Our meeting begins by recalling the fact that the first performer of Elizabeth in the world premiere of Tannhäuser in 1845 - Johanna Wagner, was only 19 years old when she sang the part. The beautiful and elegant Eleonora admits that she is 24 and considers herself "more mature". "I'll probably look at it differently later, but now I'm glad that right now I have the opportunity to perform it," she says of the role of the pure and selfless Countess Elizabeth. ‎

This is not Eleonora's first leading role, because in February she sang Pamina from The Magic Flute on the stage of the Sofia Opera. Elizabeth is undoubtedly the biggest part she has had the opportunity to perform so far - vocally difficult and, as the singer says - mentally perhaps. Because Pamina is also a young girl, but the inner feeling of the two heroines is completely different.

I ask her how she dared to make such a debut – after all, Elizabeth from Tannhäuser is a crown role for many great masters, among them the legendary Bulgarian Anna Tomova-Sintova.‎

‎"In addition to having enough courage, I think that, as Maestro Kartalov said – he did too. Because after I auditioned, he believed in me and that gave me enough strength and courage to move forward, to learn the role and after I learned the music, to work on all the other details. The role is difficult. In these months, since I started learning it, many people have told me that I am crazy because I went to debut with Elizabeth, but to tell you honestly, I do not feel the role is that heavy and difficult, there are no such terrible vocal challenges that I cannot overcome. Of course, there are various challenges, but with the work and with the maestro Trinks, and with Maestro Kartalov, and with all my colleagues, I think I can do it." ‎

Eleonora is working for the first time with the German conductor Constantin Trinks, who is well-known and much loved and respected at the Sofia Opera,  and has noticed his exceptional attention to detail.‎

Eleonora was born in the fourth largest city in the Republic of North Macedonia - Prilep. At the age of 13, she began studying singing at the music school in her hometown, then continued at the State Music School in Bitola. Five years ago, advised by her singing teacher in Bitola, Maya Mitrovska, she arrived in Sofia to study at the National Academy of Music "Prof. Pancho Vladigerov" in the class of Prof. Ivanka Ninova - a mezzo-soprano with an enviable solo career and a very successful teacher. "I found someone to teach me singing – what I can do at the moment," says Eleonora. "Of course, I still have a lot to learn… but I work with her in the way that works for me… "

The atmosphere at the Sofia Opera is wonderful for her:

"As a young soloist who doesn't have that much experience, I can say that I am very grateful to all my colleagues for their support, for their advice. I just know that there is someone next to me who I can ask for anything I can think of – whether it's for vocal advice, or just having someone to talk to here, I can count on them. As for the directors – The Magic Flute we worked with Vera Petrova, now we are working with maestro Kartalov. We work so well with both of them… The details they ask for actually make us as artists delve deeper into the character. And I am very happy that I have the opportunity to work with them."‎

‎ ‎Does she feel close to her heroine - Elizabeth? ‎

‎"Yes, I can say that I feel her very close. Because I believe in pure love and I believe that every person should have a chance... just to get the chance to repent and be forgiven. Elizabeth herself - she is young, she is pure, but she is so brave! I think I am brave enough to be able to do it the way I think is right and the way Maestro Kartalov sees it."‎

‎

For Eleonora from North Macedonia, Bulgaria is already a home: "Because I already have a family here" (Eleonora recently married a soloist from the Sofia Opera - the magnificent baritone Atanas Mladenov - editor's note). ‎‎"All the people I have met here have always been very good to me, there are very few exceptions. I'm happy to be here." ‎