Mariana Panova, soprano

 

was born in Bulgaria, but is now a resident of France. She graduated from the Bulgarian State Academy of Music in Sofia with education in opera singing, solfeggio, and piano. There she studied with Maestra Julia Viner (Sofia) and Maеstro Mario Bigazzi (Monte-Carlo) and has continued to further develop her talent by participating in numerous Master classes led by distinguished primie, such as Raina Kabaivanska, Diana Soviero, and Joan Dornemann (Met) and Alexandrina Miltcheva.

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During her studies, Mariana made her first professional appearance as Gretel – Henzel and Gretel with the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra. After the success of this performance, the Sofia Operetta invited her to participate in the production of Zigeuner Liebe as Zorika. That same year, Mariana won her first award – “International Competition for young singers” in Sofia, Bulgaria.The end of her studies was marked by her winning first prize at the “International Summer Academy” in Baden, Austria. Immediately after that, she was invited to the USA for the role of Olga in Fedora at the Palm Beach Opera, conducted by Maestro Guadagno, and in an outreach program of the same opera house as Mimi in La Boheme. Upon returning to Bulgaria, she was hired by the Varna State Opera House (and later by the Rousse Opera House) where she made her debut as Violetta in La Traviata, which later proved to be one of her most successful roleS.

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In 2001, following the success in Varna and Rousse, she was again engaged in La Traviata by the Sofia National Opera and by the Vocal Arts Institute Program in Tel Aviv, conducted by M. Boemi. Soon after that, she joined the Sofia National Opera’s new production of Lucia di Lammermoor and made her debut in the leading role. At the end of the year, she was invited to participate as Terinka in A. Dvorak’s Jacobin at the Royal Opera Festival of Wexford, conducted by A. Voloschuk, with a CD issued.In 2002, Mariana enjoyed having the opportunity to sing repeatedly in all major Bulgarian Opera Houses – Sofia, Varna, Rousse, and Stara Zagora, where she performed the following roles: Violetta - La Traviata, Marguerite – Faust, Mimi - La Boheme, and Gilda – Rigoletto (debut). She also celebrated her winning second prize at the “Inter Atlantic International Competition” in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. 2003 began with a series of New Year’s concerts in Holland with Noord Neederland Orchestra, conducted by G. Shultz. Later that year, she sang the part of Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor at the “Teatro Manoel” in Malta, conducted by M. Laus and Mimi in Puccini’s La Boheme in France, conducted by Tulio Gagliardo. To expand her repertoire, she made three debuts: as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni at the Sofia National Opera, as Desdemona in Othello at the Como Opera Festival, conducted by Claudio Michelli, and as performer of the Beethoven’s Ninth at the Theatre of Biarritz (France).

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In 2004-2005, Mariana was involved in several different productions in France: as La Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro at “Espace Culturel du Pin Galant” of Merignac, conducted by David Miller; as Rosina in Il barbiere di Seviglia conducted by P. Savio; as Desdemona in Othello, conducted by Fernando Alvares; as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni , conducted by D. Miller; as Violetta in La Traviata in Bordeaux, conducted by Ottavio Marino; and as opening at the Festival of Carcassonne, conducted by Maestro David Miller, Ignacio Encinas- Alfredo, Sergio Bologna- Germont. She also appeared as Musetta – La Boheme in Madrid, conducted by T. Gagliardo and as Lucia - Lucia di Lammermoor at the Sofia National Opera.

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2006 was dedicated mostly to concerts and chamber music recitals. This, however, did   not prevent her from working on a new part, that of Amelia in Simone Boccanegra, whose debut was at the Opera House in Nantes-Anger in France, conducted by Jean-Ives Ossence.

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In 2007, she had different engagements: she sang Violetta in Italy and participated “Carmina burana” in Spain at the Festival of Cap Roig.In 2008, she had again performed “Carmina Burana” at the Palace of Festivals of Cannes, conducted by Raphael Rochet. A few months later she had the opportunity to play the Countess in Le nozze di Figaro at Theatre Andre Malraux Rueil Malmaisons and at the Teatre of Sete, conducted by Nicola Giusti.In 2009 she made her debut as Antonia in “Les contes d”Hoffmann” in Sofia National Opera, Nedda in Pagliacci at Skopie Opera and at the Varna summer festival. She was invited as the Countess in “Le nozze di Figaro” at the Festival in Vonnas “Lyriquement votre” in France.Mariana is deeply interested and involved in the M. Chekov’s method based on anthroposophy, in which she has been specializing with Kl. Kirov at the Foundation “Mikhael Chekhov” since 2000.