14 Facts About Nicolai Ghiaurov

Nicolai Ghiaurov was a Bulgarian opera singer and one of the most famous basses of the postwar period.

Nicolai Ghiaurov was admired for his powerful, sumptuous voice, and was particularly associated with roles of Mussorgsky and Verdi.

Nicolai Ghiaurov was born in the small mountain town of Velingrad in southern Bulgaria.

Nicolai Ghiaurov began his musical studies at the Bulgarian State Conservatory in 1949 where he studied under Prof.

Nicolai Ghiaurov was awarded a state scholarship and from 1950 until 1955 he studied at the Moscow Conservatory.

Nicolai Ghiaurov's career was launched in 1955, when he won the Grand Prix at the International Vocal Competition in Paris and the First Prize and a gold medal at the Fifth World Youth Festival in Warsaw.

Nicolai Ghiaurov made his operatic debut in 1955 as Don Basilio in Rossini's The Barber of Seville in Sofia.

Nicolai Ghiaurov made his Italian operatic debut in 1958 in Teatro Comunale Bologna, before starting an international career with his rendition of Varlaam in the opera Boris Godunov at La Scala in 1959.

Nicolai Ghiaurov first shared a stage with Mirella Freni in 1961 in Genoa.

Nicolai Ghiaurov made his US debut in Gounod's Faust in 1963 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and he went on to sing twelve roles with the company, including the title roles in Boris Godunov, Don Quichotte, and Mefistofele.

Nicolai Ghiaurov made his Metropolitan Opera debut on 8 November 1965 as Mefistofele.

Nicolai Ghiaurov sang a total of 81 performances in ten roles there, last appearing there on October 26,1996, as Sparafucile in Rigoletto.

Nicolai Ghiaurov was recorded frequently, and his discography includes complete recordings of many of his great stage roles, including Don Giovanni, Don Basilio, Ramfis, Colline, Banco, Gounod's and Boito's Mephistos and Boris Godunov, among many others.

Nicolai Ghiaurov rolled out the resonant tone at his command with generosity, and with special ease at the burnished top.