Zvetelina Vassileva is a lyric-dramatic soprano with a career in many of the most prestigious opera theatres around the world, such as:
The Metropolitan Opera in New York,
Royal Opera House, Covent Garden,
Staatsoper Berlin,
La Monnaie, Brussels,
Amsterdam, Glasgow, Cardiff, Toronto, San Francisco, Huston, Chicago, Tokyo, Moscow, Prague, Bucharest, Shanghai and many others in USA, Europe and Asia.
The 2017/2018 season for Zvetelina Vassileva began with Princess Turandot in the scenes of Shanghai Opera House, Grand Theatre: C. R. Palumbo, d.Ando,
9 symphony of Beethoven in Bulgaria Hall Sofia, Aida in Sofia National Opera, again Turandot at Savonlinna Opera Festival – Finland with c.Veronesi.
Some of her upcoming performances in 2019 are: Turandot in February in the National Palace of Culture in Sofia and 9th Symphony in Bulgaria Hall Sofia in May.
In the previous two seasons 2016/2017/2018 Vassileva sings at the International festival in Split Croatia - Aida and Turandot, as well as Adriana Lecouvreur, Elizabeth in Don Carlos, Mimi in La bohème, Micaela in Carmen, Tosca on the stages of Wichita Grand Opera, Kansas, Varna Summer Festival, Sofia Opera, Stara Zagora Opera, Skopje Opera and Ballet, etc.
After graduating in the opera class at the Premier Academy of Music in Sofia, Zvetelina Vassileva debuts on the stage of National Opera as Amelia in “Un Ballo in Maschera”. She releases Elizabeth in “Don Carlo”, Desdemona in “Otello”, Leonora in “Il Trovatore” during the next seasons.
Meantime she wins the international competitions in Italy “T. Scippa” and “Fr. Cilea” and specializes with the famous tenor C. Bergonzi in Milan, La Scala.
Vassileva debuts with Leonora’s part in “Il Trovatore” in San Francisco and next season she sings at the premiere of “Russlan and Ludmyla” by Glinka and in “Il Coronazione di Popea” – conductor P. Summers.
The same time she receives very high appreciation by the critics and the audience for her part as Šarka in “Šarka” at the reputable international festival in Wexford:
- “Zvetelina Vassileva is a thrilling dramatic soprano who by this time next year, ought to be the name on every opera impresario’s lips”, and a critic of “The Times” wrote about her “…a beautiful, sword-like soprano tone allied to real musical sensibility”.
Opera London
“Zvetelina Vassileva, from the Sofia Opera was a shining young heroine, now tender, now fiery, steady and beautiful through all the range, rising through big phrases without strain or impurity”
The Sunday Telegraph
“One came away spellbound by thrillingly beautiful singing of the Bulgarian soprano Zvetelina Vassileva as Šarka, a performance by this fast rising star to remember and cherish”
Sunday Times
“Zvetelina Vassileva, the Bulgarian soprano who sang the title role, must be one of the great operatic finds of the decade. She has a huge, highly concentrated voice and a dynamic stage presence which proclaims her a massive star before she has even finished incanting her first phrase.”
The Daily Telegraph
“My personal Palme d’Or goes to Zvetelina Vassileva, a Bulgarian soprano who attacked the title role with fearless accuracy and total commitment.”
Opera News
“As Šarka, Zvetelina Vassileva’s strong, steely voice was equal to the heavy demands of the warrior maiden, but she also had warmth and lyricism for the love music”
Opera Canada
“”The electrifying voice and acting of soprano Zvetelina Vassileva had the festival agog”
The Spectator
“Zvetelina Vassileva – the Bulgarian soprano who sang the title role must be one of the great operatic finds of the festival. It sounds to me as if she is ready to do just about anything.”
Next are performances at the Royal House Covent Garden – Desdemona in “Otello” and Marenka in “The Bartered Bride”, director Fr. Zambello. Also – “Nights of the stars” in The Royal Albert Hall with Ag. Baltza, G. Gaccomini, D. Dessi, Chura and Armigliato.
Opera
“The vocal highlights of the evening were all supplied by Zvetelina Vassileva’s lovely soprano, a voice of shining purity and creamy undertones easily able to ride the ensembles. Her portrayal of the humiliated Desdemona was almost unbearable in its poignancy … free of unwanted sentimentality.”
Following engagements are in COC, Toronto – “Turandot” as Liu, “La Traviata” as Violeta, “Otello” as Desdemona, “Un Ballo in Maschera” as Amelia and Jovanna D’Arcko – Verdi.
