Nicolai Ghiaurov

Bulgarian Operatic Bass Vocalist

Nicolai Ghiaurov was a renowned Bulgarian opera singer, one of the most famous basses of the 20th century. Born on September 13, 1929, in Velingrad, Bulgaria, he established himself as a leading figure in the operatic world with his powerful voice and commanding stage presence. Ghiaurov's career took off after he won the Geneva International Music Competition in 1955. He made his debut at La Scala in Milan in 1959 and went on to perform at virtually all of the major opera houses around the world, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Royal Opera House in London, and the Paris Opera.