Ghena Dimitrova (Bulgarian: Гeна Димитpова, 6 May 1941 – 11 June 2005) was a Bulgarianoperaticsoprano.[1][2] Her voice was known for its power and extension used in operatic roles such as Turandot in a career spanning four decades.[3][4]
Ghena Dimitrova was born in the Bulgarian village of Beglezh, some 25 km from Pleven, in 1941. She started singing in the school choir and her powerful voice led to her being offered a place at the Sofia Conservatory studying under Christo Brambarov between 1959 and 1964.[5] While she was initially classified as a mezzo-soprano, she was recognised as a soprano in her second year.
After finishing her studies at the Bulgarian State Conservatory, she started teaching singing. Her breakthrough came in 1967 as Abigaille in a Bulgarian National Opera production of Giuseppe Verdi's Nabucco after a couple of other sopranos dropped out. In the early recordings Dimitrova's voice had not yet reached its signature size, and in many of the early Nabucco productions, the final optional high C is omitted in the cabaletta, Salgo già, which she would include later in her career.
International careeredit
Dimitrova won the Sofia International Singing Competition in 1970, the prize including a course of study at La Scala's Scuola di Perfezionamento.
She made her Italian debut as Turandot in Treviso in 1975, and essayed the same role for her 1983 La Scala debut opposite tenor Plácido Domingo in Franco Zeffirelli's lavish production. She also sang at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires in 1974-75, where she sang Tosca, Turandot, Andrea Chenier, Il trovatore and Don Carlo. Her Turandot is also preserved in a video of the Arena di Verona production from 1983, with Nicola Martinucci and Cecilia Gasdia. In 1987, she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York performing the same role.
Dimitrova once said of the role: "Turandot may not be my favorite part, but it shows off the voice to great advantage. The way the music is written, you need a voice like a trumpet to do it justice."
Dimitrova also sang some mezzo-soprano roles in her repertory. The most notable of these were Amneris, which she did at La Scala's 1985 staging of Verdi's Aida opposite Maria Chiara in the title role and Luciano Pavarotti as Radames; and Eboli from Verdi's Don Carlo. [6][7]
After retiring from the stage in 2001, Dimitrova remained active working with young singers. One of her students is the soprano Elena Baramova.
Dimitrova died of cancer in Milan on 11 June 2005.[8] After her death the Bulgarian Government promised to establish a fund in her name for promising young singers.
^Goodwin, Noël (2001). "Dimitrova, Ghena". In Sadie, Stanley (ed.). New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Vol. 7 (2nd ed.). Macmillan Publishers Limited. p. 353.
^Blyth, Alan (27 June 2005). "Ghena Dimitrova, Obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
^"Ghena Dimitrova, Obituary". The Telegraph. 13 June 2005. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
^Associated Press (13 June 2005). "Ghena Dimitrova, 64, Soprano Known for Powerful Voice, Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
^"DIMITROVA, Ghena". The International Who's Who 2001 (64th ed.). London: Europa Publications Limited. 2000. p. 404. ISBN1-85743-081-6.