The Globe and Mail – “La Tarviata”
“Vassileva has a wonderfully rich soprano voice, and her characterization grew stronger with each scene”
The Washington Post
“Zvetelina Vassileva proved an unusually complete Violeta, with a soulfully introspective element to her acting … her gorgeous voice, with its dark cast and quick vibrato handsomely served the coloratura in Act 1 and the passionate outbursts in Act 2.”
Opera
“Zvetelina Vassileva’s Desdemona was beautiful, graceful, vulnerable with a fully lyric soprano which could ride the third-act ensemble … Vassileva was superb in Desdemona’s exquisitely moving Willow Song and Prayer.”
The Toronto Star
“Soprano Zvetelina Vassileva grew in stature as the performance progressed, her phrasing ardent, her rich voice ever more free, as Verdi sends Giovanna soaring above the crowds that clamor around her.”
In the Metropolitan New York Opera, Zvetelina Vassileva sings Violeta in “La Traviata”, Leonora in “Il Trovatore” and Musetta in “La Boheme”- the all roles in premiere.
Alongside she performs in the theatres in Baltimore, Detroit, Cincinnati, West Palm Beach, Opera Pacific, Kentucky and more. She plays Amelia, Leonora, Mimi, Tosca, Tatyana.
At Houston Grand Opera Zvetelina sings Jaroslavna in “Prince Igor”, Tatyana and AIDA.
The New York Times - “Prince Igor”, HGO
“Zvetelina Vassileva’s big, passionate soprano was ideal for Jaroslavna and her great laments.”
New York, The Wall Street Journal
“Zvetelina Vassileva sang Jaroslavna with a powerful spirit and a clean, abrasive soprano”
The Times – “Il Trovatore”
“Zvetelina Vassilevahas an athletic steely voice with all the necessary notes … This impressive, full – toned soprano…threw off “Di tale amor” with plenty of theatrical glitter and discovered an exquisite control and pathos in “D’amor dull’ali rosee”
Opera Japonica – “Eugeni Onegin”, HGO
“Zvetelina Vassileva was a girlish Tatyana, unsure of herself in the letter scene, but she matured before our eyes becoming a sophisticated society matron by the finale … she was able to encompass the role effectively, singing with the light sound of a young girl at the beginning and finished with passionate, womanly tones full of dramatic colorations.”
Los Angeles Times
“Zvetelina Vassileva was a strong – dark toned focused Liu.”
Orange County register
“Zvetelina Vassileva who sang the role at the Metropolitan Opera this season, brought equal parts poise and brilliance to Leonora. She turned on a dime from dramatic heft to chirping coloratura, no sweat. Golden – toned, with a silver edge, she tended to take things on the slow side, as if to highlight the quality of her voice.”
Madison Journal
“Madison Opera’s Tosca is a triumph. Zvetelina Vassileva, the Tosca in Madison opera production staged in Overture Hall, thoroughly explored the interpretive opportunities in a complex heroine – emotionally volatile, immediately jealous and suspicious, quickly impassionate, eventually despairing and ultimately bold in action. Because Ms. Vassileva did so and because she sang beautifully – no less important, because opera is foremost a vocal art form – this production of one of the most popular operas in the repertoire was a success. Vassileva is a Lirico – spinto soprano. She demonstrated a consistent ability to spin out a long legato line and make it vibrate with emotion. A beautiful woman, she acted the role with great intensity and conviction, with physicality. Her brutal encounter with Scarpia at the second act was stunning.”
Houston Chronicle
“Vassileva’s dramatic soprano eloquently expresses Aida’s conflict, torn between love for Radames and loyalty to her homeland … her voice reveals its full radiance and power in her third act area lamenting the fate of her people and her final tragic yet transcendent duet with Radames.”
Culture Vulture – Nancy Wozny
“…an international cast of superb artists. Zvetelina Vassileva makes a proud and potent AIDA… Vassileva and Berti are especially captivating in the final scene”
Dallas News
“Zvetelina Vassleva brings a strong, finely polished soprano to the role of Tatyana and from escapist adolescent to noble wife, she’s persuasive all the way.”
In Europe, Zvetelina Vassileva scored success in Staats Opera Berlin – Mimi in "La Boheme".
La Monnaie – Brussels, as Judith in “Bluebeard’s Castle”, Festival in Edinburgh, Santander festival and Bregenz festival with Leonora and AIDA.
Welsh National Opera, Cardiff, Seville - “La Maestranza”, Thessaloniki-Greece, Glasgow, Prague Staate Opera, Bucharest National Opera, Moscow Palace Kremlin, Sofia National Opera, etc.
The Independent on Sunday
“In the title role AIDA, Zvetelina Vassileva has the ideal balance of strength and vulnerability, a gentle and touching presence, stamina and effortless tonal and radiance.”
