Various - Famous Opera Voices of Bulgaria – Nadya Afeyan, mezzo soprano (2023)

Nadya Afeyan (1917-2000) captivated the audience at home and abroad with dozens of mezzo-soprano roles from Italian, French, German, Russian and Bulgarian operas.
Her characters always affected because the singer presented them on a large and multifaceted scale, which was a result of a deep insight into their souls and their individuality, all this evaluated through her intellect, her specific emotionality and temperament, making her characters full of energy and life. In return, the audience would invariably reward her with their love and applause.
Nadya Afeyan was for three decades one of the most elite Bulgarian opera singers at the Sofia Opera, who left a trace in the golden pages of its history. A remarkable artist and woman whose colourful life was filled with music, singing, love, suffering, joy and great success.
With a rich palette of colors, masterful use of the timbre and volume of her voice, with charm and deep penetration into the role, she performed Princess Eboli from Don Carlos, the fortune teller Ulrika from Un ballo in Maschera, а remarkable Marfa in Khovanshchina (Mussorgsky), Maddalena – Rigoletto (Verdi), the free and temperamental gypsy woman Carmen in Bizet’s opera, the demonic Ortrud in Lohengrin (Wagner), Frau Reich – The Merry Wives of Windsor (Nicolai), Marina Mnishek – Boris Godunov (Mussorgsky), Vanya – Ivan Susanin (Glinka), Lyubasha – The Tsar’s Bride (Rimsky-Korsakov), Elena – July Night by Parashkev Hadjiev (1912-1992) and many more roles that have become historical examples of the highest musical and stage mastery.
For twelve seasons (1960-1972) Nadya Afeyan was a soloist at the Berlin State Opera and continued to perform at the Sofia Opera.
She was awarded the title Kamersingerin for her contribution to German culture, and in Bulgaria she received the title “people’s artist” and other awards and orders.