While Oghnyan Nicolov's first release for Gega New features famous opera arias and duets (GD 206), the present CD leads us into the world of the Bulgarian song. Together with the pianist Ivelina Ivancheva he has recorded for this programme many popular songs with lyrics by famous Bulgarian poets, or based on folk poetry. Oghnyan Nicolov is famous for his performance of difficult tenor parts from the baroque and classical period. His voice, a lyrico-dramatic tenor, unites the liveliness and brilliance of a high lyrical tenor with sonorous depths full of dramatic passion. These characteristics, together with his mastery of interpretation and artistic insight, allow him to perform a wide variety of parts. He has given concerts in a number of countries in Europe, as well as in all opera theatres in Bulgaria. Oghnyan Nicolov always aims at widening his repertoire and gives particular importance to the song genre, laying stress on the works by Bulgarian composers.
Ivelina Ivancheva, his partner in this programme, is laureate of prestigious international piano competitions She has given concerts throughout Europe and Asia. Together with being a concertizing pianist, Ms Ivancheva teaches at the State Academy of Music in Sofia and is deeply interested in the chamber works of Bulgarian composers. Her research into this field helps her considerably in the arrangement of songs, and two of her arrangements are included here. The album includes all lyrics to the songs in Bulgarian and English. The release thus presents a kind of panorama of 20th century Bulgarian song and poetry art.