A BULGARIAN LION HAS DIED

The Bulgarian opera bass, Nicola Gyuzelev, passed away at the age of 77. His talent and brilliant performances received recognition on world famous opera stages.

He was a student of the famous Bulgarian baritone, prof. Hristo Brambarov. Gyuzelev’s talent was manifested in exciting characters and the title role of Boris Godunov is associated with him.

Nicola started singing from very early age. His interest in opera music was awakened when, as a15 year old, he first heard a radio broadcast of the monologue of Boris Godunov from the eponymous opera by Mussorgsky. That experience had a great influence on Gyzelev’s future professional development and blossoming career.

He first graduated from the Academy of Arts in Sofia, then from the Academy of Music and combined in himself the unique culture of the times he lived in. He built over 70 opera character roles, full of energy, passion and enormous potential. Critics say his voice is profound and beautiful. Gyuzelev’s way to build his character roles was outside the familiar models and that is why he was exceptional. Critics lavish superlatives on him and he deserves them because he himself built the standard of his excellence. Irrespective of whether he appeared in the role of Don Basilio or Don Juan, Prince Igor or Boris Godunov, watching Gyuzelev’s outstanding performances would inevitably leave music and images which will be remembered for ever.