The first release of the new series of Gega New Famous Opera Voices of Bulgaria features the tenor Dimitar Uzunov, who was a remarkable singer and director from the “golden” generation of Bulgarian singers of the second half of the 20th century. The series continues with the brilliant soprano Yulia Wiener-Chenisheva (1929-2010). For over three decades she was the absolute prima donna of the National Opera Theatre in Sofia, and for 12 seasons she was a permanent guest soloist of the Berlin State Opera, participating in the difficult soprano repertoire in German language. At the Sofia Opera her most outstanding roles were Turandot, Aida, Tatyana (Eugene Onegin), Elsa (Lohengrin), Tosca, Desdemona (Otello), Liza (The Queen of Spades) and many others – in fact, these were all the major soprano roles of that period. They require a different stage approach and different voice qualities, a sense of style, brilliant vocal techniques, and last but not least – artistic interpretation. Yulia Wiener-Chenisheva had all these qualities. That is why her performances in Europe were always highly appreciated by both the audience and the music critics. Her partners were some of the greatest Bulgarian and foreign artists and she sang under the baton of prominent European conductors.

For her outstanding merits, she was awarded with all the highest Bulgarian awards and orders, and in Germany she received the very prestigious title of Kammersänger.