Galery

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In Greece, the audience of classical music is distinct but not like in Bulgaria where there is a tradition that continues even today, despite the invasion of other lighter genres and of chalga. There are representatives of the younger generation who prefer to listen to valuable music whereas this process is lagging behind in Greece.

It is significant that in Athens there is only one opera house. In Athens performances can be viewed only at the National Lyric Stage and at Athens Concert Hall. It will have an opera house with a large opera stage within a few years. (It will be donated by the Stavros Niarchos Foundation and will be part of the cultural centre, which is still under construction. It is expected that the project will be completed and delivered to the Greek state in 2015 – author’s note).

In Bulgaria, despite the financial and organizational difficulties, there are a number of opera houses that continue to function unlike in Greece where there is actually only one opera house and the other concerts are held in different halls or through private initiatives.

Verdi, Ella Fitzgerald, Manos Hatzidakis

In opera music, I find something interesting in all works. I would say that my favourite composer at present is Verdi, but I think that Puccini composed music that is more powerful and that penetrates the soul of the listener. As to Greek composers and works, I like the songs by Mikis Theodorakis, Manos Hatzidakis, George Hadtzinassios and others.

In addition to classical music I am a big fan of jazz. I love the music of composer Cole Porter and singer Ella Fitzgerald.

Gilda from "Rigoletto"

This is a role that I would like to perform. I think it fits very well my voice and temperament. For singers it is also very important when they themselves feel ready to perform a role. This does not depend on their age but on their adjustment and their life experience. Gilda is a young girl, aged about 16, she falls in love for the first time and that is the difference between her and me. On the other hand, the interesting thing is to manage to impersonate the character.

Unfortunately, so far I have not had the opportunity of performing major roles but secondary ones. I hope that I will be able to perform leading roles in the future.

My other greatest desire is to sing in Bulgaria Hall one day and in a production preformed on the Bulgarian stage.

The chance of being able to make the most of the two cultures

I like folk songs very much too. I think that listening to other types of music enriches the singer. I love participating in small lyrical concerts, which do not require the operatic sound, as they allow you to sing all kinds of things that embody traits of the national music of different nations.