The famous far behind the Bulgarian borders tenor Kamen Chanev will be guest as Mario Cavaradossi in “Tosca” by Puccini on 8 December at 19.00 h and on 10 December at 16.00 h.

Kamen Chanev was born in Sliven. He graduated the French language school in his home town and after that the Music Academy in Sofia. He specialized in Rome in Boris Christoff’s Academy. In 1992 he started working at Sofia Opera. After five seasons he moved to Prague, where he sang two years long before becoming a free lancer.

He has worked together with Alexandrina Milcheva, Ghena Dimitrova, Leone Magiera (Luciano Pavarotti’s pianist). He is laureate of the Jussi Bjoerling Competition, Sweden. He expresses himself in the basic tenor repertoire – besides in Bulgaria also on the big opera stages in Europe, Asia and USA. He has prestigious engagements on the stages of the Wiener Staatsoper (in the roles of Des Grieux from “Manon Lescaut” and Pinkerton from “Madama Butterfly”) and Arena di Verona (Calaf from “Turandot”).

The singer’s repertoire is varied and includes over 30 main roles (“Aida”, “Don Carlos”, “La Traviata”, “Rigoletto”, “Cavalleria rusticana”, “Pagliacci”, “Il trovatore”, “Madama Butterfly”, “Tosca”, “Rigoletto”, “Carmen”), as well as the tenor parts from the cantata-oratorio works “Symphony No. 9” by Beethoven, “Requiem” by Mozart, Verdi and Dvořák, “Stabat Mater” by Rossini, “Symphony No. 8” by Mahler.

Chanev is one of the singers, who continue to confirm the glory of the opera talent of the Bulgarians. Free in spirit, he doesn’t want to bind himself to any opera theatre. Kamen works in Vienna, but he is wanted on the greatest opera stages. The tenor is grateful to Sofia Opera and Ballet, from the scene of which started his career.