The Spectator
“The star of the show is certainly its heroine sung by Zvetelina Vassileva who established her character in all its complexity with a magnificent – “”Ritorna Vinchitor”
The Guardian
“Vassileva’s AIDA is the class act … her pianissimo phrases were exquisite”
The Independent
“Zvetelina Vassileva brings tenderness, brilliance and a certain edgy vitality to a part that can laps into psychological vacuity. Her Ritorna Vincitor beautifully expressed the irresoluble conflicts in her situation and with marvelous control that she retained to the very end.”
Oper & Tanz – Martin Koch
“an disem 25 Juli eine Wunderbare AIDA Zvetelina Vassileva”
El Pais Madrid – J.Vela de Campo
“Magnifica la AIDA de Zvetelina Vassileva”
Classical Voice – San Francisco
“The beautiful Zvetelina Vassileva portrayed Desdemona demurely, sweet-natured submissive … She sings with rich Italianate sound and graceful phrasing. Her voice is clear and attractive, musically perfect.”
P. Post – Jaime Robles
“Zvetelina Vassileva was lovely of both form and voice, the sweetness of her portrayal Desdemona was one of the more engaging features of the drama and gave the opera same of its few inspired moments. The love duet closing Act 1 “Quando Narravi” was tenderly sung by both Botha and Vassileva likewise.”
The Times
“Zvetelina Vassileva – lissome, youthful AIDA with loving, phrasing and gleaming tone.”
Opera Fresh – 06.02.2012, Kansas
“The role of Leonora was played by Zvetelina Vassileva. Vassileva possesses a voice with great tonal flexibility and she was able to display great tenderness and utter pathos, her coloratura tones were breathtaking.”
The Wichita Eagle – 19.02.2013
“Zvetelina Vassileva as Desdemona portrayed Otello’s tragically, abiding wife. Her voice had a glowing passion to it and she delivered the emotion of her role beautifully.”
The Wichita Eagle – 04.2013
“As the Countess Zvetelina Vassileva’s voice was rich, powerful and expressive …some of the most beautiful singing in the performance was done by Vassileva in “Dove sono” and in “Sull’aria che soave reffiretto”
Opera News, WGO - "William Tell" – 01.05.2014
G. Dansker
“Zvetelina Vassileva was an ardent and regal Mathilde, offering an eloquently sung "Sombre foret".... in all it was a very well sung portrayal especially exciting during her Act III, confrontation with Gesler...”
East Wichita News – 08.05.2014
Kerry Kuplic, M. Mus
Wichita Grand Opera's Tosca
"For a truly moving performance of Tosca a powerful, beautiful soprano is needed Zvetelina Vassileva performed her role as Tosca effortlesly and with passion...
Arguably, the highlight of the opera is Tosca's second act aria, "Vissi dárte". The raw emotion and vulnerability with which Vassileva executed this aria was transcendent and acould have brought even the most stoic audience member to tears."
"Belgian Opera Guide"-16.09.2015
Patrick C. Byrne
"Turandot"-WGO Kanzas
"The Turandot was Zvetelina Vassileva. The voice was enormous cooping magnificently with the stratospheric climaxes and also handling the lyric passages with surprising ease...The acting of the principals was first hand, with Vassileva particularly effective as the complex princess.She not only did that with aplomb but added that extra layer of interplay with the ardently resolute Calaf that brings further excitement to these two larger than life characters."
'The Kansas city star''-31.08.2015
L.Hanssen
"Turandot"- WGO Kansas
"Zvetelina Vassileva brought a fierce passion to the role of the bloodthirsty princess Turandot, though her powerful, commanding voice made her transformation from ferocious to conquered beauty melted by a kiss difficult to comprehend."
Many conductors with whom the soprano Zvetelina Vassileva has enjoyed collaboration include:
A.Guadanio, M. Arena, D. Oren, B. Heiting, C. Rizzi, M.Armiliato,
N. Luisotti, P.Jordan, Y.Mercl, A.Fisher, P.Chasslin, Delacote, J.De Main, R.Armstrong, S.Mercurio, Zagrozeg, Ed.Muller, Licatta, Cuattrocci, J.Adams, P.Summers, etc.
Zvetelina Vassileva has given concert performances in Italy, France, Netherlands, etc.
Concertgebow, Amsterdam– “Les Noches” Stravinsky,
Georg Weston Recital Hall, Tornoto – “Giovanna DÁrco” Verdi,
The Royal Albert Hall, London – “Nights of the Stars” with Armiliato, Agnes Balts, Daniela Dessi, Rosalind Plowright, G.Quilico, Jose Cura, Giuseppe Giacomini
and in Grand Kremlin Palace, Moscow – Gala Concert.