"I am keeping warm memories about the great Bulgarian bass Boris Christoff. I was a 20-year old boy, when I met him. I was watching him with fear and respect, and he was exceptionally gentle and kind to me".

This said in a press conference at the Sofia Opera the world-known Italian bass Ferruccio Furlanetto, who arrived in our capital specially to take part in the opera "Don Carlo". With it the Opera will open the season on 20 September.
The opera "Don Carlo" by Verdi, in which the star from Italy will enter in the role of Filippo II, is in the frames of the celebrations of Boris Christoff’s Jubilee. With the spectacle will be marked also the 100th Anniversary of the opera director Mihail Hadzhimishev. Already 26 seasons "Don Carlo" is the spectacle which attracts as magnet most artists.

"For me Boris Christoff will always stay not only a great professional, who combines the singer with the actor, but also a great personality", told before journalists Ferruccio Furlanetto, who was determined by the critique as the present Filippo II number 1.

The Italian bass remembered that after his introduction to Boris Christoff he had decided to follow his way. Five years later Furlanetto entered for the first time in the role of Filippo II in Germany, and for 12 hours the production changed his life.

About himself the Italian said, that he is a lucky person, because he "has arrived in time in order to get in touch with the last great names of the art of the opera", who he defined like mines with knowledge. "Our task is not another one, but to be a filter of the roles, in which we enter through the technique and talent, but this requires a long work", explained Furlanetto about the mission of the opera singer and added that the visit of the Escorial castle, where takes place the action in "Don Carlo", has helped him exceptionally much to transport himself in the atmosphere and the historical moment of the opera.

"I find the director Plamen Kartaloff and the conductor Grigor Palikarov for exceptionally prepared professionals and for me it is an honour and privilege to go out on the opera stage in Boris Christoff’s motherland", added Furlanetto.

See also: «The best Filippo II in the world at the moment Ferruccio Furlanetto admires the Bulgarian opera singers from the past and from today - BTA - 18.09.2014
19 young performers from five countries will compete for the awards in the Boris Christoff Competition at Sofia Opera before audience - BTA - 18.09.2014