90 years of Raina Kabaivanska: Modena celebrates the opera diva with a party!

90 years of Raina Kabaivanska: Modena celebrates the opera diva with a party!

On December 14, 2024A special celebration will take place in Modena in honor of the legendary Bulgarian soprano Raina Kabaivanska, who celebrates her 90th birthday on Sunday. On this festive occasion she sang the well-known “Ave Maria” from Verdi’s *Otello* at the grave of the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti, which was a deeply moving tribute to those gathered. Kabaivanska, who has played the role of Tosca more than 400 times, enjoys an outstanding reputation in the opera world and has lived in Italy for around seven decades. The Teatro Comunale is the center of her celebrations, in which students of her singing technique workshop, which the soprano still leads, will take part ORF Salzburg reported.

Career and achievements

Kabaivanska wanted to follow in the footsteps of great singers from an early age. After her debut in Bulgaria in 1957, she went to Italy, where she appeared at the famous La Scala in 1961, giving her career a significant boost. Over the years she has delighted audiences worldwide, from La Fenice in Venice to the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Her work at renowned venues such as the Bolshoi in Moscow and the Vienna State Opera highlights her status as one of the leading singers of her generation. Kabaivanska has been awarded numerous international prizes, including the prestigious Bellini Prize in 1965 and the Puccini Prize in 1978, such as Wikipedia highlights.

Another highlight of her career was taking part in extraordinary productions, including a series of performances directed by Maria Callas. With a repertoire ranging from Monteverdi to Nino Rota, she is known not only for her impressive voices, but also for her ability to bring emotions to life on stage. Her remarkable talent for portraying complex characters has inspired generations of opera lovers and continues to do so today.