Podcast in English
Text size
Bulgarian National Radio © 2025 All Rights Reserved

Memorial plaque to great opera singer Elena Nikolai unveiled in Genoa

Photo: mfa.bg

A memorial plaque dedicated to the famous Bulgarian opera singer - mezzo-soprano Elena Nikolai has been unveiled in the Italian city of Genoa. The initiative belongs to the Consulate General in Milan. Elena Nikolai's plaque is situated in the park of the Nikolo Paganini Conservatory in Genoa, where she perfected her musical education.

For her debut in 1934, the singer, who was born Stoyanka Nikolava, adopted the pseudonym Elena Nikolai. For seventeen years she was the diva of La Scala in Milan. For 23 seasons she sang in the oldest theater in Italy and one of the oldest in Europe - "San Carlo" in Naples, as well as on the opera stage in Genoa and others. Elena Nikolai is said to be one of the best mezzo-soprano singers of the 20th century.

She passed away in 1993 in Milan in the Verdi Home, donated by the great composer for use as a home for elderly opera musicians, BNR correspondent in Italy Elena Shahanova reported. The memorial plaque of the singer is the work of sculptor Petko Yordanov.



Последвайте ни и в Google News Showcase, за да научите най-важното от деня!
Listen to the daily news from Bulgaria presented in "Bulgaria Today" podcast, available in Spotify.

More from category

Stefan Komandarev

Stefan Komandarev's new film ranks among the best co-productions

The latest project by director Stefan Komandarev, "The Block Universe", is one of the 35 selected projects at the most important global forum for film co-productions, the Berlinale Co-Production Market. Every year there are hundreds of candidates,..

published on 1/10/25 10:59 AM

The film "Before I Forget" tells a family story about memory and love

The latest Bulgarian film "Before I Forget" can be seen in cinemas from today. It depicts the sad reality of one of the most common modern diseases - dementia. Screenwriter Teodora Stoilova-Doncheva was inspired by real events. The film is..

published on 1/10/25 5:55 AM
Minister of Culture Nayden Todorov at the opening of the exhibition at the Getty Museum in November 2024

The Ministry of Culture requests the evacuation of the Thracian treasures from the exhibition in Los Angeles

All necessary measures have been taken to protect the exhibits of the "Ancient Thrace and the Classical World: Treasures from Bulgaria, Romania and Greece" exhibition in Los Angeles from the raging fires in the area, reported BTA. The exhibition,..

published on 1/8/25 12:58 PM