McBeth in “McBeth” by G.Verdi, conductor Herbert von Karajan.

1986 - The “La  Scala”Theatre, Milan, “Nabucco” by G.Verdi, conductor Riccardo Mutti

1987 -  in the role of Turandot, “Turandot”, the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, USA, followed by ten seasons with “Turandot”, “ La Giocconda”,  Santuzza in “Cavaleria  Rusticana” by P.Mascagni, Mini in “The girl of the golden West”, Tosca in “Tosca” with L.Pavarotti, etc.

1988 - The “La  Scala”Theatre, Milan, Santuzza in “Cavaleria  Rusticana” by P.Mascagni

1989- The “La Scala”Theatre, Milan, Tosca in “Tosca” by G.Puccini. 

Pedagogical  activity

  For some years  Ghena Dimitrova  holds master  classes. She  is  well  invited  professor  in Athens, Rome, Budapest, Sofia, etc. She  enjoys  working  with  young  talents,  organizes  and  participates  in  concerts  with  them. 

Acknowledgements

  The  contribute of  Ghena Dimitrova  for  the  progress  and  the  success  of  the  opera  singing  is  enormous. During  the  years  she  has  been  acknowledged  and  awarded  for  many  her  successes.

Awards   Biography