Easter meeting with Orlin Goranov – a star in pop music and opera

On Bright Monday, a special guest of Radio Bulgaria is Orlin Goranov – one of the most successful and beloved Bulgarian singers. He is the only Bulgarian singer recognized as a star in both pop music and opera. He graduated from the Vocal Faculty of the Music Academy and became soloist of the Plovdiv Opera in 1989. He has performed in Russia, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, Korea, Laos, Vietnam. Since 1994, he has had permanent engagements in Berlin, where he performs main tenor parts in operas by Verdi and Puccini.

In the last quarter of a century, Orlin Goranov has been actively giving concerts and his work in the recording studio has not stopped. Outside of Bulgaria, he most often visits the USA, where his only daughter has been living for years. His last tour there was in early March with concerts in Atlanta, Seattle, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Raleigh (North Carolina), Chicago and Naples (Florida).

The great Bulgarian artist greets all Orthodox Bulgarians at home and around the world for the Resurrection of Christ. For him, the holiday is a symbol:

"The Resurrection coincides with spring – the season of awakening, as I call it. After the winter sleep, the world and nature wake up to life again. Everything brightens up, the birds start singing louder and louder, and we prepare for a year, filled with many hopes and dreams. You know, in Orthodoxy this is the more important holiday – the Resurrection of Christ, because it proves once again that the strength of the spirit can overcome absolutely everything, even death. So, if we have faith in the path we are walking on and trust in the Ten Commandments of God, everything will be wonderful."

In recent years, new songs by Orlin Goranov have been presented on another major Christian holiday - Annunciation. On March 25, 2026, "Samo v sanya" ("Only in a Dream") emerged within the framework of the "Singing Artists" project.

Does our guest feel the protection and help of the Mother of God, or of some other force? "I have always been grateful to the Mother of God for what she has given me. For the talent that I share with all my friends, colleagues, fans, audience... This is not my gift, it is God's gift... I am thankful every day for the chance that I have been given in this life."

"Samo v sanya" was written about two decades ago based on poems by late Zhiva Kyuldzhieva (a talented Bulgarian poetess who created the lyrics of over 1,500 songs). The song has not been performed before: "In those years, when there was a selection committee at the radio, it was not approved. Igor Markovski and I found it literally in a bin with rejected works. It made a very strong impression on us - both the lyrics and the music by Vladi Tsanev, so we tried to revive it. It seems to have worked…" the performer tells Radio Bulgaria.

The two-week tour in early March is not his first in the US and the meetings with Bulgarians there have been inspiring:

"These are unforgettable evenings! Long-awaited, unforgettable evenings. I have always been left breathless, because these are true Bulgarians, wherever they are in the world. No matter how successful they have been in their profession or in life, they remain Bulgarians. They come with flags, some come dressed in folk costumes... In a way, they are at home with me. And I am sure that this happens with almost all of our colleagues who visit communities outside of Bulgaria. I can say with pride that they are truly great Bulgarians. They preserve the Bulgarian language and in almost every city there is a Bulgarian school, there are dance ensembles, they get together, sing, make friends... which is magnificent!"

The musician believes that if we want to remain a strong people, we must be united. At the beginning of the Bright Week, he sends his wishes:

"Let us be proud of being Bulgarians and let us have a vision and desire for a bright future. Let us be alive and healthy. We will achieve everything else."