The CD includes twelve melodious and popular canzonettas. Torna a Surriento, Santa Lucia, Non ti scordar di me and others are quite popular and known in the interpretations of Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo. Andrea Bocelli with whom the Bulgarian soprano has appeared on stage several times, has also performed them. The Bulgarian National Radio is the album’s producer. It will be released this autumn.

Svetla Vassileva spent five days in the company of the musicians from the BNR Symphony Orchestra at Studio 1. Recordings proceeded under the baton of Marcello Rota, cousin of famous film music composer Nino Rota. „I appreciate it very much that the orchestra is fully staffed because Italian canzonettas require dense orchestration”, Marcello Rota said and praised the work of the orchestra.

On the last day of recordings violinist Vasko Vassilev was also at the studio. The world-acclaimed violinist has for years been a fan of Svetla Vassileva. He arrived to Bulgaria especially for the recording of the soprano’s first Bulgarian CD. Being the leader of the Royal Opera orchestra in London, Vasko admitted he had never heard a more proficient Violetta in La traviata meaning Svetla’s rendition. The two stars looked childishly happy on stage working together and absolutely spellbound by the music they had come to perform.

In the final minutes of the recording session we heard a dark-haired girl humming, the popular „Funikuli Funikula” standing between Svetla and Vasko. “This was not according to plan”, Svetla explained. “We had ten minutes left and improvised with this piece. A nice finale, isn’t it?” This turned out to be Yume Pellegrino, her daughter, who speaks Bulgarian:

„It was very emotional. I had never sung to an audience before. I know the song, and had rehearsed it for a while, but I did not feel at ease when mother called me to the stage. I love music and have taken piano and violin lessons, but I do not know what my profession will be yet. I am keen on horse-riding. I have traveled the world but always love to visit my granny in Dobritch and to sing with mom.”

Svetla Vassileva has both Bulgarian and Italian citizenships but has always pointed to her Bulgarian roots. And she always travels with her family. „If someone is professionally successful, this is just one success, and if he or she goes on to keep a sound family, this is already double success”, the singer smiles.

English Daniela Konstantinova