In May 2014 we shall mark the centennial birth anniversary of Boris Hristov – one of the greatest opera singers of the 20^th century. His inimitable stage performances have gone down in world music history. Generously endowed with a rich and beautiful voice, he literally lives and breathes each and every role, imbuing the smallest of details of his unique artistic rendition with untold depths. His professional development started out from Bulgaria. Born to a family of intellectuals, as a child he sang in the choir of the St. Alexander Nevski cathedral; later he was soloist of the Gousla male choir. In 1942 Boris Hristov left for Italy where he studied opera singing. Several years later he was already performing on the world stages – at La Scala in Milan, at the London Covent Garden, the opera houses in Rome, Venice, Naples, Barcelona, Lisbon, Rio de Janeiro. Even though he never gave up his Bulgarian citizenship, during the times of totalitarian rule, Boris Hristov was barred from his country until 1967. Fortunately, the state changed its attitude to the world famous basso. In 1986, a Bulgarian Academy of Art and Culture, bearing his name opened doors in Rome. There, the great singer tutored young opera performers until his death in 1992.

A national committee in charge of the initiatives celebrating the centennial birth anniversary was set up under the patronage of Mihail Mikov, President of the Bulgarian National Assembly. It comprises government and non-governmental organizations as well as national media. “Our aim is to mark Boris Hristov’s centennial jubilee on a scale, befitting such a great artist,” says Momchil Georgiev, member of the committee and adds:

“The idea is to give these celebrations the widest scope, encompassing more than the traditional for such events initiatives. The Boris Hristov contest for young opera singers will, of course, take place this year. On May 18, his birthday, we shall organize a tribute at the Sofia Opera house and many concerts around the country. In an endeavour to involve as many world musicians as we can, we launched an initiative that quickly attracted dozens even hundreds of performers - we urged Bulgarian artistes to dedicate their performances in this country and abroad to this notable jubilee. I cannot possibly make mention of all names, but the musicians who joined our initiative include violinist Vesko Eshkenazi and conductors Zhan Angelov and Rossen Milanov. Several major tours by Bulgarian musicians abroad are also taking place under this motto. We offered more than 100 festivals around the world films, exhibitions and a host of other initiatives as sideline events. We have invited 128 European opera houses to pay tribute to Boris Hristov. We have already received confirmation from Le Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels, several Czech opera houses etc. Bulgarian composers have written or are currently working on works paying tribute to the Bulgarian basso. Renata Scotto’s master classes with Bulgarian singers in Rome and the master classes of Fiorenza Cossotto in Sofia are both dedicated to the jubilee.”

At the end of his life Boris Hristov left his Sofia home to the Bulgarian state “so as to promote the development of young opera singers”. Today it houses a museum exposition, organizes exhibitions and concerts. Its director Elena Dragostinova, a prominent music expert and journalist is always ready to accompany visitors to the museum and to tell them stories connected with this building.

“The centennial jubilee is good reason to accentuate the professional achievements of the renowned basso, his artistic principles and above all – his beliefs as a human being. He was a true citizen of the world but never forgot to do for his country what his heart ordained. At the Boris Hristov museum young talents can meet the foremost names in opera. To them this is a spring-board to world opera stages. But later they return to this small stage and join our circle of friends. With the help of the Ministry of Culture, two years ago we made arrangements to include Boris Hristov in the UNESCO list for 2014. The world events marking the jubilee started from the International House of Music in Moscow. We received an invitation from the Russian State Brass Band, the organization was undertaken by the Bulgarian Cultural Institute in Moscow with the assistance of the Bulgaria-Russia forum. The event was a veritable triumph of Bulgarian opera art, with the participation of bassos Plamen Beikov, Ivailo Jurov and Alexander Nossikov, together with mezzo-soprano Maria Zhekova. At the Shalyapin Museum – Boris Hristov’s idol – I gave a lecture - Boris Hristov – the Reformer of the Opera Stage, which was recorded for its archives. One of the lesser known facts I included in my presentation was the premiere of Boris Godunov in Covent Garden in 1958, i.e. in the times of the iron curtain. Relying on his name and renown, Boris Hristov insisted that the opera be performed entirely in Russian. At this performance the ambassador of the USSR and the British Prime Minister shared a box at the opera. A week later, at the second premiere, Queen Elizabeth II herself congratulated Boris Hristov on his success.”

The Boris Hristov Music Centre will tour different countries of Europe. On February 28 in Rome it will present a programme with the participation of two young performers – Maria Zhekova and Alec Avenisyan as well as the last students Boris Hristov had – Plamen Beikov and Mariana Tsvetkova. The concert at the Boris Hristov Academy is under the patronage of the Bulgarian ambassador to the Vatican.

“This was an invitation I was honoured to receive,” says Mariana Tsvetkova. “I was so eager to revisit the place where I worked with this great man for almost a year. He was my mentor in 1991. Since then I have always felt his presence at each of my performances. He is always there in the concert hall. And I know he is listening and criticizing me if I haven’t put my heart into the performance. Whether we perform a song, an aria or a whole opera, he always wanted us to be frank, to commit ourselves entirely and never to go home “with savings”. My return to Rome, to the Academy itself is a return to all the fears and apprehensions I had when I was presenting a new aria. And I can still see him – the way he would be standing, ready to voice disapproval or with tears in his eyes.”

English version: Milena Daynova

The audio to this file contains the following recordings:

-  Aria of Mephistopheles from Mephistopheles by Boito;

-  Glory to the Lord – with the Choir of the St. Alexander Nevski cathedral;

-  Boris's Farewell and Prayer from Boris Godunov;

-  Aria of Philip from the opera Don Carlos.