Dimitar Sotirov is the head of the PR office at the Sofia Opera and he is also a music lover and journalist. Milena Stoykova - camerawoman and producer of the film is niece of Ghena Dimitrova. The documentary shows the iconic performances of the great soprano on famous stages around the world, including Arena di Verona, La Scala, the Metropolitan, Nagoya and others. Arias and duets from operas by Verdi, Puccini, Mascagni and Giordano are interspersed with memories from friends and colleagues - José Carreras, Plácido Domingo, Fiorenza Cossotto, Roberto Scandiuzzi, Kurt Rydl, Bruna Baglioni, Alexandrina Miltcheva, Plamen Kartalov, Hugo de Ana, Michael Angelov, Maurizio Modugno, Alexandrina Pendatchanska, Anna Tomova- Sintova, Luciana D'Intino. For the first time viewers will see unique backstage footage showing Ghena Dimitrova among her friends and relatives and exciting moments such as the receiving of the Puccini Prize by Ghena Dimitrova and Franco Zeffirelli in 1989, or the celebration of her 50th anniversary in Genoa in 1991.
Author of the documentary Dimitar Sotirov told us more about it:
"The project has five years of history. In 2011 we had a conversation with Milena Stoykova. I was just starring work on the book "Ghena Dimitrova from A to Z" and we agreed that if she cooperated with the book, I would help her make the documentary. We did not know how much time it would take. We called the film "Music Impression." You will hear Ghena singing more unusual repertoire like traditional Bulgarian songs. You will see her in a more relaxed atmosphere among family members and friends. There are photos that would be shown for the first time. They are the work of Milena Stoykova, who took the photos in the last years of the singer’s life. We could not include all the interviews with friends of Ghena and I dare say that this is the beginning of a series of films about Ghena."
"Indeed, it was not easy to get to some of these names", Dimitar Sotirov goes on to say. "Of course, the most difficult was to get to Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo. They wrote down their memories about Ghena and later we were able to see them and take interviews. They were important because of what they say about Ghena. In the film you will see Luciano Pavarotti and many other famous people. We had a chance to find rare performances and rehearsals of Ghena Dimitrova with some of these remarkable artists. We have footage from rehearsals with Nicola Martinucci in Nagoya (Japan). I met the great singer in 1987 when she was celebrating 20 years since her debut on the stage of the Sofia Opera. But I think that anyone who has experienced her art remains enthralled forever. One just does not have any other chance. We found footage of the visit of the Rome Opera there from 1994. I've been to that stage but I was unaware that Ghena had sung Tosca there."
"Whoever had the chance to feel the greatness of Ghena must remain a modest man. Despite her unique voice and qualities Ghena never showed impudence. I can confidently say this because I knew her, and because I studied her life very carefully. Ghena knew her price but was one of those rare breed of people who never showed it."
English: Alexander Markov
The audio contains the following performances of Ghena Dimitrova:
. Aria of Gioconda, from La Gioconda by Ponchielli, with Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, conductor Ruslan Raychev
. Casta Diva from Norma by Bellini, with Festival Orchestra and Svetoslav Obretenov choir, conductor Emil Chakarov
. Aria of Lady Macbeth from Macbeth by Verdi, perf. with Sofia Phylharmonic Orchestra, conductor Emil Tabakov
. Aria of Leonora from La Forza del Destino by Verdi, perf. with Sofia Phylhamonic Orchestra, conductor Ruslan Raychev