ghena, dimitrova, bulgarian, Гeна, Димитpова, 1941, june, 2005, bulgarian, operatic, soprano, voice, known, power, extension, used, operatic, roles, such, turandot, career, spanning, four, decades, Гена, Димитроваborn, 1941, 1941pleven, kingdom, bulgariadied11. Ghena Dimitrova Bulgarian Gena Dimitpova 6 May 1941 11 June 2005 was a Bulgarian operatic soprano 1 2 Her voice was known for its power and extension used in operatic roles such as Turandot in a career spanning four decades 3 4 Ghena DimitrovaGena DimitrovaBorn 1941 05 06 6 May 1941Pleven Kingdom of BulgariaDied11 June 2005 2005 06 11 aged 64 Milan ItalyResting placeCentral Sofia Cemetery42 42 41 4 N 023 20 05 8 E 42 711500 N 23 334944 E 42 711500 23 334944EducationBulgarian State ConservatoireOccupationOpera singer soprano SpouseGheorghi Stojkov m 1967 died 1991 wbr Contents 1 Early career 2 International career 3 Honours 4 Videography 5 References 6 External linksEarly career editGhena Dimitrova was born in the Bulgarian village of Beglezh some 25 km from Pleven in 1941 She started singing in the school choir and her powerful voice led to her being offered a place at the Sofia Conservatory studying under Christo Brambarov between 1959 and 1964 5 While she was initially classified as a mezzo soprano she was recognised as a soprano in her second year After finishing her studies at the Bulgarian State Conservatory she started teaching singing Her breakthrough came in 1967 as Abigaille in a Bulgarian National Opera production of Giuseppe Verdi s Nabucco after a couple of other sopranos dropped out In the early recordings Dimitrova s voice had not yet reached its signature size and in many of the early Nabucco productions the final optional high C is omitted in the cabaletta Salgo gia which she would include later in her career International career editDimitrova won the Sofia International Singing Competition in 1970 the prize including a course of study at La Scala s Scuola di Perfezionamento She made her Italian debut as Turandot in Treviso in 1975 and essayed the same role for her 1983 La Scala debut opposite tenor Placido Domingo in Franco Zeffirelli s lavish production She also sang at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires in 1974 75 where she sang Tosca Turandot Andrea Chenier Il trovatore and Don Carlo Her Turandot is also preserved in a video of the Arena di Verona production from 1983 with Nicola Martinucci and Cecilia Gasdia In 1987 she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York performing the same role Dimitrova once said of the role Turandot may not be my favorite part but it shows off the voice to great advantage The way the music is written you need a voice like a trumpet to do it justice Her debut in the United States was in 1981 performing the role of Elvira in Ernani She sang at the Barbican Arts Centre in Ponchielli s La Gioconda in 1983 before making her Covent Garden debut in the same year Her late debut she later attributed simply to politics Dimitrova also sang some mezzo soprano roles in her repertory The most notable of these were Amneris which she did at La Scala s 1985 staging of Verdi s Aida opposite Maria Chiara in the title role and Luciano Pavarotti as Radames and Eboli from Verdi s Don Carlo 6 7 After retiring from the stage in 2001 Dimitrova remained active working with young singers One of her students is the soprano Elena Baramova Dimitrova died of cancer in Milan on 11 June 2005 8 After her death the Bulgarian Government promised to establish a fund in her name for promising young singers Honours editDimitrova Peak in Antarctica is named after Ghena Dimitrova Videography editJames Levine s 25th Anniversary Metropolitan Opera Gala 1996 Deutsche Grammophon DVD B0004602 09 Giuseppe Verdi I Lombardi alla prima crociata Teatro alla Scala 1984 Warner Music Vision DVD 0927 44927 2 Giuseppe Verdi Nabucco Teatro alla Scala 1987 Warner Music Vision DVD 5050467 0944 2 0 Giuseppe Verdi Aida Teatro alla Scala 1986 ArtHaus Music BR DVD 109087 nbsp The grave of Ghena Dimitrova and her husband in Central Sofia Cemetery 42 42 41 4 N 023 20 05 8 E 42 711500 N 23 334944 E 42 711500 23 334944 References edit Goodwin Noel 2001 Dimitrova Ghena In Sadie Stanley ed New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians Vol 7 2nd ed Macmillan Publishers Limited p 353 Blyth Alan 27 June 2005 Ghena Dimitrova Obituary The Guardian Retrieved 6 May 2016 Ghena Dimitrova Obituary The Telegraph 13 June 2005 Retrieved 6 May 2016 Associated Press 13 June 2005 Ghena Dimitrova 64 Soprano Known for Powerful Voice Is Dead The New York Times Retrieved 6 May 2016 DIMITROVA Ghena The International Who s Who 2001 64th ed London Europa Publications Limited 2000 p 404 ISBN 1 85743 081 6 Opera Diva Ghena Dimitrova Ghena Dimitrova Gena Dimitrova momicheto ot selo koeto pokori sveta in Bulgarian External links editGhena Dimitrova at IMDb Official website Article at allmusic com The New York Times obituary Her page on the Stars of Bulgarian Opera site with 4 mp3 audio clips of selected arias Interview with Ghena Dimitrova January 27 1987 Works by or about Ghena Dimitrova at Internet Archive Performance record Dimitrova Ghena on the MetOpera Database Ghena Dimitrova discography at Discogs nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ghena Dimitrova amp oldid 1175842040, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
