The decades in which Bulgaria was rigidly embedded in the orbit of the Soviet Union inevitably controlled the programming in its opera houses. In addition to native works, some of which were included on AE 205, Opera from Bulgaria, performances were predominantly of the operas of Russia, Italy and France. Russian opera was particularly favored, but has been saved for a potential future disc. Note that the disc is available in two versions, one pressed for Windows only, the other on CD-R for Macintosh and other computers.
In an era when excellent lyric singers were in generous supply, those who sang primarily in Bulgarian were understandably little known outside their native land. Though Penka Marinova (Leila), Nikolai Zdravkov (Nadir) and Kiril Krastev (Zurga) are not familiar names in the West, their performance under Liuben Pintev suggests that in another era they would have been welcomed in any house.
Oddly, Nikola Ghiuselev's Mephisto has been missing from the catalogue until now. He is joined in this performance by the young Stefka Evstatieva as Margherita and Kaludi Kaludov as Faust.
The attraction of this recording will undoubtedly be Nikolai Ghiaurov's early Méphistophèlés, but Ilija Jossifov (Faust), Katia Popova (Marguerite) and Georgi Genov (Valentin) prove to be pleasant surprises. The conductor, Atanas Margaritov, leads an oddly reorganized and edited version of the score.
Though the singers are not familiar outside of Bulgaria, Maria Bohachek (Gioconda), Yurgo Stefanov (Enzo) and their colleagues make one wish that the missing Acts had been captured.
"Luxury casting" is well represented by complementing Julia Wiener's Turandot and Nikola Nikolov's Calaf with the Timur of Nikola Ghiuselev.
Undoubtedly, the primary interest here is Nikolai Ghiaurov's first Italian Philip. Liubomir Bodurov (Carlos), Radka Konforti (Elisabetta) and Jordanka Dimcheva (Eboli) prove to be able colleagues in this performance under Atanas Margaritov.
Julia Wiener and Nikola Smochevski are memorable here as Scottish royalty even though singing in Bulgarian.
Stoyan Popov's performance in the title rôle will be a pleasant surprise to those attracted to the recording by Ghena Dimitrova's Abigaille and Nikolai Ghiaurov's Zaccaria.
Though broadcast from "the provinces", this is far from a provincial recording with the Rigoletto of Kiril Krastev and the Duke of Nikolai Zdravkov.
Atanas Margaritov leads an intriguing and unconventional reading, not surprising since Wagner was rarely performed in Bulgaria. Ivan Popov as the Holländer and Radka Konforti as Senta lead a solid cast.
E-mail me at operas@mrichter.com