The “golden” generation of Bulgarian opera singers from the second half of the 20th century has its fascinating Figaro, remarkable Onegin and many more roles the baritone Asen Selimski is remembered by! We continue the series FAMOUS OPERA VOICES OF BULGARIA with recordings of his performances, made between 1961 and 1971. They are a magnificent sequel to the collection with recordings of Dimitar Uzunov, Yulia Wiener-Chenisheva and Lyubomir Bodurov.
Asen Selimski was born in 1930. He graduated from the Academy of Music as a student of the famous vocal pedagogue Prof. Hristo Brambarov. Ever since his debut on the opera stage in 1955 until the end of his stage career, he was among the favourites of the audience both in Bulgaria and abroad. He performed in some European opera theatres where his partners were famous Bulgarian and foreign singers. Music critics described him as a “born aristocrat”, “amazing”, with a “wonderful voice – a beautiful, flexible, timbre baritone” and used many more superlatives.
Along with his artistic career, after 1974 Asen Selimski taught male voice singing at the Academy of Music in Sofia and later at the New Bulgarian University. In his pedagogical work, he is considered to be an adherent of the school of Prof. Brambarov. Today his students are among the world’s elite opera singers, but they continue to meet him, to seek his advice and share their success.
FAMOUS OPERA VOICES OF BULGАRIA · ASEN SILIMSKI, bariton
Track Listing
GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Il barbiere di Siviglia
[1] Cavatina of Figaro from Act 1 4:47
[2] Duet of Rosina and Figaro from Act 2 4:45
[3] Quintet from Act 2 6:27
WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART
La nozze di Figaro
[4] Duet of Susanna and Count Almaviva from Act 3 2:32
[5] Aria of Count Almaviva from Act 3 4:20
GUISEPPE VERDI
Don Carlos
[6] Aria of Marquis de Posa from Scene 6 3:38
UN BALLO IN MASCHERA
[7] Aria of Renato from Scene 4 6:01
P. I. TCHAIKOVSKY
Eugene Onegin
[8] Aria of Onegin from Scene 3 4:50
NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
Sadko
[9] Song of the Venetian, overseas guest, from Scene 4 3:57
PARASHKEV HADJIEV
Lud Gidia (A Madcap)
[10] Aria of Osman Bey from Act 2 3:35
UMBERTO GIORDANO
André Chénier
[11] Gérard’s monologue from Act 3 4:55
RUGGERO LEONCAVALLO
Pagliacci
[12] Prologue 5:33
GEORGES BIZET
Carmen
[13] Torreador’s couplet from Act 2 4:24Total: 59:43
Participating
Pavel Kurshumov (tenor), Petya Ivanova (soprano), Dimiter Petkov (bass), Pavel Gerdjikov (bass); Maria Dimchevska (soprano), Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra, Sofia Opera Orchestra, Bulgarian National Radio Mixed Choir
Conductors: Rouslan Raichev, Asen Naydenov, Atanas Margaritov, Dragomir NenovCompanion Titles
Famous Opera Voices of Bulgaria · Dimitar Uzunov, tenor (GD404)
Famous Opera Voices of Bulgria · Yulia Wiener-Chenisheva, soprano (405)
Famous Opera Voices of Bulgria · Lyubomir Bodurov, tenor (406)Famous Opera Voices of Bulgаria · Lyliana Bareva, soprano (GD 408)
Famous Opera Voices of Bulgaria · Nikola Nikolov, tenor (GD 414)