Foundation
The Ghena Dimitrova Foundation was established in 2018.
Goals and objectives
- Preserving the memory of Ghena Dimitrova and promoting her work and personality.
- Supporting young opera singers and accompanists.
- Digitizing Ghena Dimitrova’s archives and creating a website.
- Creation of a municipal specialized collection in the singer’s native house.
- Setting up a contest and award named after Ghena Dimitrova.
- Promotion of the operatic art form.
Activities
2019 – The Foundation Award for Young Talents was presented to Viktoria Pigova, within the Third GHENA DIMITROVA International Competition for Young Opera Singers in Pleven.
2019 – An architectural project to give new life to the singer’s native house was designed and donated to the municipality of Pleven, the owner of the house.
2021 – The Foundation Award for Young Talents was presented to Maria Slavova, within the Fourth GHENA DIMITROVA International Competition for Young Opera Singers in Pleven.
2022 – The foundation provided financial support to conduct an opera singing masterclass with the teacher Katia Borissova from the Mozarteum University in Salzburg, Austria. The masterclass was run jointly with Prof. Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music and was intended for the Academy students. The final concert of the participants was filmed for free and is available for them to use when applying for positions, roles and auditions.
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Things about and by Ghena Dimitrova
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The Foundation “Gena Dimitrova” was established in 2018 as a heartfelt tribute to honour and celebrate the extraordinary legacy of the distinguished dramatic soprano, Gena Dimitrova. Acclaimed worldwide for her magnificent voice and emotional intensity, Dimitrova left an indelible mark on international opera stages, performing legendary roles such as Turandot, Abigaille, Tosca, and Lady Macbeth. For more fascinating insights into her memorable roles and performances, please visit our rich Repertoire section.
Our main purpose is preserving and sharing the vivid memory and brilliant artistry of one of opera’s most iconic figures, profoundly inspiring subsequent generations in the field of classical opera. Driven by the vision of cultural continuity, the foundation’s key objectives include:
- Promoting and preserving the artistic legacy and personal memory of soprano Gena Dimitrova.
- Providing meaningful support and nurturing upcoming opera singers and accompanists.
- Digitizing and publicly featuring the rich archival heritage of the singer through an official dedicated website.
- Establishing a municipal museum at the opera diva’s family home in Pleven, as a focal point of heritage and culture.
- Organizing the prestigious International Competition for Young Opera Singers “Gena Dimitrova” alongside an esteemed award in her name.
- Broadly popularizing opera as an art form, reaching new audiences worldwide.
Our specific achievements and initiatives to date
Since its inception, the Foundation has played an role in Bulgaria’s cultural landscape, significantly contributing to opera’s future while safeguarding its past.
In 2019, the foundation launched its first initiative by presenting an award to young opera talent Viktoria Pigova during the third edition of the International Competition for Young Opera Singers “Ghena Dimitrova.”
The same year, the Foundation generously donated an architectural renovation project for the opera star’s childhood house in Beglezh village, made available to the Municipality of Pleven for realization. Learn more about her home and roots in our special section dedicated to Dimitrova’s family and early life: Family and Childhood Home.
In 2021, another Foundation’s young talent award went deservedly to Maria Slavova at the next prestigious edition—the Fourth International Competition for Young Opera Singers “Gena Dimitrova”.
Additionally, in 2022, the Foundation sponsored a valuable opera singing masterclass conducted by the renowned vocal pedagogue Katya Borisova from Mozarteum University Salzburg. Hosted in partnership with the National Music Academy “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov,” this masterclass concluded with a professionally recorded closing concert, freely shared with the young performers to support their future career aspirations and auditions.
Why preserving and developing operatic tradition matters?
Opera is not just music; it represents a living cultural memory, defining our identity and shaping our aesthetic emotional experiences. Preserving the invaluable operatic traditions considered precious by Gena Dimitrova ensures their continuation and growth for upcoming generations.
To further explore the musical achievements and dramatic artistic contributions of the opera legend, browse our detailed Discography section.
How can you support our mission?
If you value opera and its cultural significance, you can become part of a legacy that seeks to inspire and preserve important classical traditions. Every donation or contribution is meaningful, directly enabling us to move forward with our next projects and initiatives. Should you want to support our cause or have additional questions, please reach out to us at info@ghenadimitrova.info.
Foundation “Gena Dimitrova” – Bridging Operatic Heritage and the New Generation of Artists
Our Initiatives and Projects Supporting Opera and Cultural Development
The Foundation “Gena Dimitrova” not only preserves the legacy of our beloved opera diva, it also fosters operatic singing and cultural advancement through diverse initiatives and meaningful artistic projects.
Encouraging Young Opera Talents
One of the foundation’s primary missions is nurturing future generations of talented young opera singers and rehearsal pianists. As part of its dedicated efforts, Foundation “Gena Dimitrova” annually grants a special award for emerging opera artists during the prestigious International Competition for Young Opera Singers “Gena Dimitrova”. Notably, recognized young singers include Viktoria Pigova in 2019 and Maria Slavova in 2021.
Moreover, the Foundation expands its initiatives, organizing opera masterclasses conducted by internationally renowned teachers and coaches. One prominent example was in 2022 when a highly regarded masterclass led by respected vocal pedagogue Katya Borisova from Mozarteum University Salzburg was organized jointly with Bulgaria’s National Academy of Music “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”. The video recording of their closing concert, funded by the foundation, was freely shared with the participants to facilitate their artistic careers.
For further information about our performances, masterclasses and unique events, explore our comprehensive section of Opera Booklets.
Digital Archive – Worldwide Access to a Rich Musical Heritage
A significant ongoing objective of our foundation is the digitization of Gena Dimitrova’s extensive historical archive. By preserving and presenting countless documents, photographs, performance posters, and programs, we provide global access to these invaluable resources through our specialized Gena Dimitrova website. Discover more intriguing materials in our dedicated Video archive and captivating gallery of original Posters. After the foundation digitizes the archive for its own use, it will be handed over to the Central State Archives, where it will be accessible to everyone.
Gena Dimitrova’s Childhood Home – a Hub of Culture and Historical Heritage
The Foundation engages in restoration and rejuvenation efforts of the soprano’s childhood home situated in the charming village of Beglezh, Pleven region. The ultimate goal: transforming her birthplace into a vibrant cultural tourism destination, an inspiring center for classical music and opera arts, and a welcoming creative retreat for international artists. In 2019, the foundation launched its first initiative by presenting an award to young opera talent Viktoria Pigova during the third edition of the International Competition for Young Opera Singers “Ghena Dimitrova.”
Dive deeper into the setting and family heritage that nurtured Gena’s incredible artistic journey by visiting our dedicated page about her Family and Childhood Home.
How Can You Contribute and Why Is Your Support Essential?
The Foundation “Gena Dimitrova” thrives thanks to the generous backing of those devoted to cultural values, opera tradition, and its promising future. If you wish to support these ideals, we warmly invite you to consider partnership opportunities or financial contributions. To discuss donation possibilities or to learn more, kindly contact us via email at: info@ghenadimitrova.info.
Stay connected with our website to discover more news, upcoming details, and fascinating events dedicated to enhancing opera visibility and celebrating the unforgettable legacy of soprano Gena Dimitrova!