This CD-ROM completes the four-volume Audio Encyclopedia series devoted to the documentation of opera from Bulgaria. The eleven operas chosen for this volume are generally considered to be among the most important written by Bulgarian composers. Because of the limited awareness of the compositions and of their historical background, we have included synopsis and background information for each opera and a page of background on the composers and history of native Bulgarian opera. In addition, a page is provided on technical matters in the use of this CD-ROM.

A playlist is provided for each opera to allow it to be played through without interruption. Many of the artists are linked to brief biographies; in each such page, the pronunciation of the singer's name is linked from the name at the top. Where it has not been possible to separate scenes without interrupting the music, the approximate time of the start is indicated with the scene number in bold, as Scene 3 - 23:45. All links to audio files and their playlists are in blue and underscored.

The Operas

Atanasov: Gergana
Goleminov: Ivailo
Goleminov: Zachari Zograph
Hadjiev: Albena
Hadjiev: Lud Gidia
Hadjiev: Maistori
Iliev: Boyanskiya Maistor
Pipkov: Momchil
Pipkov: Yaninite Devet Bratya
Stoyanov: Hitar Petar
Vladigerov: Tsar Kaloyan

Acknowledgements from the author

Without the support of the following, this effort could not have been realized.

• Bulgarian National Radio: Polya Stancheva, Rossitza Kukusheva and Svetlana Dimitrova.
• Alexander Abadjiev - Sofia National Opera: background research.
• Nikola Kazanski - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences: background research.
• Boriana Boneva - translations from Bulgarian to English.
• Dr. Robert Hayden - University of Pittsburgh Center for Russia and Eastern European Studies: for making the entire "Opera from Bulgaria" anthology available on their web site: http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/opera.

Frank McD. Fischer
939 North Negley Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15206
412-441-4222
operfrank@aol.com

Notes from the publisher

These recordings were made by Bulgarian National Radio and are offered here for the first time. Reflecting the technology of the day, they vary significantly in sound quality. For more information on Bulgarian National Radio and their contributions to documenting the history of Bulgarian opera, please see AE 205, Opera from Bulgaria; AE 210, Bulgarian National Radio; and AE 215, Russian Opera from Bulgaria.

While every effort has been made to ensure consistency in spelling of Bulgarian names and titles, transliteration is uncertain and undoubtedly we have used spellings different from those in other references - and, quite possibly, inconsistent from page to page on this disc.

Michael Richter
2600 Colby Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90064-3716
310-477-7969
http://www.mrichter.com/
mrichter@mindspring.com