Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Opera singer Stoyan Popov turned 80

Stoyan Popov performing Nabucco
Photo: private archive
Stoyan Popov was born in the region of Strandzha. His star rose in the 60s of the past century. The young talent astonished his first teacher - Prof. Hristo Brambarov who started working with him. As a student Stoyan Popov was awarded a gold medal at the World Youth Festival in Helsinki. After a few more years Stoyan Popov was already among the favorite singers of the Bulgarian and later the foreign audiences in Europe and America. He was called by the French music critics “The Bulgarian Tito Gobbi." Touring the world opera stages brought him recognition and awards. He was awarded the "Kamerzenger" title of the Vienna Opera in 1982.

Without exaggeration one can say that Stoyan Popov has the full set of skills needed for a great career in music: very beautiful and powerful voice, artistry and impressive posture. Many of his performances are recorded in music history as models for vocal and acting techniques.

© Photo: private archive

The repertoire of Stoyan Popov shows the versatility of his talent and his gift to play various characters. Undoubtedly, he is recognized as a brilliant interpreter of Verdi’s baritone repertoire. His performances of the parties of the Babylonian King Nabucco and Ethiopian King Amonasro are world class examples. His performances of Macbeth and Iago are unforgettable.
The expressive nuances are characteristic of the parties of Don Carlo; in Simon Boccanegra, as well as in the specific and very tough to perform Falstaff. It highlights a new aspect of the gift of Stoyan Popov – comedy. In the role of Rigoletto Stoyan Popov reaches tragic heights in the construction of the deep psychological image.

Some remarkable vocal performances mark the Russian repertoire of Stoyan Popov. The biggest opera critics in France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Russia always admire his achievements in the roles of Prince Igor, Prince Golitsyn, Boris Godunov, etc. Stoyan Popov and his huge experience have turned the party of Khan Krum of the eponymous opera by Alexander Iosifov one of the masterpieces of Bulgarian opera. The BNR keeps in its archives a recording of the Momtchil Opera by Lubomir Pipkov from 1970. We offer you a fragment of the opera.

During all seasons of his brilliant career Stoyan Popov has always been loyal to the Sofia Opera. There he received the recognition as outstanding performer of classical dramatic baritone roles. It is Bulgaria where Stoyan Popov draws his inspiration from.
One of the unforgettable performances of Stoyan Popov is that of Baron Scarpia from Puccini’s Tosca. We offer you a fragment of part 1. 

English version: Alexander Markov
По публикацията работи: Prof. Boyanka Arnaudova


Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

"Fuego Del Amor"- the first song of a Bulgarian artist with the name of Gipsy Kings

JOEF Gipsy Kings Family have recorded "Fuego Del Amor" - a song with Bulgarian singer Sandra Alexandrova. The story of the song actually started three years ago, when Sandra and her producer Artur Nadosyan visited Nice - there they met the Joef Gipsy..

published on 1/19/25 10:45 AM

Beautiful Bilyana - the new BG ethno house song of DEEP ZONE project

DEEP ZONE Project are ready with their latest BG ethno house project - "Hubava Bilyana" (Beautiful girl Bilyana), in which they once again combine modern electronic dance music with original folk-based motifs, as always with love for Bulgaria...

published on 1/17/25 12:57 PM

Mihaela Fileva - ''Last Tear''

Mihaela Fileva’s latest song, "Last Tear", was released with a music video produced by the artist herself. 2025 marks a new beginning for her as she embarks on a journey as a self-producing artist with a new distributor and a new YouTube channel...

published on 1/15/25 6:45 AM