Ghena Dimitrova
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Ghena Dimitrova (May 6, 1941 – June 11, 2005) was a Bulgarian operatic soprano. Her voice was known for its power and extension used in operatic roles such as Turandot in a career spanning four decades.
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Early Career
Ghena Dimitrova was born in the Bulgarian village of Beglej in 1941. She starting singing in the school choir and her powerful voice led to her being offered a place at the Sofia Conservatory studying under Cristo Bambarov between 1959 and 1964. While she was initially classified as a mezzo-soprano, she was recognised as a soprano in her second year.
After finishing her studies at the Sofia Conservatory, she started teaching singing. Her debut came in the mid-1960's as Abigaille in a Bulgarian National Opera production of Verdi's Nabucco after a couple of other sopranos had to drop out. Dimitrova learnt the demanding role in a week to be ready for her debut.
International Career
Dimitrova won the Sofia International Singing Competition in 1970. Her prize included a couple of years studying at La Scala's Scuola de Perfezionamento.
She made her debut as Turandot in Treviso in 1975. She debuted at La Scala in 1983 performing the same role and she appeared in the same role in a video released by the Vienna State Opera in 1983. In 1988, she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York performing the same role.
Dimitrova once said of the role: "Turandot may not be my favorite part, but it shows off the voice to great advantage. The way the music is written, you need a voice like a trumpet to do it justice." Template:Fn(1)
Her debut in the United States was in 1981 performing the role of Elvira in Ernani. She sang at the Barbican Arts Centre in Ponchielli's La Gioconda in 1983 before making her Covent Garden debut in the same year.
Dimitrova died in a Milan hospital in 2005. After her death the Bulgarian Government promised to establish a fund in her name for promising young singers.
Notes
Note (1): San Jose Mercury News report on Dimitrova's death (http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/entertainment/music/11872965.htm)
External Links
- Ghena Dimitrova biography on her website (http://www.ghenadimitrova.com/english/biography.htm)
- Allmusic.com article on Ghena Dimitrova (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&token=ADFEAEE4781ED947A57520EFB71670E1FA5CDE2DFE62D9BA5007656392940454880C71ED59E695CBAEFB74AB7BAFFF2BE85305D1CEE457F8CC0640&sql=41:20745~T1)
- Opera Web article on Ghena Dimitrova (http://archivio.opera.it/English/Cantanti/Dimitrov.html)
- Yahoo! Movies entry on Turandot (http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&id=1800130155&cf=info&intl=us)
- San Jose Mercury News article on Dimitrova's death (http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/entertainment/music/11872965.htm)
- US ABC News article on Dimitrova's death (http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=840111&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312)
- "New York Times" Official Obituary on the death of Ghena Dimitrova, June 13, 2005" (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/13/arts/music/13dimi.html?)
bg:Гена Димитрова de:Gena Dimitrova lb:Gena Dimitrowa sr:Гена Димитрова
