Remembering basso Nicolai Ghiaurov

On this day five years ago (in 2020), a memorial plaque dedicated to the world-renowned Bulgarian bass Nicolai Ghiaurov (1929–2004) was unveiled in Modena. It was in this Italian city that the celebrated opera singer lived and worked from 1981 until his death.

The plaque was created at the initiative of the then Consul General of Bulgaria in Milan, Tanya Dimitrova, and crafted by sculptor Petko Yordanov. It is mounted on the wall of the Vecchi–Tonelli Music Institute, at 2 Carlo Goldoni Street. The inscription reads: “In gratitude to the great Bulgarian opera singer who brought fame to his homeland around the world.”

At the unveiling ceremony, Bulgaria’s Consulate General recalled that Nicolai Ghiaurov built a cultural bridge between Bulgaria and Italy. He opened the season at La Scala in Milan six times, leaving a lasting mark on the world of opera.

Ghiaurov’s remarkable career — often described as “fairy-tale-like” — began by chance when composer Petko Staynov heard the young soldier Ghiaurov sing and immediately encouraged him to pursue a musical career, the Sofia Opera and Ballet notes. After studying under Professor Hristo Brambarov, the young bass continued his training at the Moscow Conservatory.

In 1955, the International Singing Competition in Paris became the starting point of an extraordinary artistic journey that took him to the world’s most prestigious opera stages. Ghiaurov’s debut role was Don Basilio — one he performed throughout much of his life. He achieved triumphant success in the roles of Boris Godunov, Mephistopheles in Faust, and King Philip II in Don Carlos.

He developed his talent further in Italy, making his La Scala debut at the age of just 30 in Boris Godunov. He was later married to the distinguished soprano Mirella Freni, who was born in Modena.