The Glory of Belcanto (Concert on 3 May 2019)

The opera singer Marena Balinova will perform (3 May 2019, at the Military Club in Plovdiv) works written especially for the Italian opera diva Giuditta Pasta, including famous arias like 'Casta Diva' from Bellini’s 'Norma' or the incredibly difficult finale of Donizetti’s 'Anna Bolena', as well as unique rarities like a Rossini aria which exists only in manuscript.

When: 3 May 2019, 19:00

Where: Military Club in Plovdiv

Entrance: donations are welcome 

The Italian opera diva Giuditta Pasta (1797–1865) was the reigning queen on European opera stages during the 1830’s. Audiences in London, Paris and Milan were at her feet, as well as famous composers like Rossini, Donizetti and Bellini. Her unique voice exercised an instantaneous and hypnotic effect upon the soul of the spectators, to be compared only to Maria Callas one century later.

The opera singer Marena Balinova studied in Sofia and Vienna, and follows an international career since, performing for instance during the Salzburg festival and at Musikverein Vienna, where she has been applauded as 'Belcanto Diva' by the opera magazine 'Neuer Merker'. 

A project of Nikolitsa Foundation associated with the Plovdiv 2019 programme.