Foto: Krum Stoev
Four participants in the Master classes of Raina Kabaivanska at New Bulgarian University (NBU) and also scholarship holders of her Fund at New Bulgarian University and of America for Bulgaria Foundation will participate in the concert for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the New Symphony Orchestra on 24th of June at Bulgaria Hall.
The audience will have the opportunity to hear "Miserere" by Gregorio Allegri and the Symphony No. 9 by Beethoven. The soloists: Darina Linkova (soprano), Venera Kotlarova (mezzo-soprano), Kiril Sharbanov (tenor) and Kostadin Mechkov (basso) are students of Raina Kabaivanska and participants in her Master classes at New Bulgarian University. The conductor will be Petko Dimitrov. In the programme of the concert is included also the mixed choir "In Sacris" conducted by Boriana Naydenova.
Darina Linkova soprano
Darina Linkova graduated from New Bulgarian University and in 2013 was admitted at the Master class of Raina Kabaivanska. In 2014 and 2015 Darina Linkova won scholarships from both Raina Kabaivanska Fund and America for Bulgaria Foundation to be trained at "O.Vecchi-A.Tonelli" Institute in Modena, Italy. In 2013 she was a prize-winner of "Renata Tebaldi" international competition in San Marino and in 2015 won the special prize of the competition in Sarzana, Italy.
Venera Kotlarova, mezzo-soprano
Venera Kotlarova graduated from the National Music Academy in 2012. During her studies she debuted as the Third Lady in the opera "The Magic Flute", Marcellina from "The Marriage of Figaro," Azucena from "Il Trovatore" and Fenena in "Nabucco". She is a scholarship holder of the Fund of Raina Kabaivanska at New Bulgarian University and America for Bulgaria Foundation in 2012 and 2013 and also a participant in Master classes at New Bulgarian University and the Academy "Chigiana" in Siena. In 2014 she won the third prize at the Second International Competition for Young Opera Singers "Elena Nicolai" in Panagyurishte.
Kiril Sharbanov, tenor
In 2009 he was admitted at the Master Class of Raina Kabaivanska in New Bulgarian University. The same year he won the scholarship for training with Raina Kabaivanska at Istituto Musicale "O. Vecchi-A. Tonelli" in Modena. In 2010 he participated in the Master class at the Academy "Chigiana" in Siena. In 2010 and 2011 he was in the main part of Puccini’s opera "La Boheme" – first at Sofia Opera and later, in 2012 - at Teatro Communale in Modena. The project was a co-production of New Bulgarian University, Sofia Opera and Teatro Comunale, Modena. In the period 2011-2013 Sharbanov participated in numerous concerts (with "Sofia Soloists", Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra and the choir of Bulgarian National Radio) and performances – of Burgas Opera, Vidin Philharmonic Orchestra, Chamber Opera of Blagoevgrad, Sofia Opera. In 2012 he participated with Sofia Opera in a tour in Japan.
Kostadin Mechkov, basso
Kostadin Mechkov graduated from National Music Academy Pancho Vladigerov in Sofia. In the period 2010-2014 he participated in the Master classes of Raina Kabaivanska at New Bulgarian University. For the last three years K. Mechkov has been a scholarship holder of the Fund of Raina Kabaivanska at New Bulgarian University. He refines his skills under the guidance of Raina Kabaivanska in her Master classes at the Academy "Chigiana" in Siena and at "O.Vecchi-A.Tonelli" Music Institute in Modena, Italy. Mechkov won the first prize for 2010 of the 22-nd National Competition for Young Opera Singers and Instrumentalists “Svetoslav Obretenov” and the third prize for 2013 of the International Competition “Elena Nicolai”.