The stupendous Krassimira Stoyanova: A glorious Verdi soprano returns to Lyric

When you’re at the Lyric Opera House in the coming season, you’ll have the chance to revel in the long-awaited return of a work that’s gone unheard at Lyric for nearly 40 years ⁠— Verdi’s magnificent Luisa Miller. One reason for its rarity is the challenge of finding the right singer for the title role. We’re excited to welcome back as Luisa the world-renowned Bulgarian soprano Krassimira Stoyanova, currently at the peak of her triumphant career. After she recently appeared in Paris, Forum Opéra noted her “truly great voice…with its remarkable projection that place her today on the level of the most indispensable sopranos of our day.”

Krassimira’s acclaimed brilliance in Verdi will be no surprise to Chicago audiences. She’s already starred here as three other captivating Verdi heroines: Amelia Grimaldi in Simon Boccanegra at Lyric (2012/13) and both Desdemona/Otello (2013/14) and the title role/Aida (2018/19) at the CSO. Her Verdi performances have also been unanimously hailed at the Vienna State Opera (where she recently earned the coveted title “Kammersängerin”), the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala, and virtually every other leading opera house.

Listening to Krassimra in Verdi, you’ll hear a voice so luminous that it will make you feel that all’s right with the world whenever she’s singing. And the joy of her performances isn’t just her sound – it’s her musicality and sense of style, both unsurpassed.

In Krassimira we can rejoice in an artist who gives every bit of herself and her artistry to creating characters that stay in our mind. Her warmth and grace as an actress, combined with the absolute naturalness and ease of her music-making, will totally come to the fore in her Luisa. This is a role that demands everything of a singer – elegant phrasing, flexibility, exciting dramatic power – but, above all, her total sincerity in everything she does onstage. In any role, Krassimira’s singing and acting go straight to her audience’s heart. They’re sure to make her Luisa unforgettable.

For any lover of Verdi operas (and isn’t that every opera-lover?), Krassimira Stoyanova at Verdi this season is an absolute “must-hear”!