The Consulate General of the Republic of Bulgaria in Milan together with the Municipality of Genoa and Asef of the Municipality of Genoa, sponsor of the event, celebrated the inauguration of the commemorative plaque of the famous Bulgarian opera singer and actress Elena Nicolai in the Park of the “Paganini” Conservatory of Genoa.

The ceremony was held this morning in front of the “Paganini”, where the plaque was affixed. The idea came from the Consul General in Milan Tanya Dimitrova to remember the deep bond between the Bulgarian mezzo and Genoa, the city where his first significant professional training took place.

Among the official guests at the ceremony were: the consul general of the Republic of Bulgaria in Milan Tanya Dimitrova, the president of the VIII Municipio dott. Francesco Vesco, the municipal councilor for cultural policies Barbara Grosso, the president of the conservatory Niccolò Paganini Fabrizio Callai, the director of the Paganini Conservatory dott. Roberto Tagliamacco, in addition to the honorary consul of the Republic of Bulgaria Michele Scandroglio, the sole director of Asef srl (sponsor of the initiative) lawyer Maurizio Barabino and the superintendent of the Carlo Felice Claudio Orazi.

Elena Nicolai-Stoyanka Savova Nikolova (1905-1993) was born in Tserovo, in the Panagyurishte region, she studied at the Conservatory in Bulgaria and that of Oberlin in the USA and then a village in Italy, first in Genoa, then in Milan and Naples, occupying the major Italian opera and cinema stages of the time.

Between 1963 and 1968 he starred in 7 films including “Il boom” by Alberto Sordi, directed by Vittorio De Sica.

In Genoa Elena Nicolai deepened her study of singing by perfecting a high, powerful and warm voice, improving her preparation, her clear and lively diction, as well as developing a versatile temperament. She performed on the stage of the Carlo Felice Theater in Genoa and at the Grattacielo Cinema, places that testify to the deep bond with the city of the Lantern. Furthermore, on May 12, 1948, Elena Nicolai received a leading role in Richard Wagner’s opera “Tristano e Isotta”, directed by Tullio Serafin at the Grattacielo Cinema. The Bulgarian mezzo-soprano thus established herself on the Italian and world stage: for 17 years she performed at the Scala in Milan and for 23 seasons at the San Carlo theater in Naples and at the Arena in Verona.

«The commemorative plaque to Elena Nicolai – said the consul general of Bulgaria Tanya Dimitrova – will be the first symbol of Bulgaria in Genoa, which will bring together our compatriots to celebrate national holidays, as well as attracting Bulgarian and foreign tourists. It is a symbol of the close cultural, economic and political relations that have always united Italy and Bulgaria. Elena herself is an excellent example of how our nations can create excellent collaborations ».

“As an administration it is our intention to enhance the talents who have told Genoa in the world – said the councilor for cultural policies Barbara Grosso – The mezzo-soprano Nicolai trained at the Paganini conservatory, bringing its excellence everywhere ». The superintendent of the Carlo Felice Claudio Orazi has invited the Italian government to “More investments in young talents”.

“Asef has long been engaged in operations of socio-cultural value in the city – explained the sole director of the investee company of the Municipality of Genoa Maurizio Barabino – We enthusiastically joined this initiative which reminds us of the excellences that Genoa is able to express, including the Paganini Conservatory, a breeding ground of great artistic talents ».

Other projects started and implemented by the consul general in Milan Tanya Dimitrova in the last three years are: the opening of via Vasil Levski in Bolgare in the province of Bergamo, the installation of a bench dedicated to the poet Pencho Slaveykov in via Verciere 2 in Milan in the near the Cathedral, the affixing of commemorative plaques to the poetess Mara Belcheva in Brunate near Como, the famous Bulgarian opera singer Nikolay Gyaurov in Modena and the Italian professor Katerin Katerinov in Perugia, as well as the dedication of a Bulgarian memorial tree in Vigevano.