Together with Symphonia domestica in the 2nd part of the concert, the Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio led by Rossen Milanov celebrated the anniversary of the composer’s birthday (June 11, 1864). It was a wisely selected program in which the gorgeous soprano of Krassimira Stoyanova excelled. After Liù at the Met, Vitellia (Aix-en-Provence), Anna from Le Villi (Vienna), Donna Anna (Bilbao) in 2005 and Desdemona (Barcelona and Tokyo) in 2006, her voice acquired more dramatic sonority and greater artistic facility to use shades of color, fine details and accents to express the unsuspected depth of human soul—what these Vier letzte Lieder mostly demand. Her elegant phrasing and masterly control of dynamics (a fortunate heritage of her professional background as a violinist) make one forget the abundance of vocal difficulties that the singer must surmount to impart a sacred ritual convincingly.

Stoyanova sang the virtuoso passages in Frühling with stunning flexibility and fleetness; she saturated September and Beim Schlafengehen with warmth, tenderness and quiet melancholy; and, she performed Im Abendrot movingly, suggesting the approach of the end. The Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio and Rossen Milanov did their best to match the rich pallette of Stoyanova’s vocal mastery.

Vier letzte Lieder have always been a great challenge for the great singers. And no doubt Krassimira Stoyanova is one of them.

Our correspondent in Bulgaria

Related Links:

• Varna Summer Festival
• Krassimira Stoyanova Official Homepage