The singer is a laureate of the First International Competition "Art Stars" – Varna. Laureate in the "Festival of Russian Classical and Contemporary Romance – Balkanskaya Romansiada", in Moscow. Laureate in the International Youth Festival "Slavic Bell" – First Prize. Stefani Krasteva received a nomination for Young Musician of the Year 2021 from the Bulgarian National Radio. In February 2019, she made her debut on the stage of the Sofia National Opera and Ballet in the role of Tatiana from Tchaikovsky's "Eugene Onegin". On the same stage, she performed the role of Kristiania from Marin Goleminov's opera "Zachary the Painter".

- Mrs. Krasteva, could you tell us how you came to perform the role of Tatiana in the opera "Eugene Onegin", which the audience will see on 14 August at Lake Pancharevo? Was it a matter of luck, competition or invitation?

- I am happy that from the very beginning of my studies I had the opportunity to have as my teachers Acad. Plamen Kartaloff and the wonderful Vera Petrova, who is also the director of the fascinating production "Eugene Onegin". I received the invitation a few years ago when the premiere performances were being staged, but I didn't feel ready yet. I needed more time and maturity, both vocally and mentally, to try to get in touch with the character. So we waited a few years and in 2019 I debuted on the stage of Sofia Opera and Ballet in the role of Tatiana. I am grateful that they believed in me as a young artist and gave me this great opportunity. I am fortunate that this will be the third performance I will participate in as Tatiana and even more interesting for me is that this time we will be supported by the beauty and magic of Lake Pancharevo.

- You are said to be young and very ambitious. What ambitions can a young and aspiring opera singer have?

- To be honest, I've never described myself as very ambitious. I would rather say that I am a disciplined person and when I get an invitation, I take my commitment very responsibly and dedicate myself to the preparation completely.

- Do the ambitions coincide with the opportunities offered on the opera stage in Bulgaria?

- I've been lucky to get opportunities to perform on the opera stage since I was very young. These are invaluable lessons for a budding artist and a huge chance for development. I am grateful to everyone who has given me a hand.

- You have a good professional background in classical singing. Did your education help or is talent alone enough? What did the National School of Arts "Dobri Hristov" Varna give you?

- Of course, my education helped. The National School of Arts "Dobri Hristov" gave me a good foundation on which to build later as a student at the National Academy of Music "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov". Talent is a gift from God, which we are obliged to develop. And in answer to the question of whether it alone is enough, I take the liberty of quoting the great Ghena Dimitrova, who said: "To create great art, one needs exceptional perseverance of thought, desire, will, as well as continuous creative search, improvement, burning..."

- Ernest Hemingway said, "All that is far from the sea is country." You were born in Varna, you studied and graduated there... How does living and working outside the sea capital, here in the "province" called Sofia, affect you? Do you get used to it or do you still miss the sea?

- I miss Varna and, more precisely, my parents and my brother and sister, with whom we have a very strong relationship. Sadly, it's getting rarer, but whenever I get the chance, I pop in to see them. I like living in Sofia and I haven't had a problem with the adaptation.

- How does a day go for you in personal plan?

- In person it's a lot of fun and every day is different. We have a wonderful son who is almost a year old and he is an exceptional child, very charming and loving. Our favourite things are family walks and time spent together. As he is still very tiny and needs attention and care we try to be by his side, but when we need to we trust our parents, being sure that they will replace us with dignity. Thanks for having them!

- Do you find time for other activities besides singing?

- I try to do it, although there are busier periods when it is impossible. But I love my profession and it is a pleasure to practice it.

- So far you have won many awards, you are a laureate of many competitions. What are your goals? What do you pursue on the opera stage?

- I would say desires instead of goals. I will be happy one day to sing my most favourite roles on the world opera stages, but I know that everything comes with its time and I am in no hurry. More important is the path I will take to get there.

- Let's talk about the role of Tatiana. It's a complex personage, with not an easy character. Did you make friends with your character easily or did you encounter difficulties?

- I define the personage of Tatiana as very close to my mentality. I have long dreamed of the opportunity to play this role and I always prepare with much love and trepidation to meet the character.

- What is the personage of Tatiana for you? How would you describe her? How are you similar to the character?

- Tatiana is pure, sincere with a lofty soul, devoted, with many moral and spiritual qualities. She is morally impeccable, true to her word to the last, despite the strong love she feels for Onegin. A very complex but extremely compelling character. As I said a moment ago, I find a big part of myself in her, and I will give my all to touch the audience by inhabiting her character just as she touched me.

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- You say you like to dream. One of your biggest dreams was to perform the role of Tatiana from the opera Eugene Onegin. Well, the dream came true. What's next from here? What will be the next dream?

- Only God knows what comes next. I dream to be healthy and still surrounded by my loved ones, who give me great support and encouragement to develop.

- Are you a romantic person or a realist with your feet firmly on the ground?

- I am a romantic person. I love spending time with my loved ones. I like to express my love in any ways. I like to make surprises and often imagine how the person I have done something nice for would react. For me it is important in the family, despite the busy everyday life and past the appearance of the child, to always find time for tenderness, to say "I love you", not to forget about the wonderful moments we had in the origin of our love and not to stop dreaming of many more.

- Do you have time for dreams from work and family commitments?

- I dream and I always knew that dreams come true! I believe very strongly and boldly wish, channelling all my energy, thought, love and patience into pursuing my dreams, confident and calm that things are lining up just the way that is best for me and my loved ones!

- Does the loved one next to you help make your dreams come true? How do you balance work and family?

- I have a wonderful husband who is very supportive and gets excited with me about every appearance I make. I am grateful to fate that we are both committed to the art of opera. My husband, Emil Pavlov, is a third generation tenor and has had the privilege of being in the theatre and learning from the greatest opera greats since he was a child. For me, there is nothing better than walking this path together and looking in the same direction. And the child loves us singing to him and listens to us with interest. He's very cute when he tries to imitate us.

- I wish you a successful performance in this wonderful and favourite work of mine by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. And what do you wish our readers and the spectators who are waiting for you?

- Thank you from the bottom of my heart! I wish you and your readers health, inspiration and always finding time for the things that make you feel truly happy.

Interview by Olya Al-Ahmed