Ghena Dimitrova

At a glance

Source: Wikipedia: Ghena Dimitrova¹

Early career

Dimitrova was born in the village of Beglezh, about 25 kilometres from Pleven. She began singing in her school choir. From 1959 to 1964, she studied at the Sofia Conservatory with Christo Brambarov. Initially classified as a mezzo-soprano, she was recognised as a soprano in her second year.¹

After completing her studies, she taught singing. Her breakthrough came in 1967, when she performed as Abigaille in the Bulgarian National Opera’s production of Verdi’s Nabucco. She took the part after two other sopranos withdrew. In later performances, she included the optional high C in the cabaletta ‘Salgo già’, which had been omitted in many early productions.¹

International career

Dimitrova won the Sofia International Singing Competition in 1970. Her prize included a course at La Scala’s Scuola di Perfezionamento. She made her Italian debut as Turandot in Treviso in 1975, and sang the role at La Scala in 1983 opposite Plácido Domingo. That year, she also made her debut at Covent Garden and sang at the Barbican Arts Centre in Ponchielli’s La Gioconda.¹

Her other performances included appearances at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires in 1974–75, where her roles included Tosca, Turandot, Andrea Chénier, Il trovatore and Don Carlo. She made her United States debut as Elvira in Ernani in 1981 and her Metropolitan Opera debut as Turandot in 1987. Her repertoire also included the mezzo-soprano roles Amneris and Eboli.¹

Later life

During her international career, Dimitrova worked with conductors including Riccardo Muti, Giuseppe Sinopoli and Lorin Maazel. She retired from the stage in 2001 and continued working with young singers. Soprano Elena Baramova was among her students. Dimitrova died of cancer in Milan on 11 June 2005. After her death, the Bulgarian Government promised to establish a fund in her name for promising young singers. Dimitrova Peak in Antarctica is named after her.¹