Nikola Nikolov (1925-2007) sang in the most famous opera theatres: La Scala – Milano, Covent Garden and Metropolitan Opera. For many years he sang in the Vienna Opera, where he was engaged to perform the tenor parts in 37 different operas. He was also sought after and preferred in the opera of Rome – he was invited there to sing Macduff from Verdi’s Macbeth in the opera performance staged by Luchino Visconti (1906-1976) , and in the famous Teatro di San Carlo in Naples he was invited to sing a very special and complex role – that of Vasco da Gama in L’Africaine by Meyerbeer, which was staged for many seasons exclusively with his participation.
Nikola Nikolov has the typical bel canto tenor, characteristic of Verdi’s operas – a beautiful timbre in all registers with especially spectacular heights and the powerful sound of a trumpet – a strong, flexible voice that expresses the finest nuances, and for this reason he performed both dramatic and lyrical parts. Among his iconic roles are: Radames (Aida), Alfredo (La Traviata), Manrico (Il Trovatore), Ernani, Duke of Mantua (Rigoletto), Don Alvaro (La forza del destino), Macduff (Macbeth), Othello and other roles from Verdi’s operas; Rodolfo (La Bohème), Cavaradossi (Tosca), Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly), Prince Calaf (Turandot) – from Puccini’s operas; Don José (Carmen by Bizet), Canio (Pagliacci by Leoncavallo), and Turiddu (Cavalleria rusticana) by Mascagni – over 30 main tenor roles. We must also mention Baldwin from Pancho Vladigerov’s (1899-1978) opera Tsar Kaloyan, as well as his participation in many tours abroad of the National Opera and dozens of participations at various national festivals and in performances at all opera theatres in Bulgaria. In fact, Nikola Nikolov refused many tempting proposals from big opera theatres and preferred to remain in his native opera.
FAMOUS OPERA VOICES OF BULGARIA · NIKOLA NIKOLOV, tenor
Track Listing
GIUSEPPE VERDI
[1] Aida – Aria of Radames from Scene 1: “Celeste Aida...” 3:58
[2] Il Trovatore – Aria of Manrico from Scene 6 : “Di quela pira...” 2:13
[3] Othello - Monologue of Othello from Act 3: “Dio! Mi potevi scaliar...” 4:27
GIACOMO MEYERBEER
[4] L’Africaine - Aria of Vasco da Gama from Act 4: “Mi Batte il Cor – O Paradiso” 3:07
(Live recording 23 January 1965)
AMILCARE PONCHIELLI
[5] La Gioconda - Romance of Enzo from Act II: “Cielo e mar!” 4:17
GIOACCHINO ROSSINI
[6] William Tell - Aria and Scene of Arnold from Act 4: “ Il giuro, egli disse!” 7:31
UMBERTO GIORDANO
[7] Andrea Chènier - Couplets of Andrea Chènier from Act 4: “Come un bel di di maggio”2:47
PIETRO MASCAGNI
[8] Cavalleria rusticana - Aria of Turiddu: “Mamma,quel vino и generoso” 3:37(Live recording 1957)
RUGGERO LEONCAVALLO - Pagliacci
[9] Pagliacci - Aria of Canio form Act 1: „Vesti la giubba” 3:34
GIACOMO PUCCINI
[10] La bohème - Aria of Rodolfo from Act 1:”Che gelida manina...” 4:30
[11] La bohème - Scene and Duet of Mimi and Rodolfo from Act 4: “Sono andati? Fingevo di dormire” 5:21
[12] Tosca - Aria of Cavaradossi from Act 3 : “E lucevan le stelle...” 2:51
[13] Manon Lescaut - Aria of Des Grieux from Act 1: “Donna non vidi mai” 2:37
[14] Madama Butterfly - Aria of Pinkerton from Act 3: “Addio, fiorito asil…” 1:50
[15] Turandot - Aria of Calaf from Act 3: “Nessun Dorma...” 3:03
LYUBOMIR PIPKOV
[16] Momchil - Duet of Elena and Momchil from Scene 2 7:00
DOBRI HRISTOV
[17] Lukovitski momi (Lukovit Maidens) 2:02
Total: 64:46Participating
Lilyana Vassileva – soprano
Sofia Opera Orchestra
Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra.
Conductors: Asen Naydenov, Vasil Stefanov, Radosveta Boyadjieva
Companion Titles
Famous Opera Voices of Bulgaria · Dimitar Uzunov, tenot (GD 404)
Famous Opera Voices of Bulgria · Yulia Wiener-Chenisheva, soprano (405)
Famous Opera Voices of Bulgria · Lyubomir Bodurov, tenor (406)
Famous Opera Voices of Bulgria · Asen Silimski, bariton (407)Famous Opera Voices of Bulgаria · Lyliana Bareva, soprano (GD 408)